I saw two very different documentaries Tuesday at the (virtual) SFFilm Festival. One is exceptional. The other was, well, not bad. Remember that you can stream any of these films up until Sunday. A Radiograph of a Family It takes a while to get emotionally involved in Firouzeh Khosrovani's story of her parents' marriage, but … Continue reading SFFilm Tuesday: A broken family & a man on a mission

I watched only one film Monday, and it was a disappointment. But I also covered a discussion about difficult locations - even if some of them weren't really that difficult. D+ The Whaler Boy I suspected the Russian government greenlit this movie to scare adolescents from watching American porn. Teenaged Leshka lives in a whaling … Continue reading SFFilm Monday: All about rough terrain

On the third day of the virtual SFFilm Festival, I've decided to stop giving you technical advice. If you're having problems watching the films you bought tickets for, look at the lower-left corner of a SFFilm browser window and click the Need help? box. You'll probably get very good help. So let's go to the … Continue reading SFFilm Sunday: African and American stories

Before I go into the one movie I managed to see Saturday, I'd like to offer two alternate ways to bring a SFFilm Festival movie from the Internet to your television. I can tell you how to get a SFFilm movie onto your TV if you have a Roku or a Chromecast. Unfortunately, I don't … Continue reading SFFilm Saturday: Roku, Chromecast, and Oakland students

My next set of SFFilm Festival films include a homeless mother trying to keep her daughter from the hard truth, a documentary about the founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, a horror movie about horror movies, and a Romanian gay, closeted policeman. A- I'm Fine (Thanks for Asking) Within minutes of the film's start, I … Continue reading SFFilm Fest Preview, Part 2: I’m Fine | We Are as Gods | Censor | Poppy Field

Here are four films that will be available during this year's SFFilm Festival. We've got a drama with one foot in Mexico and the other in the U.S., an animated fantasy for adults, a Mexican documentary, and a so-called comedy. A Son of Monarchs This story of a young man between two countries doesn't really … Continue reading SFFilm Fest Preview: Part 1: Son of Monarchs | Cryptozoo | The Spokeswoman | Supercool

The SFFilm Festival (formerly named The San Francisco International Film Festival) didn't happen last year - even in a virtual form. By the time the theaters were closed, SFFilm didn't have time to create a whole new kind of festival. But by the end of 2020, anyone paying attention knew the basics of enjoying a … Continue reading The return of the SFFilm Festival