The San Francisco International Film Festival opens tomorrow night, and I have so far seen five of the films to be presented there. Here's what I think of them, in order from best to worst. All of these films will have runs after the festival, so you'll have additional chances to see them. Ballast. Vast, … Continue reading San Fran Fest Preview

I thought I'd share some of the films I hope to catch at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I can't officially recommend any of these because I haven't yet seen them, but I hope to catch at least a few of them. I'm not including films here that will get a regular release after … Continue reading What Looks Good at the Festival

They're screening a few classics this year, but not many? Aside from the already-mentioned Shampoo, they’re screening a newly-restored print of a classic Technicolor film noir (yeah, that does sound like an oxymoron) called Leave Her to Heaven. I haven’t seen it, and neither as Leggat, apparently, but he assured us that “Eddie Muller says … Continue reading More on the San Francisco International Film Festival

Tuesday morning, Graham Leggat, Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society, stood up at the St. Francis and officially announced the 51st annual San Francisco International Film Festival. The press conference was mercifully short. There was, of course, the usual long and boring thanks to the corporate sponsors--a preview of the long and boring … Continue reading This Year’s San Francisco Film Festival Officially Announced

More San Francisco International Film Festlval news trickling in. Mike Leigh receives this year’s Founder's Directing Award. If you’ve never heard of the “Founder's Directing Award,-- that’s because it used to be the Film Society Directing Award. Before that it was the Kurosawa Award--and I can’t think of a better name than that for honoring … Continue reading More SFIFF News

Opening night is still more than two months away, but I’m already getting press releases for this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival. Here’s what I can tell you: The Festival will open April 24 with The Last Mistress, “the latest film from acclaimed director Catherine Breillat.” I tried to watch one of her films, … Continue reading Early Warnings: San Francisco International Film Festival