Category: SFFilm (San Francisco International Film Festival)

SFFILM Fest Preview, Part 1: Spaceships, a Savage family, Sex, & Satan

~ Lincoln Spector

Here's my first batch of films screening at the upcoming SFFILM Festival (also known as the San Francisco International Film Festival). A Aniara This slow, frightful, depressing space movie from Sweden carries a heavy charge. A spaceliner taking refugees to Mars (Earth has become unlivable) has an accident that sends them out to the edges of … Continue reading SFFILM Fest Preview, Part 1: Spaceships, a Savage family, Sex, & Satan

Laura Dern, Claire Denis, Claude Jarman, and John C. Reilly at the SFFILM Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

The San Francisco International Film Festival, now also named SFFILM, opens Wednesday, April 10 with Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. No, it's not a remake; it's a sequel to the PBS series of the 1980s, based on Maupin's serialized novels. And yes, it has Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, and other veterans of the show … Continue reading Laura Dern, Claire Denis, Claude Jarman, and John C. Reilly at the SFFILM Festival

Chinese “Angels” and an Alcoholic, Paraplegic Cartoonist: My Last Day at SFFILM Fest

~ Lincoln Spector

Technically, the San Francisco International Film Festival is still going on. Today and Tuesday, you can catch movies you missed, but only at the Roxie and the Victoria. But last night was the official Closing Night, which sort of makes everything after that a bit anti-climactic. Here's what I saw on my last day at … Continue reading Chinese “Angels” and an Alcoholic, Paraplegic Cartoonist: My Last Day at SFFILM Fest

A Great Scholar and a Very Bad Mom: Saturday at SFFILM Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 3 Comments

Like many film festivals, SFFILM creates a different trailer every year, which screens at the beginning of each show. Most years, I'm deeply bored of the trailer well before the end of the festival. Not this year. A snappy, exciting montage set to an infectious beat, this year's trailer is short and fun, and has … Continue reading A Great Scholar and a Very Bad Mom: Saturday at SFFILM Festival

2 Judges (both women) and a reluctant Buddhist: Friday at SFFILM Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I should explain why some of my reviews are constricted to 75 words or less. Every festival that shows new films sends a Hold Review List to press covering the event. The movies on this list either have an American distributor or are negotiating with one. The distributers don't want long reviews published too soon, … Continue reading 2 Judges (both women) and a reluctant Buddhist: Friday at SFFILM Festival

Revolution in Serbia & Exploitation in America: My Thursday at SFFILM Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I saw two films yesterday at the San Francisco International Film Festival, also known as the SFFILM Festival. Both were worth seeing. The Other Side of Everything I'm generally suspicious of documentaries about the filmmaker…or the filmmaker's family. But this one worked. Srbijanka Turajlic, the director's mother and the subject of the film, is a … Continue reading Revolution in Serbia & Exploitation in America: My Thursday at SFFILM Festival

Mr. Rogers, Identical Triplets, & movies with music: Monday at SFFilm Fest

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

Unlike Sunday, there was no overall theme between the movies I saw Monday at the San Francisco International Film Festival, also known as the SFFILM Festival. Won't You Be My Neighbor? I kept my review of this film to a maximum of 75 words on the Festival's request. Ordained minister Fred Rogers - with his … Continue reading Mr. Rogers, Identical Triplets, & movies with music: Monday at SFFilm Fest

A Hard-Working African & a Dying Photographer: Saturday at SFFILM Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Finally, a day without rain. Even better, a day with two very films. Makala I kept my review of this film to a maximum of 75 words on the Festival's request. Whatever others say, this is not a documentary. But it's a very good film. Makala lives with his family in an isolated hut. But … Continue reading A Hard-Working African & a Dying Photographer: Saturday at SFFILM Festival