Category: First-person Report

May Day at the SFIFF: A Sobering Documentary and a Boring Swashbuckler

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I got a surprise when I stepped out of the Montgomery BART station on my way to the San Francisco International Film Festival. I ran into a Occupy-themed May Day protest blocking Market St. That provided two dilemmas. First, should I go to the festival, or take part in the protest? Second, when I decided … Continue reading May Day at the SFIFF: A Sobering Documentary and a Boring Swashbuckler

SFIFF Report: Vegetarian Restaurants, Hippy Communes, and The Source

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I closed out the second San Francisco International Film Festival weekend with another documentary. This one wasn't about our horrifying future, but our wild past. B+ The Source You'd expect a documentary about an early 70s LA-based cult and hippy commune, centered around a charismatic leader, to be an exposé--names like Charles Manson and Jim … Continue reading SFIFF Report: Vegetarian Restaurants, Hippy Communes, and The Source

SFIFF: Sobering but Entertaining Water Crisis Documentary: Last Call at the Oasis

~ Lincoln Spector

My first movie today at the San Francisco International Film Festival wasn't exactly fun, but it's arguably the most important film I've seen at this year's festival. B+ Last Call at the Oasis Water covers most of this planet's surface, yet the human race is rapidly running out of safe drinking water. Unless you're deep … Continue reading SFIFF: Sobering but Entertaining Water Crisis Documentary: Last Call at the Oasis

SFIFF Centerpiece: Your Sister’s Sister

~ Lincoln Spector

Last night I attended the San Francisco International Film Festival's Centerpiece presentation, consisting of a movie, a Q&A, and a party. A- Your Sister’s Sister This film kept surprising me. The opening scene, involving a group of young adults memorializing a recently-deceased friend,  felt like The Big Chill. But the movie was about only two … Continue reading SFIFF Centerpiece: Your Sister’s Sister

SFIFF Report: Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

~ Lincoln Spector

Within minutes of getting out of Unforgiven, I was back in the same auditorium for this documentary. B+ Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present I've never seen the point of performance art (as opposed to the performing arts, which I love), but Matthew Akers' documentary on this particular performing artist won me over. It follows … Continue reading SFIFF Report: Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

SFIFF Report: Kanbar Awards: David Webb Peoples & Unforgiven

~ Lincoln Spector

I started the day at the Kanbar Award presentation honoring screenwriter David Webb Peoples. After an introduction and a selection of clips from his films (which include Bladerunner, Unforgiven, Hero, and 12 Monkeys, Peoples was interviewed on stage by novelist James Dalessando, an old friend of his. A few notable Peoples comments: Peoples started out wanting … Continue reading SFIFF Report: Kanbar Awards: David Webb Peoples & Unforgiven