You don't have to wait long to watch a movie with live accompaniment these days - and I'm not talking about Star Wars with the San Francisco Symphony. Here are two local silent film festivals coming up, from the two major silent film organizations in the Bay Area. Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival Niles Essanay … Continue reading Two More Silent Film Festivals Coming Up
Category: Upcoming & Local
Two More Film Festivals in mid-July
They just keep on coming! San Francisco Frozen Film Festival July 18 - 23 Most film festivals concentrate on features. This one is all about the shorts - small, low-budget flicks with short running times. It opens July 18 with a party at PianoFight, accompanied by Best Virtual Reality Screenings, and followed by a midnight … Continue reading Two More Film Festivals in mid-July
SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2
Here are four more capsule reviews of movies playing at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Once again, I have two documentaries and two narratives. Only this time, only one is likely to get a theatrical release. This is the last I'll right about this festival before opening night. A Wajib Often very funny, … Continue reading SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2
SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1
As I write this, I've seen four movies that will screen in this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. They're split evenly between narratives and documentaries. One is a 1933 classic. The others are new, and will all be distributed after the festival (possibly long after the festival) by Menemsha Films - a company that … Continue reading SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1
Santa Fe & Charlie Chaplin: More July Festivals
I've already told you about Modern Cinema and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (although there'll be more to say on that one). But there are two other festivals competing for your attention next month - and both over the same weekend. Charlie Chaplin Days Friday, July 13 - Sunday, July 15 Every year, the … Continue reading Santa Fe & Charlie Chaplin: More July Festivals
Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
Black filmmakers illuminate the African-American experience in SFFILM and SFMOMA's latest Modern Cinema series, Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood. The series/festival runs from July 12–29. As with all Modern Cinema series, this one takes place at SFMOMA's Phyllis Wattis Theater. Neither organization is calling this a festival, but I think the title fits, because you can … Continue reading Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
Summer at the Pacific Film Archive
The Pacific Film Archive (or, as they'd prefer I call it, BAMPFA) pretty much shuts down in the second half of May. But come June, the movies come back. Here are the ten series running from June through August: Bergman 100: A Summer Interlude (June 1–July 15) This subdivision of the PFA's year-long Bergman 100 … Continue reading Summer at the Pacific Film Archive
Yet Another Silent Film Festival
Finally, folks in the Northeast Bay Area won't have to drive across a bridge to watch silent films. The Empress Theatre Silent Film Festival runs this Friday through Sunday at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo. It's a modest festival, with only four programs spread across three days. The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum sponsors this … Continue reading Yet Another Silent Film Festival
May Festivals: DocLands & CAAMFest
We have two film festivals coming up in May. Unfortunately, I don't have time to cover each of them properly, so I'll just give you a quick rundown. DocLands The Bay Area hosts almost as many documentary film festivals as it does Noir fests. This Marin County-based, four-day festival runs from May 3 through May … Continue reading May Festivals: DocLands & CAAMFest
Immerse yourself in Michelangelo Antonioni
Now that the big festival is winding down, I have time to tell you about a smaller one coming up. On Saturday, April 28, Cinema Italia San Francisco will take over the Castro for an Homage to Michelangelo Antonioni. This one-day film festival will screen five of his major works - three in 35mm; two … Continue reading Immerse yourself in Michelangelo Antonioni
Bayflicks 