51st. San Francisco International Film Festival - Highlights and News

Opening Night - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:28:07 -0700

Executive Director Graham Leggat discusses Catherine Breillat’s The Last Mistress, the masterful French director’s characteristically bold, intelligent, witty and frankly erotic foray into period drama, based on the 19th century novel by Jules-Amédée Barbey d’Aurevilly.

Closing Night - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:24:58 -0700

Graham Leggatt discusses Alex Gibney’s new documentary Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, a profile of the outrageous, legendary journalist, which closes out the 51st International at the Castro Theatre along with a rousing Vanity Fair Reel Relief wrap party at hip and edgy Club 525.

Maria Bello - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:27:29 -0700

Graham Leggat reflects on the career, talent and momentum of this year's Peter J. Owens Award recipient, Maria Bello.

Fados - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:36:20 -0700

Film Society Creative Director Miguel Pendás discusses the great Spanish director Carlos Saura's latest musical performance exploration, Fados, a passionate and visually lush journey into the heart of the moody Portuguese song style enjoying an international vogue.

1000 Journals - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:38:27 -0700

In this multimedia podcast, listen to programming associate Rod Armstrong discuss Andrea Kreuzhage's remarkable documentary 1000 Journals—about a San Francisco artist's spur to one great international, anonymous artistic collaboration—while viewing excerpts from the film and the journals themselves.

Golden Gate Awards - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:25:06 -0700

Audrey Chang gives a rundown of the 12 exceptional documentaries competing for Golden Gate Awards at this year’s Festival.

The Late Show - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:31:07 -0700

Rod Armstrong discusses the four films—running the gamut from horror to hilarity—in the Festival’s Late Night program: Big Man Japan, Go Go Tales, The Mother of Tears and Timecrimes.

Mike Leigh - Founder’s Directing Award recipient - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:33:16 -0700

Listen to Graham Leggatt profile this year’s Founder’s Directing Award recipient, the brilliant English independent filmmaker, Mike Leigh.

Live & Onstage - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:35:28 -0700

Sean Uyehara has the lowdown on the Festival’s Live & Onstage program, beginning with The Golem with Black Francis, featuring an alt-rock legend’s live debut of his original score to a silent German Expressionist classic. Live & Onstage also includes a video and performance variety show at Mezzanine featuring the work of local comedy impresarios Kenny Taylor and Andrew Bancroft and capped by the world premiere screening of a little eschatological extravaganza they call Evolution: The Musical!

Spotlight: KinoTek - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 06:40:08 -0700

Sean Uyehara describes the movies that are part of the Spotlight: KinoTek—the “generative” artworks of Generator, performance collective Cloud Eye Control, and Scott Arford: Static Life.

J. Hoberman - SFIFF 08

SFFS.ORG — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:30:58 -0700

The Mel Novikoff Award is given annually to a figure or institution that has significantly advanced the public's understanding and appreciation of world cinema. Graham Leggat talks about this year's recipient, author, scholar, programmer and longtime Village Voice film critic, Jim Hoberman.