The San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), organized by SFFILM, is held each spring for two weeks, presenting around 200 films from over 50 countries. The festival highlights current trends in international film and video production with an emphasis on work that has not yet secured U.S. distribution. In 2009, it served around 82,000 patrons, with screenings held in San Francisco and Berkeley."San Francisco Film Festival Bucks Economic Trends to Set New Records for Revenue and Attendance." sffs.org. 7 May 2009. San Francisco Film Society. 29 June 2009
In March 2014, Noah Cowan, former executive director of the Toronto International Film Festival, became executive director of the SFFS and SFIFF, replacing Ted Hope. Prior to Hope, the festival was briefly headed by Bingham Ray, who served as SFFS executive director until his death after only ten weeks on the job in January 2012. Graham Leggat became the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society on October 17, 2005. The Scottish-born Leggat died on August 25, 2011, from cancer, aged 51.
History Founded in 1957 by film exhibitor Irving "Bud" Levin, the SFIFF began as a philanthropic effort to secure San Francisco's place in the international arts scene as well as expose locals to cinema as an art form. The first festival screening was on December 4–18, 1957 at the Metro Theatre in Cow Hollow. Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood; Helmut Käutner's The Captain from Köpenick (1956 film); and Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali were among the films that screened at the first festival.
One obstacle in the early years was the lack of support from the major Hollywood studios, suggested reasons being the growing threat of international films' appeal and a fear that the festival would draw commercial attention away from the Oscars. It was not until 1959 that a major American film, Henry King's Beloved Infidel, starring Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr, played at SFIFF.
Honors and tributes
Irving M. Levin Directing Award The Festival's directing award is named after SFIFF's founder, Irving Levin. From 2003 to 2014, the award was known as the Founder's Directing Award. Prior to 2003, the award was known as the Akira Kurosawa Award. Recipients include: Scott Cooper, 2025 Denis Villeneuve, 2024 Greta Gerwig, 2023 Ryan Coogler, 2022 Jane Campion, 2021 Chloé Zhao, 2020 Marielle Heller, 2019 Steve McQueen, 2018 Kathryn Bigelow, 2017 Mira Nair, 2016 Guillermo del Toro, 2015 Richard Linklater, 2014 Philip Kaufman, 2013 Kenneth Branagh, 2012 Oliver Stone, 2011 Walter Salles, 2010 Francis Ford Coppola, 2009 Mike Leigh, 2008 Spike Lee, 2007 Werner Herzog, 2006 Taylor Hackford, 2005 Miloš Forman, 2004 Robert Altman, 2003 Warren Beatty, 2002 Clint Eastwood, 2001 Abbas Kiarostami, 2000 Arturo Ripstein, 1999 Im Kwon-taek, 1998 Francesco Rosi, 1997 Arthur Penn, 1996 Stanley Donen, 1995 Manoel de Oliveira, 1994 Ousmane Sembène, 1993 Satyajit Ray, 1992 Marcel Carné, 1991 Jirí Menzel, 1990 Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1989 Robert Bresson, 1988 Michael Powell, 1987 Akira Kurosawa, 1986
Peter J. Owens Award Named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936–91), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity.Recent recipients include: Ellen Burstyn, 2016 Richard Gere, 2015 Jeremy Irons, 2014 Harrison Ford, 2013 Judy Davis, 2012 Terence Stamp, 2011 Robert Duvall, 2010 Robert Redford, 2009 Maria Bello, 2008 Robin Williams, 2007 Ed Harris, 2006 Joan Allen, 2005 Chris Cooper, 2004 Dustin Hoffman, 2003 Kevin Spacey, 2002 Stockard Channing, 2001 Winona Ryder, 2000 Sean Penn, 1999 Nicolas Cage, 1998 Annette Bening, 1997 Harvey Keitel, 1996
Kanbar Award Recipients of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting include: Tom McCarthy, 2016 Paul Schrader, 2015 Stephen Gaghan, 2014 Eric Roth, 2013 David Webb Peoples, 2012 Frank Pierson, 2011 James Schamus, 2010 James Toback, 2009Bigelow, Catherine. "Big Screen: SF Film Society Awards Gala." 7x7.com. 5 May 2009. 24 July . Peter Morgan, 2008 Robert Towne, 2007 Jean-Claude Carrière, 2006 Paul Haggis, 2005
Mel Novikoff Award Named in honor of San Francisco film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922–87), this award is given to an individual or organization notable for making significant contributions to the Bay Area's film community.Pine, Dan. "S.F. film fest honors famed Jewish film restorer." jweekly.com. 30 April 2009. 24 July 2009 .Recent recipients include: Gary Meyer, 2024 Firelight Media, 2023 Arena, 2019 Annette Insdorf, 2018 Tom Luddy, 2017 Janus Films and The Criterion Collection, 2016 Lenny Borger, 2015 David Thomson, 2014 Peter von Bagh, 2013 Pierre Rissient, 2012 Serge Bromberg, 2011 Roger Ebert, 2010 Bruce Goldstein, 2009 James Lewis Hoberman, 2008 Kevin Brownlow, 2007 Anita Monga, 2005 Paolo Cherchi Usai, 2004 Manny Farber, 2003 David Francis, 2002 Cahiers du cinéma, 2001 San Francisco Cinematheque, 2001 Donald Krim, 2000 David Shepard, 2000 Adrienne Mancia, 1998 Donald Richie, 1990
Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award
The POV Award honors the lifetime achievement of a filmmaker whose work is crafting documentaries, short films, animation or work for television.Recent recipients include: Mark Cousins, 2023 Nathaniel Dorsky, 2018 Aardman Animations, 2016 Kim Longinotto, 2015 Isaac Julien, 2014 Jem Cohen, 2013 Barbara Kopple, 2012 Matthew Barney, 2011 Don Hertzfeldt, 2010 Lourdes Portillo, 2009 Errol Morris, 2008 Heddy Honigmann, 2007 Guy Maddin, 2006 Adam Curtis, 2005 Jon Else, 2004 Pat O'Neill, 2003 Fernando Birri, 2002 Kenneth Anger, 2001 Faith Hubley, 2000 Johan van der Keuken, 1999 Robert Frank, 1998 Jan Švankmajer, 1997
George Gund III Craft of Cinema Award The George Gund III Craft of Cinema Award, given in tribute to the longstanding Film Society chairman of the board who died in 2013, honors filmmakers for their contributions to the art of cinema.Recent recipients include: Peter Coyote, 2016 Maurice Kanbar, 2015 John Lasseter, 2014 Ray Dolby, 2013
Midnight Awards The Film Festival's Midnight Awards were given from 2007–2011 to honor a young American actor and actress who have made outstanding contributions to independent and Hollywood cinema."Midnight Awards for Evan and Elijah." entertainment.uk.msn.com. 25 March 2009. 24 July 2009 .Recent recipients include: Clifton Collins, Jr. and Zoe Saldaña, 2011 Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood, 2009 Rose McGowan and Jason Lee, 2008 Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell, 2007
60th Anniversary Gala changes In 2017, the San Francisco Film Society made a "strategic move" to set its 60th anniversary SF Film Awards Night closer to awards season in early December.
Awards and prizes
New Directors Award This $15,000 cash award is given to independent filmmakers to the spotlight an emerging director.Hawley, Michael. "SFIFF52--Michael Hawley Anticipates Line-up." twitchfilm.net. 24 July 2009 . Films in this juried competition must be the director's first narrative feature and are selected for their unique artistic sensibility or vision.
Golden Gate Awards
The Golden Gate Awards is the competitive section for documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental film, and video, youth works and works for television. Eligibility requires that entries have a San Francisco Bay Area premiere and be exempt from a previous multiday commercial theatrical run or media broadcast of any kind. The festival currently awards cash prizes in the following categories:SFIFF press release sffs.org
Documentary Feature - prize: $20,000 Bay Area Documentary Feature - prize: $15,000 Documentary Short - prize: $5,000 Narrative Short - prize: $5,000 Animated Short - prize: $2,000 Bay Area Short, First Prize - prize: $2,000 Bay Area Short, Second Prize - prize: $1,500 New Visions Short - prize: $1,500 Youth Work - prize: $1,500 Family Film - prize: $1,500
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the San Francisco International Film Festival as a qualifying festival for the short films (live action and animated) competitions of the 81st annual Academy Awards.
FIPRESCI Prize Selected by the International Federation of Film Critics, the FIPRESCI Prize aims to promote film art, to encourage new and young cinema and to help films get better distribution and win greater public attention.Eder, Klaus. "The Purpose of FIPRESCI Is to Support Cinema as Art." fest09.sffs.org. 24 July 2009
State of Cinema Address Each year, the festival invites a prominent thinker to discuss the intersecting worlds of contemporary cinema, culture and society. Recent speakers include: Boots Riley, 2019 Wesley Morris, 2016 Douglas Trumbull, 2015 Steven Soderbergh, 2013 Jonathan Lethem, 2012 Christine Vachon, 2011 Walter Murch, 2010 Mary Ellen Mark, 2009 Kevin Kelly, 2008 Peter Sellars, 2007 Tilda Swinton, 2006 Brad Bird, 2005 B. Ruby Rich, 2004 Michel Ciment, 2003
Live music and film The San Francisco International Film Festival also involves live music and film events, which usually feature contemporary musicians performing original scores to classic silent films. Music/film pairings at SFIFF have included: Scott Amendola, Matthias Bossi, Mike Patton, and William Winant accompanying Waxworks (1924 Film), Directed Paul Leni, 2013 Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs) with Buster Keaton short films, 2012 Tindersticks with the films of Claire Denis, 2011 Stephin Merritt with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916 film), 2010 Dengue Fever (band) with The Lost World (1925 film), 2009 Black Francis with The Golem (1920 film), 2008 Jonathan Richman with The Phantom Carriage, 2007 Deerhoof with Heaven and Earth Magic, 2006 American Music Club with Street Angel (1928 film), 2005 Lambchop (band) with Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, 2003 Superchunk with A Page of Madness, 2002 Yo La Tengo with Jean Painlevé short films, 2001 Tom Verlaine with classic silent short films, 2000
See also
San Francisco Film Society
Notes
External links
Official website