San Francisco Film Society

Having logged many hours with the SFFS, I can say firsthand that there's no slouching when it comes to programming, outreach, and filmmaker/enthusiast benefits with this group. To start with their biggest event, the annual San Francisco International Film Festival lasts two weeks each April and May (it's the world's oldest film fest, now gearing up for its 52nd year). Hundreds of feature, short-length, documentary, and experimental films from dozens of countries are shown across the city—and a few at the Pacific FIlm Archive at UC Berkeley—, and the whole thing is bolstered by dialogues and honorary awards for various filmmaking legends. This year, the SFiFF toasted directors Mike Leigh and Errol Morris, critic J. Hoberman, actors Maria Bello, Jason Lee, and Rose McGowan, and screenwriter Robert Towne. The executive editor of Wired Magazine, Kevin Kelly, gave an extremely relevant keynote address on the future of cinema with emerging technologies. Imagine the things these people had to say, as well as the filmmakers on hand who introduced their brand new films and responded to questions following their respective screenings. The conversations with fellow ticket holders in the queues and theaters surpasses any dialogue one could have on film outside the fest. Some terrific films screened this year, including Anna Broinowski's "Forbidden Lie$", Nanette Bernstein's "American Teen", Claude Chabrol's "A Girl Cut in Two", Guy Maddin's "My Winnipeg", Lance Hammer's "Ballast", Barry Jenkins' "Medicine for Melancholy", Mushon Salmona's "Vasermil", and Yung Chang's "Up the Yangtze". The SFFS is also making an impact with its weekly SFFS Screen, which showcases top-notch international (and some domestic) films on an exclusive screen at the Kabuki theater. This is a prime opportunity to steer away from the typical Hollywood agenda and sink into a cultural experience, whether it's is Russian filmmaker Khuat Akhmetov's "Wind Man" about a young boy's unexpected guardian in a small village in Kazakhstan, or Canadian Matthew Klinck's look inside the corrupted world of Easter Bunnies as seen through the eyes of cinema's newest odd couple in "Hank and Mike". The SFFS really feeds its community with world-class programming. And recently, it accepted the reigns of the filmmaker services offered by the Film Arts Foundation, which closed its doors after 32 years. Its services focus on professional education, career development, membership services, fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking and information resources. SFFS is making great strides to accommodate both filmmaker and film lover with its anchored stake in both the Bay Area and global film community—the group even emphasizes film education for youth and has consistent programming for local students of all ages (both at the festival and beyond). Check the society out, either through a SFFS Screen showing, the two-week festival each spring, their monthly SF360 FILM+CLUB social events, or other diverse programming. If you're not already an enthusiast, you soon will be.