Tag Archives: san francisco film society

The ITVS Indie Roundup

Posted on by

A curated list of indie news and recommendations from ITVS’s Rebecca Huval.

Werner Herzog fans rejoice! This 30-minute autobiographical documentary from 1986 shows the acclaimed German auteur meandering his childhood mountains and planning a never-completed filmmaking expedition to the Himalayas.

If you ever need a solid example of how to raise money for media on Kickstarter, look to 99% Invisible. The design radio show and podcast broke the record this week for the amount of money raised for a journalism project with $147,000. Also, the podcast is fabulous.

Run, swim, hitchhike, hang glide to Mississippi if you want to appear in James Franco’s film adaptation of As I Lay Dying. This week, open call casting began in Jackson this Wednesday, and another round will be held Friday and Saturday.
Continue reading →

That’s a Wrap!

Posted on by

By Kaleigh Gaynor

Thursday marks the end of the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival, which featured three ITVS funded documentary films, including Bitter Seeds, The Invisible War, and The Waiting Room.

Still from Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey (credit: Ninfa Z. Bito)

The 55th San Francisco International Film Festival is closing tonight on a high note, celebrating their festival journey with…. well, Journey! After a rousing screening of Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey at the Castro Theatre, including what is bound to be a fascinating Q&A with director Ramona S. Diaz (director of the ITVS funded documentaries Imelda and The Learning) and all five members of the band Journey, closing night attendees will head on over to SLOANE SQUARE[D], for a night of entertainment, dancing, food, and drinks.

The past 15 days have gone by so fast that it is hard to believe that another festival has come and gone. With more than 200 films screened and more than 45 countries represented, the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival proved once again to be an extraordinary showcase of innovation and cinematic discovery.

One particular highlight for ITVS was that The Waiting Room director Peter Nicks was featured on the festival’s Scoop du Jour website, a daily video feed presenting coverage of the happenings at the festival. In the interview, Nicks discusses his documentary The Waiting Room, an intimate and intense day-in-the-life documentary portrait of the patients, doctors, nurses, and social workers at Highland Hospital in Oakland. Check out the clip after the jump: Continue reading →

Vive le SFIFF!

Posted on by

Thursday marks the start of the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival, and ITVS is proud to have three documentary films honored in the festival lineup, including Bitter Seeds, The Invisible War, and The Waiting Room. 

The San Francisco Film Society is encouraging opening night attendees to go French glam for tonight’s Farewell, My Queen screening by filmmaker Benoît Jacquot. Join the convivial throng at the Castro Theatre for a special screening then head to a lavish party at the elegant contemporary art gallery Terra in SOMA to enjoy hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, sophisticated cocktails and, of course, dancing.

Unable to join in on the opening night festivities? Not to worry, Bay Area film fanatics have 15 full days of the best in world cinema to soak up before the festival closes on May 3, 2012. With more than 200 films in the lineup and more than 45 countries represented, the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival is an extraordinary showcase of innovation and cinematic discovery. Continue reading →

ITVS Joins Leading Bay Area Media Groups to Celebrate Teachers

Posted on by

This past month, over 100 media-savy educators attended the first Bay Area Media Innovators in  Education event in San Francisco. The event was co-hosted by ITVS, KQED, BAVC, and the San Francisco Film Society.

At a time when school budgets are tight, it is rare for teachers to get treated to wine, gourmet treats, and free media content. But ITVS and four other leading Bay Area media organizations decided they deserved some pampering and inspiration.

This past month, over 100 media savvy educators attended the first Bay Area Media Innovators in Education event at the Lab art space, co-hosted by ITVS, KQED, BAVC and the San Francisco Film Society. The event was a showcase for educational resources from each organization, and featured a panel discussion with four teachers who are using media creatively to engage their students.
Continue reading →

Anyone Can Make a Film. Now What?

Posted on by

On Monday, July 25 at 7:30PM, ITVS and the San Francisco Film Society will team up to present a panel on the ever-expanding field of digital filmmaking. From presenting on new approaches for crowdfunding to best practices for online distribution — Monday’s event includes filmmakers, festival directors, start-up founders, and digital innovators. Watch the event live and ask questions on Independent Lens’ Livestream channel.

The tools of production have been democratized. The world is flat. We get it. So now that anyone can make a film, will anyone watch it? Monday’s film arts forum called “How Soon is Now?” will be a conversation on the shifting terrain of filmmaking from the perspective of content creators, packagers, and distributors.

The panel, moderated by the Film Society’s Michele Turnure-Salleo, will include:

• Shawn Bercuson, Founder and CEO of Prescreen.com
• Carlton Evans, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Disposable Film Festival
• Jen Gilomen, Filmmaker and Director of Public Media Strategies at BAVC
• Jonathan Marlow, Co-Founder and Vice President of Content Development and Acquisitions at Fandor

Plus, ITVS veteran and Senior Programer Richard Saiz will deliver a keynote address in celebration of ITVS’s 20th Anniversary and continued support for independent filmmakers.

Tickets are only $10 ($7 for SFFS members) and can be purchased here.

 

Igniting the Classroom Through Film

Posted on by

This week, The San Francisco Film Society hosted an event that put filmmakers and educators in the same room.

ITVS has been in and out of the classroom all week. On Wednesday, we hosted a live chat with high school seniors and an Independent Lens filmmaker, and on Tuesday night we streamed video/live blogged from the San Francisco Film Society’s event: Igniting the Classroom. The event included a panel of filmmakers and educators, including ITVS’s Education Manager Annelise Wunderlich, who filed this report.

As Education Manager for ITVS, I often feel like a kid in a candy store. I am surrounded by incredibly rich content for the classroom — the work of all the independent filmmakers that receive funding from ITVS is truly an educator’s dream.

Continue reading →

Film Arts Forum: Igniting the Classroom

Posted on by

San Francisco Film Society presents a panel discussion on educational media

The 2011 series of the San Francisco Film Society’s Film Arts Forum kicks off with a focus on educational media: the filmmakers that produce it and the teachers who use it. Experts in media education from ITVS’s Community Classroom, local production companies and schools will share their stories of and experiences with making films that are great educational resources, as well as the strategies and tactics they use to engage students through media. Tonight’s event will be streamed live on the Film Society’s website, starting at 7:30 PM PT.