introduction
our mission
The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) presents the San Joaquin International Film Festival and celebrates cultural appreciation and cinema arts through productions of festivals, films, and educational programs.
SJFS is the home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, Central Valley's flagship celebration of global cinema; and the two special festivals, the San Joaquin Children's Film Festival and the California International Documentary Film Festival.
SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world's best cinema to the culturally-rich, Central Valley communities.
2009: the year of dreams
For 2009, the San Joaquin Film Society will launch an ambitious, year-round set of events that will include the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (May 14th to 21st), the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 16th to 18th), the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival (December 12th to 17th), the year-round Cinema Room film programs, a global cinema series (Cinema Italia in February, Jewish Cinema in June, and Greek Cinema in September), social events and galas, special screenings, workshops for filmmakers and a new membership program - bringing the world's best cinema to the culturally-rich communities of California's Central Valley.
our beginnings
In 2005, Cambodian-American artist Sophoan Sorn founded Stockton Cross-Cultural Bridges (SCCB), a documentary film project that launched the premiere of "To: Iloilo and Battambang" and events that reached 3,000 people in Spring of 2006. In 2007, the San Joaquin Cross-Cultural Media project was started, to foster the creation of the 2008 San Joaquin Film Festival (SJFF08), a cinematic endeavor which inaugurated as the Central Valley's first international film festival, with a line-up of 54 films from 14 nations, and attendance of 4,000 from June 4 to 8, 2008. With an endeavor to carry on the San Joaquin International Film Festival as an annual tradition, to help raise the cultural and global profile of San Joaquin, and to foster the arts through a diverse year-round program - the San Joaquin Film Society was founded.
California's Central Valley stretches over 400 miles (600km) with the Sacramento Valley in the north and the San Joaquin Valley in the south. Rich in agriculture, it is known as the "fruit basket of the world." The city of Stockton sits in the heart and the center of the Central Valley. In Stockton alone, there are over 75 different ethnic groups represented. Each day, the Central Valley is growing - economically, culturally, and artistically.
SJFS is one of six pioneer organizations of the newly-formed Stockton Arts Center Alliance, which includes the Stockton Symphony Association, Stockton Chorale, Stockton Civic Theatre, Stockton Opera Association, and With Our Words, Inc.
our community goals
• To strengthen the art of filmmaking in the Central Valley
• To nurture our cultural and artistic landscape
• To serve as catalysts for creativity and imagination
• To utilize the media for positive community growth
• To create events to celebrate our local heritage and artists
• To encourage future filmmakers in our community
• To motivate the leaders of tomorrow
• To bridge the cultural gaps
The San Joaquin Film Society strives to build cultural bridges to unite the people of the dynamic Central Valley communities - one film, one event, and one step at a time.
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MAY 14 - 21, 2009
2009 SAN JOAQUIN INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
› Open SJIFF09 site
JANUARY 16 - 18, 2009
1st SAN JOAQUIN CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL
› Open SJCFF09 site
DECEMBER 12 - 17, 2009
1st CALIFORNIA INT'L DOC. FILM FESTIVAL
› Open CIDFF09 site
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
› Meet our Board
TEAMWORK
› Meet our Advisory Committee |
