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Monday, November 9, 2009
San Joaquin Film Society announces Latino Cinema Day, November 14, 2009, Free Community Event
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Announcing Official Program of 1st California Documentary Festival, October 2-4, 2009, Stockton
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
1st California Documentary Festival to Open with "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" October 2, 2009, 7:00PM
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
San Joaquin Film Society announces French Cinema Day, August 30, 2009, with Spotlight Film "The Beaches of Agnés" César Award Winner
Thursday, June 11, 2009
San Joaquin Film Society announces Jewish Cinema Day, July 19, 2009, with Spotlight Film "Beau Jest," starring Lainie Kazan, making its Northern California Premiere
Thursday, June 4, 2009
3rd San Joaquin International Film Festival Announces Worldwide Call for Entries and Festival Dates
Friday, May 22, 2009
2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival to Honor Director Jon Gunn with Independent Award
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Winners of 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival Jury Awards Announced
San Joaquin Film Society announces Latino Cinema Day, November 14, 2009, Free Community Event
Published: Monday, November 9, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) finishes its acclaimed 2009 World Cinema Series with Latino Cinema Day (LCD): Set to take place Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 2:00PM to 9:00PM, at the Tillie Lewis Theatre at San Joaquin Delta College (5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95207). Contact phone: (209) 423-4719. Admission is Free, with generous financial support from principal partner, Cultural Awareness Programs (CAP), and the Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) of San Joaquin Delta College.Latino Cinema Day (el Día del Cine Latino) is an illuminating mini-series, featuring new and celebrated films from the Americas and exploring contemporary Latino ideas and experiences.
2:00PM - FORUM ON MEXICAN CINEMA WITH DR. MISHA MACLAIRD
Dr. Misha MacLaird, an independent film scholar and curator from Oakland, California, will give an overview of new trends, markets, and policies in Mexico's film industry over the past 15 years - from blockbuster success stories to censorship scandals.
4:00PM - MEXICAN SHORT FILMS PROGRAM
Up-and-coming filmmakers are in focus at the Mexican Short Films program, with stories of youth and the coming-of-age, including select short films from celebrated artists of Mexico’s Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC). Short film selections are:-"La Quinceañera" by Adam Taub: "Many important events in Ana Maria’s life have been disappointing. Will her fifteenth birthday be any different? Her mother and five siblings are determined that it will be: hoping and struggling to make her Quinceañera a special day, despite a lack of support from her father." Winner of Best Documentary at Angelus Student Film Festival. (41 min., USA, México, 2007)- "Watching it Rain (Ver Llover)" by Elisa Miller: "The film tells the story of Jonás (Diego Cataño) and Sofía (Sofía Espinosa), two teenagers who live in a town. Sofia wants to move; Jonás has to decide whether to go with her or not." Winner of the prestigious 2007 Festival de Cannes Palm d'Or for Best Short Film and the Silver Ariel at the 2008 Ariel (Mexican Academy) Awards. (14 min., México, 2006)- "It Will Rain, and I Won't Be Yours" by Cristina Herrera Bòrque: "Hilda, an internet-savvy, young lady is approaching her thirties, and has not found the love of her life. With her best photograph, she joins an online dating service and finds the 'man of her dreams.' One night, they meet for dinner..." (21 min., CCC in México, 2009)- "About Football" by José Ramòn Chàvez Delgado: "Marcelino's whole life has been about the game of soccer. His single mother constantly tells him stories about his estranged father, proudly regarded as 'La Pantera Garcìa' - and who was a major soccer star in the 80s. Now in his preteen years, brave and anxious - Marcelino goes in search for his father." (21 min., CCC in México, 2009)
7:00PM - SPOTLIGHT FILM: "THE WINDOW"
The Spotlight Film is Carlos Sorín‘s captivating and poetic masterpiece "The Window (La Ventana)." Synopsis of "The Window": "It is a significant day for 80 year old Antonio. After an absence of many years, his estranged son is coming to visit. All must be perfect. There will be a toast with a very special champagne; an embrace; warm words that may finally bridge the gap between them... But before, Antonio must wait. Bedridden, he looks out his window at the Patagonian landscape and sees light and life, the past and the present, while sensing the future. He decides to secretly leave the house, unseen by his faithful caretakers, to take what might be a last walk in his fields, breathing the air, treading the earth, inhaling the scent of the land that had been his life. What could otherwise seem like insignificant memories or moments in one’s life, take a special, beautiful meaning and weight in this poetic, humanistic film." (80 min., Argentina, Spain, 2008)Preceding the Spotlight film is Miguel Alvarez's short flm "Kid," about a coming-of-age ritual that defines the relationship between a thirteen-year-old boy and his estranged father. (13 min., USA, 2007)All films are in Spanish and have English subtitles. For film details, trailers and more information: www.sjiff.org/lcd09Admission is Free. To guarantee seats, reserve tickets online at www.sjiff.org/ticketsTickets will also be available at door. First come, first served. Advanced and reserved ticket holders have priority entry. All tickets will be held at Will-Call directly at the Tillie Lewis Theatre entry one hour before the first show of the day (1:00PM).
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS) is the benchmark cinema arts organization in California's 400-mile Central Valley. The Film Society is home to the annual San Joaquin International Film Festival and the year-round World Cinema Series. The Film Society celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals and educational programs. The Film Society is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking, bringing the world's best, rarest, and newest works in cinema arts and media discoveries to the Valley. The Film Society presents over 100 programs and events annually, featuring over 200 films from 40+ nations; along with 100 visiting directors, actors, luminaries and cinema arts educators; social events and galas, special screenings, and workshops for filmmakers and filmgoers.Official Website: www.sjiff.org###
CONTACT
Sophoan Sorn
Email: ssorn@sjiff.org
Phone: (209) 423 4719
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
For still images, visit http://www.sjiff.org/downloads.html
Announcing Official Program of 1st California Documentary Festival, October 2-4, 2009, Stockton
Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) announces the Official Program of its inaugural California Documentary Festival (CalDocFest), California Central Valley’s first international focus on nonfiction cinema, set to take place October 2nd to 4th, 2009 in Stockton.
Festival Website: www.caldocfest.org
CalDocFest is dedicated to promoting gifted documentary filmmakers and sharing knowledge and understanding of our world with audiences of California’s Central Valley and beyond. The vibrant roster of events will feature new works, new directors, distinguished and award-winning films, a spotlight on California filmmakers, creative conversations with guest artists, and educational events. Nine feature films and six short films (including premieres), along with the presence of directors and luminaries, will light up an exciting and memorable weekend in Stockton.
CalDocFest will jumpstart the Film Society's new Compassion for Humanity Initiative, an on-going educational campaign to advance, promote and support social consciousness, social justice, activism and humanity through film.
• Sophoan Sorn, Founder and Creator of Festivals, San Joaquin Film Society: “CalDocFest is a celebration of diversity, history, and humanity. Featured are the true stories of: A Jewish civil rights lawyer fighting for all people; an iconic Italian fashion designer sharing his passionate life; a Bay Area indie-rocker cherishing life with a new kidney; crying, young Chinese gymnasts and gay American Olympians facing tremendous obstacles; a British grandmother reuniting with a celestial planet that she had named; California Chicano artists influencing the music that rocks our life today; and so much more! The festival will also jump start the Society's new Compassion for Humanity Initiative, an on-going educational campaign to advance, promote and support social consciousness, social justice, activism and humanity through film. Our Film Society and partners are so thrilled to showcase the works of such intelligent and innovative filmmakers; and to contribute to the positive profile of California’s Central Valley - particularly the host city of Stockton - with this richness of cultural arts, awareness, education, and entertainment."
GALAS
• "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe"
Opening Night - Friday, October 2nd at 7:00PM
Directors Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler (USA, 2009) – Central Valley Premiere. (L'Oreal Women of Worth Vision Award Honoree at 2009 Sundance Film Festival) "Filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, Kunstler fought for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and represented the famed 'Chicago 8' activists who protested the Vietnam War. When the inmates took over Attica prison, or when the American Indian Movement stood up to the federal government at Wounded Knee, they asked Kunstler to be their lawyer. To his daughters, it seemed that he was at the center of everything important that had ever happened. But when they were growing up, Kunstler represented some of the most reviled members of society. This powerful film not only recounts the historic causes that Kunstler fought for; it also confronts a man that even his own daughters did not always understand, a man who believed that, however unpopular, justice should serve all." (www.disturbingtheuniverse.com) English, 90 minutes
• "Valentino The Last Emperor"
Centerpiece - Saturday, October 3rd at 2:00PM
A Presentation of the Fashion Program of San Joaquin Delta College
Director Matt Tyrnauer (in-person at festival) (USA, Italy, 2008) – (Official Selection, 2009 Venice International Film Festival) "An extraordinary, intimate, and charming film. This cinematic story captures the legendary designer Valentino Garavani in the wake of his exit in 2008 from the company he founded in Rome more than 45 years ago. The film is an intimate, engaging and very funny fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's richest and most famous men. The film documents the colorful and dramatic closing act of Valentino's celebrated career, tells the story of his extraordinary life and work, and also explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business today. But at the heart of the film is the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti." (www.valentinomovie.com) English, Italian, with English subtitles, 96 minutes
• "Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles"
Closing Night - Sunday, October 4th at 7:30PM
Director John Wilkman (in-person at festival) (USA, 2008) – (Spotlight on California) "A major untold Californian and American story: This is the history of Chicano rock ‘n’ roll and how it defined – and continues to define – the Latino community in East Los Angeles. A spirited and vibrant documentary about the generations of young Mexican-Americans who proudly expressed their identity through music. The program is filled with intimate first-person storytelling, rare film and photos, and exuberant music from artists such as the legendary Ritchie Valens, Lalo Guerrero, and classic bands such as Cannibal and the Headhunters, Thee Midniters of "Whittier Blvd." fame, El Chicano, Tierra and Los Lobos." (www.wilkman.com) English, Spanish, with English subtitles, 90 minutes
FEATURE FILMS
• "The Beaches of Agnés" (Les plages d'Agnès)
Sunday, October 4th at 3:00PM
Director Agnés Varda (France, 2009) – (Winner of 2009 César Award for Best Documentary) "A reflection on art, life and the movies, This is a magnificent new film from the great Agnes Varda, director of 'Cleo from 5 to 7' and 'The Gleaners and I,' a richly cinematic self portrait that touches on everything from the feminist movement and the Black Panthers to the films of husband Jacques Demy and the birth of the French New Wave." (www.cinemaguild.com//beachesofagnes) French, English, with English subtitles, 107 minutes
• "Good Fortune"
Saturday, October 3rd at 4:00PM
Director Landon Van Soest (attendance to be confirmed) (USA, Kenya, 2009) – West Coast Premiere. (Winner of 2009 Witness Award at AFI Discovery SilverDocs International Film Festival) "Exploring how massive, international efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities they aim to benefit. Through intimate portraits of two Kenyans battling to save their homes from large-scale development organizations, the film presents a unique opportunity to experience foreign aid through the people it is intended to benefit." (www.transientpictures.com) English, Swahili, with English subtitles, 70 minutes
• "D Tour"
Saturday, October 3rd at 6:00PM
Director Jim Granato (USA, 2008) – (Golden Gate Award for Best Bay Area Documentary Film at 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival) "A rock 'n' roll film about life, death, and bodily functions. Pat Spurgeon is a professional musician whose dreams of being in a successful rock ‘n’ roll band have come true. But just as his band, Rogue Wave, starts to take off, his kidney starts to fail." (www.dtourmovie.com) English, 99 minutes
• "Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!"
Saturday, October 3rd at 8:00PM
Director David Silberberg (attendance to be confirmed) (USA, 2008) – (Spotlight on California) "An obsessively made documentary filmed over 18 years, exploring the creative life and adventures of director Silberberg’s friend, the eccentric art car artist, film-maker, and entrepreneur Harrod Blank. Blank is captured from his youth growing up in the woods to the creation of his first attention-getting art car, to his current multi-faceted career as creator and head of a nationwide art car movement." (www.d4doc.com) English, 75 minutes
• "The Red Race"
Saturday, October 3rd at 10:00PM
Director Chao Gan (China, Germany) – (Winner of 2008 Peabody Award and Special Jury Prize at AFI Discovery SilverDocs) "This observational documentary offers a controversial look into the lives of a group of young Chinese children enrolled in an intensive gymnastics training program. The adults in their lives, all continuously reinforce one ultimate goal: winning a gold medal at the Olympics. This detailed insight captures the contradictions of modern China and the cost paid for the country’s dreams." (www.ganchao.net) Chinese, with English subtitles, 70 minutes
• "Speaking in Tongues"
Sunday, October 4th at 1:00PM
Directors Marcia Jarmel, Ken Schneider (in-person at festival) (USA) – (Spotlight on California, Audience Award Winner at 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival) "In a time where 31 states have passed English Only initiatives, one urban school district is exploring the provocative notion that speaking a foreign language can be a national asset. We follow four diverse students and their families as they encounter the challenges and delights of becoming fluent in two languages." (www.patchworksfilms.net) English, Spanish, Chinese, with English subtitles, 60 minutes
SHORT FILMS
• "12 Notes Down" (12 Toner Ned)
Friday, October 2nd at 9:30PM (DocShorts One)
Director Andreas Koefoed (Denmark, 2008) – (Winner of 2009 Sterling Award for Best Short Film at AFI Discovery SilverDocs International Film Festival) "A star performer of the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir, 14-year-old Jorgis leads his peers with charming confidence and lifts the entire choir’s spirit with his generous smile. When his voice suddenly begins to change, Jorgis must decide when and how to make an unexpected yet graceful exit." Danish, English subtitles, 27 minutes (Additional Notes: Winner of 2009 Best Documentary Short Film at San Joaquin International Film Festival)
• "Anita's Africa"
Friday, October 2nd at 9:30PM (DocShorts One)
Director Beverley Reid (Canada, Uganda, 2007) – (Official Selection, 2008 Seattle International Film Festival) "A pen pal letter from a girl in Uganda becomes a visual postcard of her daily life." English, 18 minutes
• "Claiming the Title: Gay Olympians on Trial"
Sunday, October 4th at 5:00PM (DocShorts Two)
Directors Jonathan Joiner, Robert Martin (in-person at festival) (USA, 2009) – Central California Premiere. (Audience Award for Best Documentary, 2009 Palm Springs International ShortFest) "The story of the San Francisco athletic group that tried to hold a 'Gay Olympics,' instigate a battle at the nation’s highest court and a challenge over the place of gays and lesbians in American society." (www.claimingthetitle.com) English, 30 minutes
• "Naming Pluto"
Friday, October 2nd at 9:30PM (DocShorts One)
Director Ginita Jimenez (UK, 2008) – Northern California Premiere. "In 1930, American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovers Planet X. Across the Atlantic, 11-year-old Venetia Burney becomes the only child in the world to name a planet. 77 years later, she gets the opportunity to see Pluto through a telescope for the first time." (www.fatherfilms.com) English, 13 minutes
• "Nous Deux Encore"
Sunday, October 4th at 5:00PM (DocShorts Two)
Director Heather Harlow (USA, France 2009) – (Best Short Film Winner, 2009 Portland International Film Festival) "Twenty two years after the sudden death of her Greek husband, Maxie, a former French television journalist, takes us into the soul of the love affair that changed her life forever. Captured visually through many of the countless photos he snapped over the years, this piercing portrait of one couples' passion for life and each other will touch even the most disenchanted hearts." (www.nousdeuxencore.com) French, English Subtitles, 17 minutes
• "Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Body Image"
Sunday, October 4th at 5:00PM (DocShorts Two)
Director Erahm Christopher (Editor Shane Williamson in-person at festival) (USA, Canada, 2009) – (Spotlight on California, San Joaquin Filmmakers) "Regardless of how closely their actual figure resembles their perception, teenagers' body image can affect their self-esteem, eating and exercise habits, relationships with others and ultimately their health. Using the series' signature student-shot style, this film presents real people discussing how celebrity, media, sports and peer influences can shape one's body image and ultimately lead to dangerous habits. In the end, this affecting film challenges viewers to think differently about how they see their body image and the body images of others, and ultimately empowers them to find true strength and beauty from within." (www.teentruthlive.com) English, 24 minutes
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS AND POST-FILM DISCUSSIONS
• Launch of SJFS Compassion for Humanity Initiative
Friday, October 2nd at 8:30PM following Opening Night Film “William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe”
Special Guests to Be Announced
• A Conversation with Matt Tyrnauer
Saturday, October 3rd at 4:00PM following “Valentino The Last Emperor” (at Atherton Auditorium)
- Presented by the Fashion Program at San Joaquin Delta College
Special Guests in Attendance: Director Matt Tynauer, Michael Palladino of LIM College, New York
• Good Fortune for Africa
Saturday, October 3rd at 5:15PM following “Good Fortune”
Special Guests to Be Announced
• Is English Enough in America?
Sunday, October 4th at 2:00PM following “Speaking in Tongues”
Special Guest in Attendance: Director Marcia Jarmel
• Film for Activism
Sunday, October 4th at 6:30PM following DocShorts Two (Re: “Claiming the Title” “Teen Truth”)
Special Guests in Attendance: Directors Jonathan Joiner, Robert Martin, Shane Williamson
• Sights and Sounds with Jon Wilkman
Sunday, October 4th at 9:00PM following “Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles”
Special Guest in Attendance: Director Jon Wilkman
SCHEDULE
Friday, October 2nd
•
7:00PM "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" (Opening Night Film)
• 9:30PM "DocShorts One" Shorts Program
Saturday, October 3rd
•
2:00PM "Valentino The Last Emperor" (Centerpiece Film)
• 4:00PM "Good Fortune" (West Coast Premiere)
•
6:00PM "D Tour" (Free for Film Society Members)
•
8:00PM "Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!"
• 10:00PM "The Red Race"
Sunday, October 4th
• 1:00PM "Speaking in Tongues"
•
3:00PM "The Beaches of Agnés"
•
5:00PM "DocShorts Two" Shorts Program
•
7:30PM "Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles" (Closing Night Film)
VENUES
Stockton Empire Theatre (Main Venue)
on the Miracle Mile
1825 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95204
Atherton Auditorium (Only for Centerpiece Film “Valentino”)
at San Joaquin Delta College
Delta Center for the Arts
5151 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95207
ADMISSION
All festival screenings are open to the public. Films not in English have English subtitles.
• Tickets for All Regular Shows are $7-$9 each
• Tickets for Opening and Closing Night Films are $10-$12 each
• Tickets for Centerpiece Film are $5-$12 each (available only through San Joaquin Delta College Center for the Arts Box Office at (209) 954-5110)
• Tickets for "D Tour" are $10 each or FREE for Film Society Members
• Festival Pass: General Public $75, Film Society Member $60
(Access to all films except Centerpiece)
Festival hotline: -
Advance tickets on sale at www.sjiff.org/tickets
Box Office opens one hour prior to first show of the day at respective venues.
Film Society Membership information at www.sjiff.org/members.html
MEDIA
For still images from films, directors’ headshots, and electronic press kits, visit www.sjiff.org/filmstills.html
INDUSTRY AND MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Industry and Media Accreditations are to be granted at the discretion of the San Joaquin Film Society. For more information, visit www.sjiff.org/caldocfest/media.html
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS) is the benchmark cinema arts organization of California’s 400-mile Central Valley and home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF). The Society celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals and educational programs. For 2009, with a home base in Stockton, California, the Society launched an ambitious and exhilarating year-round program, which includes: The flagship 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (May 14 to 23), San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 16 to 18), California Documentary Festival (October 2 to 4), year-round world cinema series and mini-festivals (Cinema Italia, Jewish Cinema Day, French Cinema Day, Latino Cinema Day), social events and galas, special screenings, a membership program, and educational events. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich, Valley audiences and beyond.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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1st California Documentary Festival to Open with "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" October 2, 2009, 7:00PM
Published: Tuesday, September 1, 2009
 
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS), the benchmark cinema organization of California's 400-mile Central Valley, is proud to announce the powerful and captivating "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" (Dir. by sisters Emily and Sarah Kunstler) as the Opening Night Film of the Society's inaugural California Documentary Festival (Oct. 2-4), making its Central Valley Premiere. Showtime is Friday, October 2, 2009 at 7:00PM at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, 95202).
• Sophoan Sorn, Founder, San Joaquin Film Society: “I was lost for words, filled with emotion, and moved to tears when I saw this film for the first time at its San Francisco Premiere in July. What an masterful, historical and intriguing tribute that the Kunstler sisters have created for their father! In addition, our Film Society is so honored to have this film open our new documentary festival and that it will jumpstart our new Compassion for Humanity Initiative, an on-going educational campaign to advance, promote and support social consciousness, social justice, activism and humanity through film."
Film's Page: www.sjiff.org/caldocfest/f-universe.html
Admission is $12.00 General, $11.00 Senior 65+ or Student with ID or Disabled Person, $10.00 for Film Society Member. Advance Tickets go on sale online on Friday, August 28th via www.sjiff.org/tickets .
Media: For still images, visit www.sjiff.org/filmstills.html
ABOUT THE FILM
In "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, Kunstler fought for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and represented the famed “Chicago 8” activists who protested the Vietnam War. When the inmates took over Attica prison, or when the American Indian Movement stood up to the federal government at Wounded Knee, they asked Kunstler to be their lawyer.To his daughters, it seemed that he was at the center of everything important that had ever happened. But when they were growing up, Kunstler represented some of the most reviled members of society, including rapists and assassins. This powerful film not only recounts the historic causes that Kunstler fought for; it also confronts a man that even his own daughters did not always understand, a man who believed that, however unpopular, justice should serve all.
"William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" held its World Premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in January, where it was honored with the L'Oreal Women of Worth Vision Award. It went on to screen and be honored at major international film festivals across America, including Special Mention for the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award at the Full Frame Documentary Festival, runner-up for the Golden Space Needle Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival, and won the Special Jury Prize for Best New Documentary Filmmaker at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler (producers / directors) run Off Center Media (www.off-center.com), a production company that produces documentaries exposing injustice in the criminal justice system. The sisters founded Off Center Media in 2000, and have produced, directed, and edited a number of short documentaries, including "Tulia, Texas: Scenes from the Drug War" (2002), which won Best Documentary Short at the Woodstock Film Festival, and was instrumental in winning exoneration for 46 wrongfully convicted people; and "Getting Through to the President" (2004), which has aired on the Sundance Channel.Other notable Off Center Media projects include "A Pattern of Exclusion: The Trial of Thomas Miller-El" (2002), a documentary about racism at the trial of Miller-El, who had been on death row in Texas since 1985; "The Norfolk Four: A Miscarriage of Justice" (2006), about four young men in Norfolk, Virginia, who falsely confessed to a rape-murder that they did not commit; and "Executing the Insane: The Case of Scott Panetti" (2007). These films have contributed to campaigns to secure pardons, stay executions and convince decision makers to reopen cases. "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" is the sisters’ first documentary feature.
Emily Kunstler graduated in 2000 from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Video. She was a video producer for Democracy Now!, an independent national television and radio news program, and a studio art fellow with the Independent Study Program of the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2004.
Sarah Kunstler graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography in 1998 and from Columbia Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 2004. She is currently a criminal defense attorney practicing in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
The sisters were awarded the L'Oreal Women of Worth Vision Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize for Best New Filmmakers at the Traverse City Film Festival.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The California Documentary Festival (CalDocFest) is the San Joaquin Film Society's newest festival, inaugurating October 2 to 4, 2009. It is a showcase dedicated to promoting gifted documentarians by cultivating knowledge and understanding of our world through non-fiction cinema and dynamic storytelling - and presenting their works to new audiences in California's Central Valley and beyond. CalDocFest will present a vibrant and exhilarating set of programs, featuring new works, new directors, American and international documentaries, a spotlight on California documentarians, creative conversations with guest artists, and educational programming. Full line-up to be announced by September 2009.
Festival Website: www.caldocfest.org
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF), celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, with a home base in Stockton, California, the Society launched an ambitious and exhilarating year-round programme of events: The flagship 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (May 14 to 23), the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 16 to 18), Cinema Italia Series (February 16 to 28), Jewish Cinema Day (July 19), French Cinema Day (August 30), Latino Cinema Day (November 15), the 1st California Documentary Festival (October 2 to 4), the Cinema Room (March-May), social events and galas, special screenings, workshops for filmmakers, a new membership program, and educational programming. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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San Joaquin Film Society announces French Cinema Day, August 30, 2009, with Spotlight Film "The Beaches of Agnés" César Award Winner
Published: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS), the benchmark cinema organization of California's Central Valley, celebrates an illustrious 2009 year by kicking-off its Autumn Season with French Cinema Day (FCD): Set to take place Sunday, August 30, 2009 from 1:00PM to 9:00PM, at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204).
Curated and presented by SJFS as part of its Global Cinema Series, FCD 2009 will feature new, celebrated, and award-winning works from French and international filmmakers sharing contemporary experiences, historical events, insightful perspectives and innovative creations.
The first two films announced:
• "The Beaches of Agnés" directed by Agnes Varda (7:30PM)
• "A Secret" directed by Claude Miller (3:00PM)
"A Secret" is a majestic and captivating post-Holocaust drama, adapted from a novel by Philippe Grimbert. About a boy who unearths a shocking family secret, the film received multiple 2008 César Award nominations and success at the French box office.
Selected as the Spotlight Film will be the 2009 César Award (French Academy Award) Winner "The Beaches of Agnés" - a riveting, vibrant, kaleidoscopic and supremely-intelligent self-portrait directed by French New Wave veteran Agnes Varda.
Synopses for both films are below. Yet to be announced are the selected films of two shorts programs of short-length narratives and animations.
For film line-up, showtimes, and information: www.sjiff.org/fcd09
For advance tickets and day pass: www.sjiff.org/tickets
Advance tickets go on sale online on or before August 7, 2009. $7-$12.
SYNOPSIS OF "THE BEACHES OF AGNES"
"A reflection on art, life and the movies, "The Beaches of Agnes" is a magnificent new film from the great Agnes Varda, director of Cleo from 5 to 7 and The Gleaners and I, a richly cinematic self portrait that touches on everything from the feminist movement and the Black Panthers to the films of husband Jacques Demy and the birth of the French New Wave.
When one thinks of the major figures of postwar cinema, the name Agnès Varda immediately springs to mind. Her body of work in both fiction and documentary is defined by a wealth of innovation and imagination. Irrepressible and enquiring, she is a force of nature, and even at eighty shows no signs of slowing down. Her new film is a reminder that there are few artists capable of such eloquence in cinema.
Varda takes beaches as her point of departure. Though she was not born near the ocean, she would travel to the seaside every Easter and summer during her childhood, and her memories of these trips act as a springboard for the film's meditation on her early life. She recalls her wartime exile to the coastal village of Sète as a period of endless fun and life jackets. While a young adult, Varda began her career as a photographer before raising a family with her husband, Jacques Demy (best known for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) and eventually turning to filmmaking. Returning to Sète over a decade after the end of the war, she used the locale and its fishermen as the backdrop for her remarkable first feature film, La Pointe Courte.
Varda weaves photographs, vintage footage, film clips, and present-day sequences into a memorable voyage through her life, during which she confronts the joy of creation and the pain of personal loss, death and aging. It is a singular trip played out against the exciting context of the postwar explosion of cultural expression in France. She knew everyone: her colleagues in the French New Wave, the Black Panthers in California and even Jim Morrison, who would visit when in Paris. Idiosyncratic, engaging and deeply moving, The Beaches of Agnes is a journey through an extraordinary artistic life." (Distributor: The Cinema Guild)
SYNOPSIS OF "A SECRET"
Cast Members: Cecile de France, Patrick Bruel, Ludivine Sagnier, Julie Depardieu, Mathieu Amalric.
"'A Secret' follows the saga of a Jewish family in post-World War II Paris. François, a solitary, imaginative child, invents for himself a brother as well as the story of his parents’ past. But on his fifteenth birthday, he discovers a dark family secret that ties his family’s history to the Holocaust and shatters his illusions forever. Before the war, his father, Maxime, was married to Hannah when he fell madly in love with Francois’s mother, Tania. As a young Jewish couple living in Nazi-occupied France, Maxime and Tania were compelled to make difficult choices to survive the war while Hannah (Sagnier) would make a decision that would change her life and that of her family forever."
Winner of the American Grand Prize at the 2007 Montreal World Film Festival and Official Selection of 2008 Rendez-vous with French Cinema, Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York City. (Distributor: Strand Releasing)
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF), celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, with a home base in Stockton, California, the Society launched an ambitious and exhilarating year-round programme of events: The flagship 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (May 14 to 23), the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 16 to 18), Cinema Italia Series (February 16 to 28), Jewish Cinema Day (July 19), French Cinema Day (August), Latino Cinema Day (November 15), the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival (October 2 to 4), the Cinema Room (March-May), social events and galas, special screenings, workshops for filmmakers, a new membership program, and educational programming. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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San Joaquin Film Society announces Jewish Cinema Day, July 19, 2009, with Spotlight Film "Beau Jest," starring Lainie Kazan, making its Northern California Premiere
Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) announces Jewish Cinema Day, set to take place Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 1:00PM to 9:00PM, at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204).
The Spotlight of Jewish Cinema Day will be the Northern California Premiere of "Beau Jest," (Showtime at 7:00PM) directed by James Sherman, starring veteran actors: Emmy and Tony-nominated Lainie Kazan and Academy Award-nominated Seymour Cassel. (see synopsis below)
Jewish Cinema Day, an SJFS Global Cinema Series, will feature select new works from American and International Jewish filmmakers, celebrating and sharing the contemporary Jewish experience. Four captivating exhibitions will showcase three feature films and one short films program, with eclectic stories of family, romance, friendship, cultural exchange, globalization, history, coming-of-age, and ethical issues.
For film line-up, showtimes, and information: www.sjiff.org/jcd09
For advance tickets and day pass: www.sjiff.org/tickets
SYNOPSIS OF "BEAU JEST"
A film adaptation of an Off-Broadway play written by James Sherman: "Beau Jest" (also Sherman's directorial debut) is the hilarious, heartwarming story about Sarah Goldman, a beautiful young school teacher from Chicago who is involved with Chris, a great guy with just one apparent flaw, he's not Jewish. Sarah tells her parents that she is no longer seeing Chris, but continues to date him in secret.
To keep her mother from trying to fix her up with "nice Jewish boys," Sarah invents the perfect boyfriend and regales her parents with stories of the man of her mother’s dreams. Eventually they insist on meeting the man, and in desperation, Sarah hires Bob, an actor, to play the part of her new beau. Unaware of the scope of the role he has taken on, Bob accompanies Sarah to dinner with her parents and her brother Joel. He quickly realizes that what he has gotten himself into is much more than he bargained for. It will take all of his charm, wit and improvisational skills to pull off the charade. But Bob rises to the occasion, and the antics that follow is only the beginning of a side-splitting tale that will have you rolling in the aisles, and wiping tears from your eyes at the same time.
"Beau Jest" stars Lainie Kazan, Robyn Cohen, Tony Daly, Willie Garson, Greg Cromer and Seymour Cassel.
Showtime: Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 7:00PM.
Tickets: $12.00 General, $11.00 Student / Seniors 65+, $10.00 Member
For more information, trailer, cast biographies: www.beaujestmovie.com
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF), celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, in addition to the 2nd annual SJIFF in May, SJFS launched an ambitious year of events that includes the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in the Fall, year-round cinema programs, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival to Honor Director Jon Gunn with Independent Award at Closing Night
Published: Friday, May 22, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society will be honoring Jon Gunn, an American writer, producer, director and co-creator of IndieProducer, with the inaugural 2009 Independent Award. The award honors a spirited innovator who empowers independent filmmaking through impactful creativity, exemplary talent and steadfast leadership.The award will be presented following the Closing Night screening of his directorial feature "Like Dandelion Dust" at 7:30PM on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Faye Spanos Concert Hall at University of the Pacific (3601 Pacific Avenue, Corner of Dave Brubeck way). Director Gunn is expected to be in attendance to accept the award, and take part in a Q&A session with the audience and special guests, after the screening. A Closing Night Party follows at 9:45PM at Centrale (1825 Pacific) with special guests, scrumptious treats and the hot beats of DJ Nica.
Show Tickets
$15.00 General / $12.00 Senior 65+, Student, Member
Party Tickets
$35.00 Show + Party / $25.00 Party Only
Advance tickets available at www.sjiff.org/tickets or www.pacifictigers.tix.com or at Faye Spanos Concert Hall (corner of Pacific and Dave Brubeck Way) on day of show beginning at 1:30PM.
ABOUT JON GUNN
American Writer, Director and Editor Jon Gunn made his feature film debut in 2000 with Mercy Streets. Before being released in theaters, Mercy Streets received the Best Feature Film award at the What You See is What You Get Festival, and the Movie Guide Award for “10 Best Films of 2000”.
His next feature, My Date with Drew, had a worldwide theatrical release in the summer of 2005 and won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival, NY Gen Art Film Festival, and Vail Film Festival. It also swept the 2005 Sonoma Film Festival, winning three awards, including the Jury Prize for Best Feature. My Date With Drew beat Napoleon Dynamite, Super Size Me and Garden State for Best Feature, and was listed on www.the-numbers.com as the fifth most profitable film of all times.
Gunn co-wrote Ian the Vampire and a comedy The Final Four, both currently in development at Fox Searchlight, where he has a blind script deal. He is now writing Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians for Dreamworks Animation.
In 2002, Gunn teamed up with producer Kerry David (Executive Producer, Agent Cody Banks; Producer, upcoming Don Cheadle Miles Davis project) to create Lucky Crow Films. They have produced both film and television projects, optioned numerous literary properties, and are currently in pre-production on a number of feature projects, including Why Beulah Shot her Pistol Inside The Baptist Church, a dark comedy adapted by Gail Gilchriest (My Dog Skip) from the novel by Clayton Sullivan.
Gunn and David also co-own IndieProducer (www.indieproducer.net), a renown, worldwide filmmaking community created to discover, educate and support new and emerging talent in film.
• Film's Official page: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09/f-dandelion.html
• For high-quality images from film: www.sjiff.org/filmstills.html
ABOUT "LIKE DANDELION DUST"
Synopsis of Karen Kingsbury's "Like Dandelion Dust" based on the best-selling novel: "Jack and Molly Campbell (Cole Hauser, Kate Levering) are right where they want to be, enjoying an idyllic life with their six-year-old son Joey (Maxwell Perry Cotton), and the close family and friends who live in their small hometown just outside of West Palm Beach, Florida. Then the phone call comes from the social worker the Campbells never expected to hear from again. Three states away in Ohio, Joey's biological father (Barry Pepper) has just been released from prison. He is ready to start life over with his wife Wendy (Mira Sorvino) but not without their son.
A judge's quick decision deals a devastating blow to the Campbell family: Joey must be returned to his biological parents.
In the days that follow the ruling, Jack & Molly Campbell have a desperate and dangerous thought. What if they can devise a way out? They could take Joey and simply disappear... LIKE DANDELION DUST." - www.likedandeliondust.com
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2), the flagship annual exhibition of the San Joaquin Film Society taking place May 14 to 23, 2009 - is a glorious world showcase of new and innovative works from emerging talents and seasoned international artists, presented in various venues across the city of Stockton in the heart of California's Central Valley. SJIFF2 will feature: red carpet premieres; new independent American and world films; Animania - a cinematic spotlight on animated cinema; tributes to celebrated and rising filmmakers; an exhilarating collection of the world's top short-length films from new and accomplished directors; educational programs, panels, interactive discussions; family events and programmes; a cultural family day at the museum; guest celebrities, entertainment and industry luminaries, and filmmakers from around the nation and the world; galas and festive parties; and diverse programs for all ages.
Official Festival Website: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09
Films: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09/films.html
Tickets: www.sjiff.org/tickets
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, in addition to the international film festival in May, SJFS launched an ambitious year of events that includes the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in the Fall, year-round cinema programs, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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Winners of 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival Jury Awards Announced
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society is proud to announce the winning films of the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival Jury Awards. Winnings films were selected by a distinguished jury of film artists and industry professionals.
The winners are:
Best Narrative Feature Film
• "Cherry Blossoms" - Dir. Doris Dörrie (Germany, Japan)
Best Documentary Feature Film
• "D Tour" - Dir. Jim Granato (USA)
Best Narrative Short Film
• "Memphis Calling" - Dir. Colin Mitchell USA)
Best Documentary Short Film
• "12 Notes Down" - Dir. Andreas Koefoed (Denmark)
Best Animated Short Film
• "Chicory 'n' Coffee" - Dir. Dusan Kastelic (Slovenia)
Best Experimental Short Film
• "Slow" - Dir. Kurt Kuenne (USA)
Experimental Short Film Honorable Mention
• "Flying Lessons" - Dir. Rosane Chamecki, Phil Harder, Andrea Lerner (USA)
Best Student Short Film
• "The Watchman and the Little Girl" - Dir. Christoph Englert (Germany)
Members of the jury are:
Narrative Feature Competition
• Misha McLaird, PhD
(Director of Acquisitions, Las Américas Film Network)
• Chris Wiggum
(Director of Public Relations and Business Development, Global Film Initiative)
Documentary Feature Competition
• Kristy Guevara-Flanagan
(Documentary Director)
• Teresa Hagen
(Owner, Cut Loose Productions)
Short Films Competition
• Erahm Christopher
(Director, Writer, and Producer)
• Jessica Sison
(Documentary Filmmaker and Editor)
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2), the flagship annual exhibition of the San Joaquin Film Society taking place May 14 to 23, 2009 - is a glorious world showcase of new and innovative works from emerging talents and seasoned international artists, presented in various venues across the city of Stockton in the heart of California's Central Valley. SJIFF2 will feature: red carpet premieres; new independent American and world films; Animania - a cinematic spotlight on animated cinema; tributes to celebrated and rising filmmakers; an exhilarating collection of the world's top short-length films from new and accomplished directors; educational programs, panels, interactive discussions; family events and programmes; a cultural family day at the museum; guest celebrities, entertainment and industry luminaries, and filmmakers from around the nation and the world; galas and festive parties; and diverse programs for all ages.
Official Festival Website: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09
Films: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09/films.html
Tickets: www.sjiff.org/tickets
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, in addition to the international film festival in May, SJFS launched an ambitious year of events that includes the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in the Fall, year-round cinema programs, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
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