Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:00PM, 9:30PM | Bob Hope (Fox) Theatre | Marcello Marcello
Red Carpet Ribbon Cutting at 6:00PM

Experience an extraordinary celebration to open the 2nd edition of the San Joaquin International Film Festival. SJIFF2, the ten-day flagship festival of the San Joaquin Film Society, will kick-off with the Northern California premiere of Denis Rabaglia's "Marcello Marcello" Official Red Carpet Ribbon Cutting at 6:00PM with the honorable presence of Francesco Mistichelli, the film's principle actor.

At 7:00PM the Show Begins! Follow the red carpet to an extraordinary evening with: a special compilation of clips from SJIFF2 films; presentation of prizes to award-winning films of SJIFF2 selected by a distinguished jury; the Opening short film "Para Asia" (USA Premiere) by Spanish-Singaporean director Fran Borgia; and the presence of celebrated filmmakers and innovators from around the world - all leading up to the Northern California Premiere of "Marcello Marcello." Francesco Mistichelli will receive the festival's inaugural Discovery Award following the screening. Amanda King, Mistress of Ceremony.

At 9:30PM, be seen in style at the annual "With the Stars" Opening Night Party, taking place in the theater’s mezzanine. Celebrate SJIFF2 with festive entertainment by jazz guitarist Travis Vega and an energetic crowd of film lovers, guest artists, and the media. Savor a collection of scrumptious cuisine from Downtown Stockton restaurants, along with fine wine and refreshing drinks.

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Friday, May 15, 2009 | Stockton Empire Theatre | Director Kimberlee Bassford

SJFS will present its 2nd Spirit of Humanity Award to multiple award-winning, Hawaiian-American director Kimberlee Bassford for her documentary film "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority." The award honors a filmmaker who uses cinema as an important instrument to advance, celebrate, and promote humanity.

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Saturday May 16, 2009 at 1:30PM | The Haggin Museum | Animania Family Festival

The Haggin Museum presents the 3rd edition of the SJIFF Family Festival Series - Animania Family Festival. This year, the cultural family program celebrates the world of animation, with guest animators, comic artists, educational conversations, and hands-on activities and crafts for kids of all ages! Featuring Annie Award-nominated animator Joaquin Baldwin and local artists.

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Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 6:30PM | Stockton Empire Theatre | Animator Bill Plympton

SJFS will present its inaugural El Dorado Award to Academy Award-nominated, "Indie Animation King" Bill Plympton, a world-renown artist whose artistry, creativity, and originality has made a tremendous impact on independent cinema. Join Mr. Plympton on-stage for a candid conversation about his dynamic career, and experience the Central Valley Premiere of his critically-acclaimed, new animated feature, "Idiots and Angels."

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Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 3:30PM | Stockton Empire Theatre | Universalove

At the heart of SJIFF2 is a cinematic story that captures the essence of humanity, power of expression, and universality of cinema arts. Experience a breathtaking afternoon at the West Coast Premiere of Thomas Woschitz's "Universalove": a global love story, with six episodes in six different places of the world, told in a symbiosis of modern story-telling, set to the haunting original soundtrack by Austrian indie rock band, Naked Lunch.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 4:00PM | Faye Spanos Concert Hall at Pacific | Veer

SJIFF2 welcomes home Stockton-born cinematographer Jason Turner, with the California Premiere of the audience-acclaimed "Veer," a fascinating new documentary on America’s fast-growing bicycling culture, produced and photographed by Turner and directed by Greg Fedette.

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Saturday May 23, 2009 at 7:30PM, 9:45PM | Faye Spanos Concert Hall at Pacific | LIke Dandelion Dust

After ten days of cinematic festivities, SJIFF2 closes with an unforgettable evening: Experience the Central Valley Premiere of the deeply-inspiring and evocatively-moving film adaptation of Karen Kingsbury’s “Like Dandelion’s Dust,” based on the best-selling novel, starring Academy Award-winning Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Sacramento-born Kate Levering, Maxwell Perry Cotton, and Cole Hauser. Red Carpet Welcome at 6:30PM. The Closing Night Gala opens with special remarks and the 2009 Independent Award presented to visiting director Jon Gunn. The crown jewel of the evening is "Like Dandelion Dust." Following the screening will be a extraordinary conversation with many cast and crew members. At 9:30PM, celebrate in style at the chic and innovative Centrale for the Closing Night Party. Mingle with special guests from the film, enjoy scrumptious appetizers and delicious drinks, while dancing the night away to hot beats of DJ Nica.

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