38 San Francisco Film Festivals
January
Noir City: San Francisco Film Noir Festival (Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street)
Dedicated to noir philosophy, attitude and style in films, books, art and music, the festival is the largest of its kind in the U.S. and promises “ultra rare films and very special guests.” Website
February
San Francisco Independent Film Festival (Roxie Theatre and various locations)
This film festival screens the best of independent films and videos from the Bay Area and beyond. WebsiteMostly British Film Festival (Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento Street)
This week-long film fest spotlights works from the U.K., Ireland, Australia and South Africa. WebsiteBerlin & Beyond (Castro Theater)
America's leading festival of contemporary cinema from German-speaking countries, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Website
March
Academy of Friends Academy Awards Gala (Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street)
A gala celebration benefiting Bay Area AIDS/HIV organizations. WebsiteOcean Film Festival (Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture)
One of the largest and most diverse of its kind, the festival features documentaries, animations, narratives and other traditional screen fare on topics ranging from ocean adventures to island culture and more. WebsiteDisposable Film Festival (Castro Theater, 429 Castro Street)
Selected by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the world’s “coolest film festivals,” the DFF celebrates the artistic potential of disposable video — short films made on non-professional devices such as cell phones, pocket cameras and handy cams, web cams and other video capture devices. WebsiteSonoma International Film Festival (Sonoma)
The Sonoma International Film Festival focuses on independent films, documentaries, world cinema and short films. Centered around Sonoma's historic plaza, over 90 hand-selected films will be screened. Website
April
San Francisco International Film Festival (Castro Theater and Sundance Cinemas Kabuki Theatres)
An extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation. Since its inception in 1957, the SFIFF has hosted hundreds of prominent guests from Spike Lee to Bette Davis and presented almost 7,000 films from more than 120 countries to nearly two million filmgoers. Website
May
CAAMFest (New People Cinema and various theaters)
CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films; annually presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland. Since 1982 the festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema. WebsiteBest of PlayGround (Thick House, 1695 18th Street)
PlayGround, San Francisco’s incubator for a new generation of playwrights, caps off its season with the Bay Area’s largest celebration of new works for the stage and screen – the annual PlayGround Festival of New Works. WebsiteSan Francisco Silent Film Festival (Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street)
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival presents silent films accompanied by live music. This festival promotes silent film as art and historical record. Website
June
Crossroads Film Festival (Victoria Theater, 2961 16th St.)
Cinematheque celebrates works of aesthetically radical cinema in Crossroads which showcases new film/video works by emerging and established filmmakers, including performance and works of “live cinema." WebsiteSan Francisco Documentary Film Festival (Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street)
These documentaries, while exploring fun and lighthearted subject matter, often uncover serious truths. Produced by the SF IndieFest. WebsiteSan Francisco Black Film Festival (African American Art & Culture Center and other Bay Area Venues)
This celebration of African American cinema and the African cultural diaspora showcases a diverse collection of films from emerging and established filmmakers; more than 10,000 films have been screened from around the world since the inaugural festival in 1998. WebsiteFrameline, San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival (Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street)
Legendary showcase of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema screens groundbreaking documentaries, features, touching short films and cinematic classics. WebsiteQueer Women of Color Film Festival (Brava Theater, 2789 24th St.)
Showcases new films that reflect the lives of queer women of color and address the vital social justice issues that concern multiple communities. Website
July
San Francisco Frozen Film Festival (Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street)
Showcasing the year’s best new independent avant-garde pop culture films, the Frozen Film Festival takes its name from the distinct chill of the San Francisco summer. WebsiteSan Francisco Jewish Film Festival (Castro Theater and other venues around the Bay Area)
Films from American and international filmmakers showcase the diversity and vitality of Jewish culture. The festival is the first, oldest and most prestigious celebration of its kind in the world. WebsiteMatatu Film Festival (Various locations, Oakland)
The film festival takes its name from matatus, East African minibuses that are decorated with popular icons and sounds. These matatus serve as a means of transportation and as an access to another world. Cinema Club integrates this into their festival with different films that spotlight a unique journey. WebsiteMissionFest (The Midway, 900 Marin St.)
A new multicultural film festival brings together content creators, industry executives, and fans to promote, discuss and support inclusive and culturally-diverse film, series and digital short-form programs.Website
August
Turkish Film Festival (Embarcadero Center Cinema, One Embarcadero Center)
Bringing the best of Turkish film to San Francisco, all screenings are free and open to the public. Website
September
California Independent Film Festival (New Rheem Theatre, Moraga; Orinda Theatre, Orinda, and Castro Theatre)
Since its inception in 1997, CAIFF has captured both national and worldwide press. This star-studded event provides both local Bay Area residents and visitors with an opportunity to see world-class film and meet filmmakers from around the world. WebsiteJapan Film Festival of San Francisco
This annual Japanese film event for Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area includes the best in recent Japanese cinema, including U.S. and/or San Francisco premieres and anime features. WebsiteSan Francisco Green Film Festival (Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street)
Films, visiting filmmakers and guest speakers from around the globe cover environmental topics surrounding clean energy, green chemistry, food, housing, trash, water and art in the environment. WebsiteFrench Cinema Now (Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento Street)
This annual celebration of all things French in film includes a dynamic collection of contemporary and classic cinema for Francophile audiences of all tastes. WebsiteHong Kong Cinema (Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento Street)
An exciting mix of contemporary tales and rising pop stars with traditional yarns and household names usually draws a wide range of viewers; films often include recent entrants from Venice Film Festival and candidates for Academy Awards. Website
October
Mill Valley Film Festival (CineArts@Sequoia and 142 Throckmorton, Century Cinema and Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center)
Presented by the California Film Institute, the Mill Valley Film Festival celebrates the best in independent and world cinema; founded in 1978 it has established an impressive track record for launching new films and filmmakers. WebsiteSan Francisco Dance Film Festival (Brava Theater Center and Jewish Community Center of San Francisco)
Started in 2010 the San Francisco Dance film festival (SFDFF) seeks to bring dance to wider audiences. Programming covers a broad spectrum including sub-genres such as “screendance,” short experimental dance pieces created specifically for the camera, as well as filmic interpretations of dance performances originally created for the stage. WebsiteSanta Cruz Film Festival (Rio Theater, Santa Cruz)
The Santa Cruz Film Festival is an experience. Films are shown in unconventional places ranging from coffee roasters to surf shops. Located in a diverse arts community, films shown include work from students, new and burgeoning filmmakers, as well as established pros. WebsiteSuperfest: International Disability Film Festival (The Magnes Collection of Art and Life, Berkeley, and Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St.)
The longest-running festival of its kind in the world, Superfest showcases an innovative range of juried short and feature-length films that celebrates disability as a generative and creative force in cinema and more broadly in culture. Website.
November
American Indian Film Festival (AMC Metreon, Brava Theater Center and Palace of Fine Arts Theater)
The world’s oldest festival dedicated to films by and about Native Americans showcases new and exciting work. Website3RD I Film Festival South Asian Film Festival : Bollywood and Beyond (Castro and The New People Cinema)
Committed to promoting diverse images of South Asians through independent film, from art-house classics to documentary films. WebsiteNew Italian Cinema (Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento Street)
More than a dozen films usually debut at this competition and the fare can range from animated features to suspense and the occasional Italian celeb. WebsiteNapa Valley Film Festival (Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga)
The ultimate celebration of film, food and wine, the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) lights up the picturesque towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. NVFF features more than 125 new independent films and studio sneak previews screening in 12 beautiful venues throughout the four walkable villages, as 250 visiting filmmakers and celebrities interact with audiences at screenings and intimate events. WebsiteAnother Hole in the Head Genre Film Festival (Balboa and New People Theater)
An annual festival of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy and exploitation cinema brings the most outrageous genre films from both emerging and established filmmakers to audiences who like a little excitement with their popcorn. WebsiteCinematografo International Film Festival (AMC Dine-In Kabuki 8, 1881 Post St.)
Film exhibition series designed to elevate and showcase emerging Filipino and Filipino-American talent producing films and television content for the world stage. Website
December
PlayGround Film Festival (Potrero Stage, 1695 18th Street)
PlayGround, San Francisco’s incubator for the next generation of playwrights, funds local filmmaker-playwright teams to create film adaptations of short plays previously developed and produced as part of the annual PlayGround Festival and the short play showcase, Best of PlayGround. Website
Source: https://www.sftravel.com
