2017 SF Independent Film Festival Announced!

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The 19th SF Independent Film Festival

February 2-16, 2017

Roxie Theater, Brava Theater and Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco

SF IndieFest announced today the complete lineup for the 19th edition of the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, which will take place February 2nd to February 16th, 2017 in San Francisco. The festival will again bring some of the most innovative, new independent films and digital programs from around the world to San Francisco audiences. For the 19th year, the festival will screen films at the Roxie Theater, Brava Theater, and Alamo Drafthouse New Mission Theater.

With a revamped programming team consisting of Jennifer “Junkyard” Morris (Roxie Theater), Chris Metzler (Filmmaker), Joshua Moore (Jewish Film Institute/Filmmaker), Jon Gann (DC Shorts Film Festival/Filmmaker and Bears Fonte (Other Worlds Film Festival/Filmmaker), the festival is thrilled to bring unique and exciting comedies, thrillers, dramas, documentaries, local, foreign and bizzare films to San Francisco while providing audiences the chance to meet some of the best up and coming filmmakers. For more information, including screenings dates and tickets, please visit www.sfindie.com or call 415-820-3907.

Opening Night – FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY

SF IndieFest will launch February 2nd at the Brava Theater in San Francisco with the California Premiere of FOLK HER & FUNNY GUY starring Alex Karpovsky. The film follows an aspiring comedian/copywriter who takes time off after being dumped by his fiancé to travel with his folk singer friend. The music infused buddy comedy features cameos by David Cross and Michael Ian Black.

Following the film, the opening night party at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts will feature live music, art, an open bar and a special virtual reality short film presentation. The screening starts at 7PM and the party will immediately follow.

Centerpiece Film – DESIRE WILL SET YOU FREE

For its Centerpiece Presentation, SF IndieFest will screen Yony Leyser’s German drama DESIRE WILL SET YOU FREE. The film follows a young American writer who falls for a Russian hustler who introduces him to Berlin’s queer and underground scenes. As the duo navigate Berlin’s unique subculture, they visit the real life locations where many Berlin-based personalities give performances. The film features performances by the queen of punk Nina Hagen, electro star Peaches, Brooklyn’s Blood Orange, German sensation Rummelsnuff, rapper Sookee and Einstürzende Neubauten’s Blixa Bargeld (formerly of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds). The film screens twice, first February 12 at 9:30PM and again on February 13 at 9:30PM. Both screenings will be at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco.

Closing Night Film – LITTLE BOXES

SF IndieFest will close Rob Meyer’s interracial drama LITTLE BOXES starring Melanie Lynskey and Nelsan Ellis as a Brooklyn couple who are forced to move to the suburbs of Washington. Based on Annie J. Howell’s (SMALL BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS) screenplay, inspired by her own personal experiences, LITTLE BOXES captures the subtle and layered everyday issues that exist as ripples to much larger discussions. LITTLE BOXES screens first on February 12 at 7:15PM at the Roxie Theater, and then again on February 16 at 7:15PM at the Roxie Theater. Following the second screening, SF IndieFest staff, volunteers and filmmakers will host a Wrap Party at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission Theater’s bar, Bear Vs. Bull.

Lise Swenson Tribute and Vanguard Award Presentation

On February 9 at 6PM at the Roxie Theater, SF IndieFest will host a reception to celebrate the life of local filmmaker Lise Swenson and present her posthumously with SF IndieFest’s Vanguard Award. At 7:15PM the festival will screen her eagerly anticipated new film SALTWATER. The film also screens February 11 at 2:45PM at the Roxie Theater. Lise joins past Vanguard Award recipients including Sean Dunne, Robert Greene and Melody Gilbert.

As a filmmaker and professor Lise Swenson pushed artistic boundaries and inspired legions of aspiring and accomplished filmmakers. Since the 1980’s Lisa has been a force within the Bay Area media art scene. In addition to filmmaking and teaching, she helped co-found Artists Television Access (ATA).

SF IndieFest will also present a free retrospective screening of Lise’s previous film MISSION MOVIE on February 11 at 12:30PM at the Roxie Theater.

#SFIndieFestShortFilms

SF IndieFest short film curator Jon Gann looked at over a thousand films from 64 countries to select 44 shorts to represent new voices in filmmaking. The five, 90 minute short film programs. Each program is built around a unique theme. They are: #ForReals which showcases the best nonfictions films dealing with issues such as religion, identity, environment, humanity and sex; #LOL highlights comedic and lighthearted films; #Adulting explores what it means to grow up; #Love&Death investigates feelings of love and courtship, and dead and the afterlife; and #WTF which features funny, thrilling, disturbing and sexy short films.

Additional Highlights for IndieFest 2017

Additional from the 2017 edition of the festival include:

• In 2001 Kubrick imagined a technological world. That same year Buenos Aires was in severe crisis, banks kept your money and looters ransacked everything. Three teenage friends tormented by the uncertain future. They decide to go on a trip with the hope of extending their youth days before maturity arrives in Gabriel Nicoli’s 2001: WHILE KUBRICK WAS IN SPACE.
• An alcoholic film editor puts together the pieces of his movie star sister’s murder in AMERICANA, from local director Zachary Shedd.
• CHEER UP takes us into the teenage lives of a team of losing cheerleaders in the Arctic Circle, Finland. They try their best to get better and look perfect doing it, while really, life just sucks. For Patricia, Aino and Miia, finding out who they are, where they belong and what family means is much more important than any trophy.
• Set in New York’s largest mental hospital, CREEDMORIA follows Candy as she attempts to inject “fun” into her dysfunctional life.
• Greg Travis’ dark noir cult film DARK SEDUCTION chronicles detetive Dic Jones as he attmpts to navigate the black and white underworld looking for two lady Vampires on the loose. Following the screening, a reception will take place at Cat Club (1190 Folsom Street) in San Francisco.
• James Choi’s EMPTY SPACE will make its West Coast Premiere at the festival. The film follows Tom, an overweight young man who takes refuge at his grandmother’s cabin to get over the years of being bullied. While there he meets a blind girl who shoes him how to be loved and accepted.
• During one weekend, the family of brilliant astrophysicist Albert James (Scott Bellis, The X-Files) has a complete meltdown, setting in motion a series of events that mirror his radical theories of the behavior of the universe. Featuring a superb ensemble cast anchored by Bellis’ performance, GRAND UNIFED THEORY captures a family falling apart only to come together again.
• The Tribeca Award Winning Zombie Horror film HERE ALONE follows a young woman who struggles to survive on her own in the wake of a mysterious epidemic that has decimated society and forced her deep into the unforgiving wilderness.
• LUPE UNDER THE SUN follows Lupe, an aging Mexican migrant, who has spent his entire life working in the California fields, separated from his family back home. A melancholy alcoholic, one morning he realizes life has rolled past him and he has nothing to show for it. Lupe embarks on existential journey, trying to come to terms with his choices and reconnect with what he left behind.
• Like a darker, less whimsical Vernon Florida, MYRTLE BEACH profiles a charismatic cast of local eccentrics, survivors and lone-wolves.
• In SUPERPOWERLESS, Bob, formerly known as Captain Truth, is now in his forties and struggles to live an ordinary life sans superpowers with his girlfriend. Local filmmaker Duane Anderson’s film features many local actors including filmmaker H.P. Mendoza.
• Richard Mundy’s psychological thriller TWENTY TWENTY-FOUR will makes its North American Premiere at the festival. The tense and unsettling drama follows a lone scientist maintaining an underground bunker preparing for the coming global nuclear disaster.
• Local filmmaker Rick Darge will present the West Coast Premiere of his film ZEN DOG, a spiritual road trip movie that won the Raindance Film Festival Film of the Festival award.

Party Time!

SF IndieFest Parties and Special Events

With the support of sponsors Samuel Adams, Tito’s Volka and many others, SF IndieFest will again present several parties and special events to compliment the film programming. Many of these signature events take place every year and have become must attend events during the festival. They include:

Thursday, February 2: Opening Night Gala at Mission Cultural Center

Friday, February 3: DARK SEDUCTION After Party, Cat Club

Saturday, February 4: Bad Art Gallery Show/Party, 518 Valencia Gallery

Sunday, February 5: Super Bowl 51: Men in Tights, Roxie Theater

Sunday, February 5: Alamo Drafthouse Opening Party, Bear vs Bull

Friday, February 10: Big Lebowski Shadow Cast/Live Theater Show, Brava Theater

Saturday, February 11: Princess Bride Bingo, 518 Valencia Gallery

Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long, Roxie Theater

Thursday, February 16: Mad Max: Silent Fury, Roxie Theater

Thursday, February 16: Closing Night After Party, Bear vs Bull

General Information about SF IndieFest

Regular film tickets are $12 in advance, and $14 at the door.  The Opening Night Film+Party (including hosted bar) is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Super Bowl: Men in Tights is $15. The Power Ballad Sing A Long is $15. The Big Lebowski Party is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Princess Bride Bingo (includes prizes and open bar) is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Mad Max: Silent Fury with live soundtrack is $15. The IndiePass, good for all screenings and parties at the Film Festival, is $200. Passholders jump to the front of the line at all screenings! 5Film vouchers are $55, 10Film vouchers are $105. These discount vouchers are only available and only redeemable at sfindie.com. Vouchers are redeemable for all events except Opening Night, The Big Lebowski, Men in Tights, Power Ballad Sing a Long and Princess Bride Bingo.

Full festival information, complete with additional ticket information, trailers and more details are available at sfindie.com.