One of the Most Highly Anticipated Anime Releases of 2012, the Best of Annecy, Animated Music Videos, Award-Winning Shorts from Around the World and a Program for Kids and Their Families
San Francisco, CA -- The San Francisco Film Society presents the sixth annual San Francisco International Animation Festival, a four-day celebration of the Bay Area's preeminence as a hub for one of the most creative forms in cinema, Thursday, November 10 through Sunday, November 13, at the Film Society's new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post Street).
The San Francisco International Animation Festival
includes an enticing mix of the latest anime, family-friendly fare,
documentaries, wonderfully unclassifiable shorts from around the world
and a fabulous Opening Night party. This year's festival includes Cannes entry and multiaward-winning Tatsumi by Eric Khoo, the Bay Area-produced Annecy competitor Glitch in the Grid, the long-awaited feature-length film by Keita Kurosaka, Midori-ko and several shorts programs, including the always popular Best of Annecy compilation.
"Each
year we strive to bring the best animated films -- features, shorts,
fiction, nonfiction -- produced in the world during the past year," said
programmer Sean Uyehara. "And, the tone of the SFIAF changes for that
reason, according to what's out there. This year's incarnation is
exceptionally dark and introspective. From our opening night film Glitch in the Grid, which uses animation to paint the inner life of a distressed artist, to Tatsumi,
which highlights the use of illustration to convey evil and atrocity,
the Festival is rife with weighty themes. We tried to balance them out
with guest programmer Jay Wertzler's Anthropomorphlolz and sprinkled in
some music videos. In any case, if SFIAF is a sign of the times, the
times are indeed looking inward and disturbing."
Thursday, November 10 Opening Night 7:00 pm Glitch in the Grid Eric Leiser A
reclusive, talented artist, Jay, seldom leaves his small town home.
Hoping to cheer him up, his cousins invite him to live with them in Hollywood,
but the glitz and partying cannot satisfy his longing for spiritual
renewal. Director Eric Leiser uses a hybrid live action/stop motion
approach to reveal Jay's inner life, pushing the boundaries of what we
think of as animation. USA/England 2011, 83 min. Written by Eric Leiser,
Photographed by Rory Owen Delaney, Marco Menestrina. With Jay Masonek,
Jeffrey Leiser, Eric Leiser, Linda Darnall. 8:30 pm Opening Night Party
at Yoshi's San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore Street (Ellis/Eddy) featuring
modern Japanese cuisine inspired hors d'oeuvres and beverages. 9:30 pm Glitch in the Grid
Friday, November 11 5:00 pm Top Drawers Is
there anything more beautiful than the romance left in the trace of an
artist's absent hand? Animation sometimes leaves the impression that we
come into direct contact with an artist's personal vision, that we can
experience their talent through their recorded gestures. This shorts
program explores wondrous artistic effects produced through drawing,
puppetry and even computing. Total running time 73 min. 7:00 pm The Best of Annecy The Annecy International Animated Film Festival is widely regarded as the most important festival for animation in Europe.
SFIAF is pleased to once again present a selection of the best shorts
to have appeared in Annecy this year. An annual highlight of SFIAF, this
year's edition will again include a dynamic and entertaining range of
styles, techniques and genres. Total running time 81 min. 9:00 pm Tatsumi Eric Khoo Alternating
between a memoir-like, first-person recounting of Yoshihiro Tatsumi's
life and presentations of his manga works as animation, Tatsumi
celebrates the life and work of the legendary Japanese comics artist.
Realistic and disquieting, Tatsumi's work redefined the manga landscape
and elevated the genre to a whole new level of creative expression
influenced by adult themes. Singapore
2011, 96 min. Written by Eric Khoo. With Tetsuya Bessho, Motoko
Gollent, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Mike Wiluan. In Japanese with subtitles, not recommended for children.
Saturday, November 12 3:00 pm Nocturna Adrià García, Víctor Maldonado Nocturna
reveals a child's vision of the night sky as a wondrous landscape.
Young orphan Tim is afraid of the dark, so when the stars start
disappearing, he teams up with a cat named Tobermory to bring them back.
The two become immersed in a world of strange powers, where their
ultimate destination is as surprising as the journey itself.
Spain/France 2007, 80 min. Written by Adrià García, Víctor Maldonado,
Teresa Vilardell, With Imanol Arias, Natalia Rodríguez, Carlos Sobera. In Spanish with subtitles, recommended for ages eight and up. 5:30 pm Ball of Confusion What
if the world were constructed of impossible amusement park rides that
appear to grow and breathe? What if tiny Lego-like creatures populated
all of Paris?
What if two chicken-ish things sang opera? These questions and many
more await to be answered in this program of counterfactuals and a few
music videos. Total running time 80 min. 7:30 pm Midori-ko Keita Kurosaka Beloved
artist Keita Kurosaka has fashioned an exquisitely dark sci-fi tale.
Scientists work to develop a "dream food" that is both meat and
vegetable to prevent an impending famine. One day, a magical light
produces what they've been seeking: an animal/vegetable hybrid named
Midori-ko, who promptly flies away. The culmination of a ten-year labor
of love, Midori-ko is a spectacular achievement. Japan
2010, 55 min. Written by Keita Kurosaka. Photographed by Keita
Kurosaka. With Sayaka Suzuki, Rina Yûki, Chicapan, Miwako Mishima. In
Japanese with subtitles. 9:00 pm Anthropomorphlolz Welcome
to the strange and charmed world of guest programmer Jay Wertzler. In
it you'll find LCD Soundsystem, Tiny Fuppets and an array of current and
potential cultural memes. During this shorts program, Wertzler will
guide us through his animated universe, one that is as sweet and
dangerous as a gingerbread house located deep in the forest of your
hipster-critical mind. Total running time 77 min.
Sunday, November 13 2:00 pm The Best of Annecy see 11/11 4:00 pm Top Drawers see 11/11 6:00 pm Tatsumi see 11/11 8:30 pm Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Kazuya Murata One
of the most highly anticipated anime releases slated for 2012, this
anime epic features a fugitive alchemist with mysterious abilities who
leads the Elric brothers to a distant valley inhabited by the Milos, a
proud people struggling against oppression. Director Murata creates an
alternate reality in which alchemy is the most advanced form of science.
Hagane no renkinjutsushi: Mirosu no seinaru hoshi, Japan 2011,
110 min. Written by Yuichi Shinpo. Photographed by Yoshiyuki Takei.
With Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Maaya Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Morikawa. In
Japanese with subtitles.
Film tickets
$11 for SFFS members, $13 general, $12 seniors, students and persons
with disabilities; Opening Night film and party $15 for SFFS members,
$20 general; Film Society CineVoucher 10-Packs $105 for SFFS members,
$125 general. Box office now open for members and the general public:
online at sffs.org and in person at San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema.
For screeners and interviews contact hilary@sffs.org For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads The sixth annual San Francisco International Animation Festival is sponsored by Autodesk, Animation Mentor and Birra Moretti with additional support from media sponsor San Francisco Bay Guardian, hotel sponsor The Fairmont San Francisco, venue sponsor Yoshi's San Francisco and wine sponsor José Pastor Wine Selections.
At
San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema, the supremely stylish
state-of-the art theater located in the ultra-contemporary New People
building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown,
the San Francisco Film Society offers its acclaimed exhibition,
education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily
year-round basis. For complete up-to-date information on all SFFS | NPC
programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org/cinema. Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs Through October 13: Passione John Turturro's tuneful exploration of the musical roots and traditions of Naples, Italy, as well as its influence on the rest of the world. October 14 - 16: Taiwan Film Days A showcase of the best contemporary Taiwanese cinema. October 17 - 21: The Sleeping Beauty
Catherine Breillat takes on another fairy tale classic, bringing her
unique exploration of female sexuality to the story of a young princess
who is the subject of a tug-of-war among witches. October 21 - 23: NY/SF International Children's Film Festival A celebration of diverse, enlightening, inspiring and entertaining films for kids ages 3-18 and their families. October 24: Orbit(film) and An Injury to One A program of short films dedicated to the awe and absurdity of the solar system. October 25: Behind the Story: Under Suspicion
New collaborative series, with Center for Investigative Reporting,
charts the development of a series of stories, interviews, videos and an
animation that CIR produced which raise questions about the price
Americans have paid for increased security since the 9/11 attacks. October 27 - November 2 French Cinema Now The weeklong annual Festival brings the most significant new work from international francophone cinema to discerning Bay Area audiences. November 3 - 6: Cinema by the Bay New work produced in or about the San Francisco Bay Area provides a compelling window into Bay Area film culture and practice at its best.
November 13 - 20: New Italian Cinema
Fifteenth New Italian Cinema includes work by prominent Italian
directors, a tribute to Daniele Luchetti and eight features by
up-and-coming directors.
San Francisco Film Society
Building
on a legacy of more than 50 years of bringing the best in world cinema
to the Bay Area, the San Francisco Film Society is a national leader in
exhibition, education and filmmaker services.
The Film Society
presents 365 days of exhibition each year, reaching a total audience of
130,000 people. Its acclaimed education program introduces
international, independent and documentary cinema and media literacy to
more than 15,000 teachers and students and presents 120 classes and
workshops annually. Through the filmmaker services program essential
creative and business services, and funding totaling millions of
dollars, are provided to deserving filmmakers of all levels.
The
Film Society seeks to elevate all aspects of film culture, offering a
wide range of activities that engage emotions, inspire action, change
perceptions and advance knowledge. A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, it
is largely donor and member supported. Patronage and membership provides
discounted prices, access to grants and residencies, private events and
a wealth of other benefits.
For more information visit sffs.org.
###
|
