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San Francisco International Film Festival Opens With a Plethora of Events and Artists.

San Francisco may be well known for its landmarks, but this week the historic sites are being upstaged by a whirlwind of activities, films, and well known artists. The Festival runs from April 21- May 5th and boasts 185 films from 49 countries, including 14 world premieres. There are several special presentations and parties planned during the festival from opening night to closing night, one of which took place on Sunday night April 24. Brad Bird, writer, director and animator, delivered the State of the Cinema address. The poised and passionate director joined a select few after the speech for a relaxing evening of wine and socializing.
During a short conversation with the critically acclaimed animator, he said that he was excited to do the “State of the Cinema” speech because it was something he is very passionate about and it was a way to support his own community. Bird wrote and directed The Incredibles, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2005 and he was also the executive consultant on The Simpsons and King of the Hill. When asked if he would like to support other festivals as well he smiled and said, “I would see if it was something that could fit into my schedule.” Scheduling might be tricky for this animator, but Bird is an inspiration to many and well worth exploring his availability.
Another event to note was on April 26, which began at the Kabuki 8 Theaters. The film November, starring Courtney Cox Arquette, was debuted at 7:00pm. Cox Arquette plays a photographer, who is overwhelmed with grief, due to the death of her boyfriend. She is compelled to uncover the mystery behind his murder. After the film the evening will continue at Ruby Skye with dancing, drinking and mingling with celebrities and festival goers alike.
Tom Luce, another celebrity that resides in San Francisco, was doing his part in support of the arts by attending some festival films. Tom Luce is the lead singer in the band also called Luce. His music has not only been heard on the radio, but also on television programs and movies such as the OC, Alias, and “13 Going on 30”. Luce has a new CD out called “Never Ending” and was kind enough to sit down for an interview. The singer, songwriter expressed sincere desire to contribute to independent filmmakers by permitting his music to be used in their films. You can check out streaming video of this interview and other highlighted festival events after the close of the festival.
The 48th annual Film Festival is sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society and is directed by Roxanne Messina Captor.

Written by Tracie Donahue