The Sonoma International Film Festival celebrating the best in film, food, wine and spirits program took place Wednesday, March 30 to Sunday, April 3. Considered one of the nation’s top destination film festivals, SIFF presents over 100 films shown at 6 venues, all within walking distance from Sonoma’s historic plaza -- dubbed SIFF VILLAGE -- in the heart of California Wine Country and will host nearly 200 filmmakers from around the world.
“Every year we set out to bring unique films with new, provocative and inspiring ideas, accompanied by their filmmakers which add a certain pizzazz to our five-day festival,” said Executive Director Kevin McNeely. “We are thrilled to present fresh films that have not been seen at many of the world’s festivals, unique entertainment and celebrities, all adding to the mix of our welcoming and entertaining festival.”
This year SIFF honored actor and director Meg Ryan with a SONOMA SALUTE AWARD at a Tribute event on Thursday, March 31. Beginning with a special screening of Ryan’s directorial feature film debut, Ithaca, the Tribute will follow with a Conversation moderated by Eliot Kotek, filmmaker and publisher of Beyond Cinema Magazine, and a presentation of the award. Meg Ryan’s comedic appeal was widely recognized in her first Golden Globe-nominated performance as Sally Allbright in When Harry Met Sally. She went on to star in Nora Ephron’s hit romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, opposite Tom Hanks. Her last collaboration with Ephron and Hanks was the romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail. Other distinctive dramatic roles have been in Courage Under Fire, When A Man Loves A Woman, and Promised Land. Her more recent films that showcase her powerful dramatic portraits include: Serious Moonlight, In the Land of the Women, Kate & Leopold, The Presidio, and the forever popular Top Gun. Ryan has gone on to distinguish herself as one of Hollywood’s top actresses starring in over 40 films. SIFF had the pleasure to screen her directorial film debut: Ithaca written by Erik Jendersen and based on a novel by William Saroyan and starring Tom Hanks, Ryan, Jack Quaid and Sam Shepard.
“We are honored to screen Ithaca, Meg’s directorial film debut,” commented McNeely. “She is a critically-acclaimed actress whose films reflect a wide range of dynamic roles that make her a unique talent in the motion picture industry. We are thrilled she was a part of our 19th festival!”
-Official SIFF Press Release-