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San Francisco Bay Area events

UNAFF 2021 Moving Forward, International Documentary Film Festival returns!

9/30/2021

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24th United Nations Association Film Festival
October 21-31, 2021 * Palo Alto * East Palo Alto
* San Francisco * Stanford University

  • UNAFF is delighted to announce the 24th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival), which was founded in 1998 by Stanford educator and film critic Jasmina Bojic in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  • After moving online in 2020 because of Covid-19, the festival is excited to return to its regular in-person format this year. In order to provide a safe experience to the audience and  community at large, UNAFF has devised Covid-19 protocols in accordance with the guidelines of the County and State; UNAFF asks the audience, staff, guests, panelists and volunteers to read them and help uphold them.

  • The 24th UNAFF will be held from October 21-31, 2021. This year’s theme MOVING FORWARD continues the festival's more than two-decade-long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing its readiness to resume resolute strides towards lasting solutions.
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LISTINGS SUMMARY

24th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival)
October 21-31, 2021


Venues:

October 21-25 & 30-31: Palo Alto, Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road

October 26: Stanford University, Stanford Medical School LKC
October 27: San Francisco, Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street
October 28-29: Stanford University, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Encina Hall, 616 Serra Street

Ticket prices: $12 PER FILM SESSION (1.5 – 3 hours per session)
FESTIVAL PASS – $220 (all sessions, excludes Opening and Closing Night Receptions)/
free admission to discussion panels


Tickets available at STANFORD TICKET OFFICE: https://tickets.stanford.edu
Roxie program on 10/27 tickets available at: https://bit.ly/unaffroxie

Film programs are announced and listed at www.unaff.org

For more information: www.unaff.org 
E-mail: info@unaff.org 
Phone: (650) 724-5544


Check here for Festival Films
Opening night films: BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER,
and GHOSTS OF AFGHANISTAN

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Windrider Bay Area Virtual Film Forum, July 8–10 & 15–16, 2021

6/23/2021

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Windrider Bay Area Virtual Film Forum Presents inspiring films and Q&As through a “Lens of Hope”
July 8–10 & 15–16, 2021

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Windrider Bay Area Virtual Film Forum

July 8–10 & 15–16, 2021 Taking place online
Cost: July 8-10 programs, each film $10 general / $5 student


July Events Pass: $20 general / $10 student

Cost: July 15-16 programs, FREE
View the films with Netflix membership, and register
for free access to live Q&As


  • Windrider Bay Area Film Forum announces its program of films and panels for its 2021 event, which will be presented in virtual platform, July 8 to 10, and July 15 to 16.

  • Windrider continues its goal of presenting thoughtful, inspiring films that motivate viewers to respond actively and constructively. Windrider’s “Lens of Hope” filter invites its audience to engage and listen as filmmakers tell their stories, showing constructive responses to important issues.

  • Through these films and the filmmaker conversations, it is possible to broaden understanding of ourselves and others, break down barriers of indifference, and encourage people to make a difference in our world.

  • General admission and student tickets are available for the July 8–10 film screenings and filmmaker Q&A programs. All Access July Events Pass is available for purchase to watch all three programs. The July 15–16 filmmaker conversations will be available for free to anyone who registers for an account on the ticketing website.

  • Viewers can see the films with a Netflix subscription, and then tune in to the free filmmaker conversations.

BUY TICKETS
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SF is Fully Reopening! Most COVID Restrictions  Expire at 12:01 am on June 15

6/10/2021

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San Francisco to Fully Reopen Businesses and Activities Aligning With the State’s Reopening Plans
Beginning June 15

  • Thanks to San Francisco’s successful COVID vaccine roll out and decreasing cases and community spread, the City intends to align with the State Beyond the Blueprint guidance that removes nearly all local COVID-19 related restrictions beginning June 15, with some narrow exceptions for mega events.
  • Mayor London N. Breed and Health Officer Susan Philip today announced that starting Tuesday, June15, San Francisco will fully reopen and eliminate capacity limits and almost all local restrictions on business operations in alignment with the State’s Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors– effective June 15.
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The Basics:

  • Will I have to wear a mask anymore?  The updated San Francisco Health Order will allow fully vaccinated people to not wear a mask except where required by fed/state/local rules or if a local business requires it.
  • Where does SF differ from California and the CDC? The mayor stated that there will still be some temporary restrictions for large-scale indoor events (5,000+) and large-scale outdoor events (10,000+) and in certain settings like healthcare facilities, shelters and skilled nursing facilities.
  • What about Muni and BART? Masks will still be required on public transportation through September.
  • What about masks indoors at work? This is unclear at the moment due to OSHA rules to protect the unvaccinated. As of 6/4/21 the latest rules were that if you work indoors with anyone who is unvaccinated, you’ll likely need to still wear a mask.
  • Can businesses require masks? Yes. Any business can choose to require you to wear a mask.
  • Can businesses require proof of vaccination? San Francisco says that that businesses may require proof of vaccination, but it is unclear whether this may violate any HIPAA protections.

This is an evolving news story and details may change.
San Francisco will fully reopen:

  • With the exception of schools, childcare, and youth activities, San Francisco will lift much of its health order sector-specific restrictions and rescind all business sector directives. State and Federal entities are expected to continue to put forward public health guidance. Additionally, some regulatory agencies like the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and industry specific regulatory agencies such as Alcohol Beverage Control, California’s Child Care Licensing Program, etc., will maintain requirements related to the prevention of COVID-19 in the workplace and other specific contexts.
 
  • San Francisco’s reopening and recovery is, in large part, due to the availability and successful rollout of vaccines in San Francisco. The effectiveness and availability of COVID-19 vaccines has dramatically driven down case rates, hospitalizations and community spread. Currently, 79% of San Franciscans eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination have received at least one dose; and as of June 7, our case rate was 1.5 per 100,000, 25% lower than the state and representing a 96% decrease in San Francisco COVID-19 diagnoses since January. Likewise, hospitalizations are at their lowest point since the pandemic began.
 
  • The Public Health Department encourages all those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible, so that San Francisco and the entire Bay Area can safely reopen. The public can make an appointment or find a drop-in site by calling (628) 652-2700 or by going to sf.gov/get-vaccinated.
 
  • Because of San Francisco’s identity as a national and international destination, and because the pandemic is less controlled elsewhere, the San Francisco Department of Public Health will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test at indoor mega events of over 5,000 people; unvaccinated attendees must wear face coverings per state requirements. If only self-attestation is required, all attendees must wear face coverings.
 
  • Additionally, in very high-risk congregate living settings such as skilled nursing facilities, acute care hospitals, homeless shelters, and jails, San Francisco will require that personnel in these facilities are vaccinated. This requirement will go into effect after the United States Food and Drug Administration gives full approval to one of the COVID-19 vaccines which currently have emergency use authorization.
 
  • In school, youth and childcare settings, San Francisco intends to align its face covering requirements with the State and otherwise maintain its existing guidance while it awaits anticipated further reopening guidance from the CDC and State. Over the coming days, San Francisco will review the State’s Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors guide as well as the Masking Guidance that the State issued earlier today to consider any additional guidance or requirements it feels are necessary to protect residents, workers, and visitors and safeguard our reopening and economic recovery.

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Piano at the Palace,  outdoor, live piano performances in the San Francisco Bay Area, May 25, 2021, 1 pm-3 pm

4/29/2021

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Breathe in fresh air and enjoy live music at a gorgeous spot!

The Palace of Fine Arts is the stage for the magic of
live music performances (safe distanced)

From live-stream, to live ~ Piano at the Palace
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Covid-19 Protocols

Interactive Program Notes

Prepare Your Visit

Support Piano At The Palace
  • The mission of Piano at The Palace is to provide free educational concerts to the San Francisco community, explore unconventional settings for classical music outside of traditional concert halls, and promote the culture of classical piano around the Bay Area. To support or donate, please visit www.pianoatthepalace.com.
  • FREE, RSVP Required ~ Register through Eventbrite

Outdoor Live Piano Concert under the Rotunda at Palace of Fine Arts, with designated seating, interactive program notes, free admission.

[IF SOLD OUT] Please join the waitlist, in anticipation of San Francisco County to reach yellow tier by May 25th, which would allow the organizers to open up more seating availability. Thank you!
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San Francisco's 25th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival: May 25-30, 2021

4/10/2021

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Berlin & Beyond Film Festival Programs Announced
 May 25-30, 2021
Tickets go on sale May 6
*

  • Virtual festival experiences will feature live broadcast screenings, interactive Q&As, and on-demand streaming movies.
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  • San Francisco’s 25th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival is thrilled to announce the full program of films, running May 25-30, 2021. The hybrid festival’s main slate of programming will be on the virtual cinema platform, along with two evenings on May 25th & 26th, under the stars, at the Fort Mason Flix drive-in, and a very special return to the cinema on May 29th at the 109-year-old Vogue Theater. Virtual festival experiences will feature live broadcast screenings, interactive Q&As, and on-demand streaming movies.

The FULL PROGRAM GUIDE CAN BE VIEWED AT THIS LINK:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2n47x5hjecqm1fr/25th_BerlinBeyond_2021Program.pdf?dl=0

  • The 25th anniversary program includes a diverse range of countries and cultures represented. Although most of the films are in the German language, the other languages spoken in the various films are Swiss German, English, Kurdish, French, Farsi, Indonesian, Mongolian, Albanian, Portuguese, Soninke, and Swahili. 

  • The Festival also celebrates work by female filmmakers. This year, of the 25 directors of the 24 films, 15 of the directors are women. 
 
  • The 2021 Berlin & Beyond Film Festival sponsors and partners include: the Goethe-Institut San Francisco as Presenting Partner; San Francisco Grants for the Arts, DW (Deutsche Welle), and Excelsior German Center as Premiere Sponsors; German Films / German Film Office as Signature Sponsor; Special Support from the Consulate General of Germany and the Consulate General of Switzerland.

  • Virtual festival experiences will feature live broadcast screenings, interactive Q&As, and on-demand streaming movies.

  • The 2021 Berlin & Beyond programs include a diverse range of countries and cultures represented. Although most of the films are in the German language, the other languages spoken in the various films are Swiss German, English, Kurdish, French, Farsi, Indonesian, Mongolian, Albanian, Portuguese and Soninke. The Festival also celebrates work by female filmmakers. This year, of the 25 directors of the 24 films, 15 of the directors are women.
 
  • The 2021 Berlin & Beyond Film Festival sponsors and partners include: the Goethe-Institut San Francisco as Presenting Partner; San Francisco Grants for the Arts and DW (Deutsche Welle) as Premiere Sponsors; German Films / German Film Office as Signature Sponsor; Special Support from the Consulate General of Germany, the Consulate General of Switzerland, the Excelsior German Center.

*Tickets are on sale
  Viewable Regions

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Fort Mason Flix drive-in to host select Berlin & Beyond screenings     
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Vogue Theatre to host Berlin & Beyond screenings on May 29
Guide to the festival: How to Fest
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SHOWCASE FILMS

OPENING NIGHT FILM [DRIVE-IN]
Sisters Apart (Im Feuer)
Dir. Daphne Charizani –– Germany, Greece | 2020 | 93 min.
Northern California Premiere


Rojda is a young German soldier with Kurdish-Iraqi roots who has lived in Germany since childhood. She is now looking for her mother, Ferhat, in a Greek refugee camp. When the two finally find each other after so many years apart, they are overjoyed. But their happiness soon fades when Rojda learns that her sister, Dilan, is still in Iraq.
Official Selection: Berlinale (Perspective Deutsches Kino)
In English, German and Kurdish with English subtitles
Starring: Almila Bagriacik, Zübeyde Bulut, Maryam Boubani

Clip: https://youtu.be/4vujbRp0418
 
CENTERPIECE FILM [VIRTUAL]
Berlin Alexanderplatz
Dir. Burhan Qurbani –– Germany, Netherlands, Canada, France | 2020 | 183 min.
Northern California Premiere


As Francis gets washed up on the shores of Southern Europe, he swears an oath to God: From now on he wants to be a new, a better, a decent man. Soon after Francis finds himself in Berlin, where he realizes how hard it is to be righteous when you are an illegal refugee in Germany – without papers, without nation and without a work permit. Eventually he is sucked into Berlin’s underworld and his life spirals out of control. A boundary-pushing vision of the classic novel by Alfred Döblin.
Official Selection: Berlinale (Competition) and Morelia

In German, English, Portuguese and Soninke with English subtitles
Starring: Welket Bungué, Jella Haase, Albrecht Schuch

Trailer: https://youtu.be/Q9nZFUgyclE

CLOSING NIGHT FILM [VIRTUAL]
Cocoon (Kokon)
Dir. Leonie Krippendorff –– Germany | 2020 | 95 min.

Summer in Berlin. Shy, 14-year-old Nora is surrounded by people with disrupted biographies, from different cultures and backgrounds. She gets her first period, falls in love with another girl, learns to stand up for herself and gets her heart broken for the first time.
Official Selection: Guadalajara, Istanbul, São Paulo, Taipei, TIFF
In German with English subtitles
Starring: Lena Urzendowsky, Jella Haase, Lena Klenke, Elina Vildanova
Trailer: https://youtu.be/50UvhhCVmA4


CINEMA PANORAMA

Cortex – Are You Awake?
Dir. Moritz Bleibtreu –– Germany | 2020 | 97 min. | US West Coast Premiere

Two men, two lives, a fateful encounter: Hagen suffers from irregular phases of sleep in which he cannot decide between dream and reality. When his frustrated wife cheats on him with the small-time criminal, Niko a series of disturbing events is set in motion and the lives of both men will never be the same. The feature directorial debut by Moritz Bleibtreu ( Run Lola Run).
Official Selection: Hamburg, Zurich, Tallinn, Miami
In German with English subtitles
Starring: Jannis Niewöhner, Nadja Uhl, Moritz Bleibtreu
Trailer: https://youtu.be/F4Bd-VE6iuo


Enfant Terrible
Dir. Oskar Roehler –– Germany | 2020 | 134 min. | US West Coast Premiere

When 22-year-old Rainer Werner Fassbinder storms the stage of a small, progressive theatre in Munich 1967, and seizes the production without further ado, nobody suspects this brazen young rebel to become one of the most important post-war German filmmakers. Despite early setbacks, many of his films break out at the most renowned films festivals and polarize audience, critics and filmmakers alike. His radical views and self-exploitation, as well as his longing for love, have made him one of the most fascinating film directors of this time.
Official Selection: Cannes, Hamburg, Seville, Tallinn

In German with English subtitles
Starring: Oliver Masucci, Katja Riemann, Hary Prinz, Alexander Scheer, Erdal Yildiz
Trailer: https://youtu.be/ppYiW8oXdLs


Narcissus and Goldmund (Narziss und Goldmund)
Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky –– Germany | 2020 | 110 min. | US West Coast Premiere

Based on the bestseller by Nobel Prize in Literature-winning author Hermann Hesse. From the director of the Academy Award-winning The Counterfeiters. In the Middle Ages, young, unruly Goldmund is sent to a monastery by his father to atone for the sins of his mother, who abandoned them. There he meets Narcissus, a brilliant, scholarly novice. A unique life-long friendship is born. Narcissus remains detached from the world in prayer and meditation. Goldmund, who is passionate and impulsive, runs away to live a wanderer's life. His amorous and artistic adventures leads him to the extremes of both ecstasy and pain. One day these friends cross paths again.
In German with English subtitles
Starring: Jannis Niewöhner, Sabin Tambrea, Emilia Schüle
Trailer: https://youtu.be/xnHrfYp6HCI

Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika ) 20th Anniversary
Dir. Caroline Link –– Germany | 2001 | 141 min.

This love story spanning two continents, based on the best-selling autobiographical novel by Stefanie Zweig, tells the extraordinary true tale of a Jewish family who flees the Nazi regime in 1938 for a remote farm in Kenya. Abandoning their once-comfortable existence in Germany, Walter Redlich, his wife Jettel (Juliane Köhler, of Aimée & Jaguar) and their five-year-old daughter Regina each deal with the harsh realities of their new life in different ways. Attorney Walter is resigned to working the farm as a caretaker; pampered Jettel resists adjustment at every turn; while the shy yet curious Regina immediately embraces the country— learning the local language and customs, and finding a friend in Owuor, the farm’s cook. As the war rages on the other side of the world, the trio’s relationships to their strange environment become increasingly complicated as Jettel grows more self-assured and Walter more haunted by the life they left behind. As they eventually learn to cherish their life in Africa, they also endeavor to find a way back to each other. Winner of the 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as five 2002 German Film Awards (Golden Lolas), including best film, director and cinematography.

The event will be highlighted by a Career Achievement Award tribute to German filmmaker and screenwriter Caroline Link, the film’s director. The tribute program will precede the film.
In German and Swahili with English subtitles
Starring: Juliane Köhler, Merab Ninidze, Sidede Onyulo, Matthias Habich, Lea Kurka
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Hep5_o--OEE

Veins of the World (Die Adern der Welt)
Dir. Byambasuren Davaa –– Germany, Mongolia | 2020 | 96 min. | SF Premiere

In a province in the middle of the Mongolian steppe, 11-year-old Amra lives a traditional nomad life with his mother Zaya, father Erdene and little sister Altaa. Their peaceful routine is threatened by the encroachment of international mining companies, digging for gold and devastating the natural habitat. Erdene is the leader of the last nomads opposing them, and tries to unite and convince his comrades not to accept the compensations offered. But after Amra's father dies in a tragic car accident, his mother wants to give up the nomad life and trade the steppe for the city. But Amra refuses and tries to carry on his father's David vs. Goliath fight with his cleverness and the tools of an 11-year-old boy.Mongolia's Official Entry to the 2021 Academy Awards.
Official Selection: Berlinale (Generation), Mill Valley

In Mongolian with English subtitles
Starring: Bat-Ireedui Batmunkh, Purevdorj Uranchimeg, Enerel Tumeni
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/445363766


Yella
Dir. Christian Petzold –– Germany | 2007 | 89 min.

In this stylish and deliciously suspenseful mystery, Yella escapes her volatile ex-husband, and flees her small hometown in former East Germany for a new life in the West. She finds a promising job with Philipp, a handsome business executive with whom an unlikely romance soon blossoms. But just as Yella seems poised to realize her dreams, she finds herself haunted by buried truths that threaten to destroy her newfound happiness.
The event will be highlighted by a Tribute to Ingrid Eggers, Founder of the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival.
In German with English subtitles
Starring: Nina Hoss, Devid Striesow, Hinnerk Schönemann
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/151031996


DOCUMENTARIES

Born in Evin
Dir. Maryam Zaree –– Germany, Austria | 2019 | 95 min. | Northern California Premiere

The documentary follows filmmaker and actress, Maryam Zaree, on her quest to find out the violent circumstances surrounding her birth inside one of the most notorious political jails in the world: Evin Prison, in Tehran, Iran. Maryam’s parents were imprisoned shortly after Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in 1979, a period in which tens of thousands of political dissidents were arrested and tortured. On this vulnerable, lyrical journey Maryam considers the impact of trauma on the bodies and souls of survivors and their children, leading her to question how her generation can relate to their own history while also respecting the people they love as they prefer to heal in silence.
Winner Best Film, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, Berlinale 2019.
In German, English, French, and Farsi with English subtitles
Trailer: https://youtu.be/TBILslh1roY


Glitter & Dust (Glitzer & Staub)
Dirs. Anna Koch & Julia Lemke –– Germany | 2020 | 91 min.
US West Coast Premiere


Four girls living in the lonely vastness of the USA share one passion: the wild world of rodeo. Although they move about in the powerful imagery of the American prairie and the myths of the Wild West, they give it new resonance and break free of it. In a world that used to belong to their fathers and brothers, they prove that “you ride like a girl” is not an insult but a compliment.
Official Selection: Krakow, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong

In English
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/424060598


Walchensee Forever
Dir. Janna Ji Wonders –– Germany | 2020 | 110 min. | Northern California Premiere

This documentary family saga is a voyage of discovery spanning four generations of women over a century. In order to uncover the secrets and her role in the generation chain, director Janna Ji Wonders leads us from the family café at the Bavarian Lake Walchensee via Mexico to San Francisco during the “Summer of Love”, Indian ashrams, a German commune and back again and again to Lake Walchensee. Questions about identity, roots and self-fulfillment are asked through this search for life, love and death. It is a personal story about the eternal cycle of life.
Official Selection: Tel Aviv, Riga, Tallinn, Thessaloniki

In German and English with English subtitles
Trailer: https://youtu.be/_dZJjrGyssk


SWISS WINDOW

My Wonderful Wanda (Wanda, mein Wunder)
Dir. Bettina Oberli –– Switzerland | 2020 | 111 min.

This delightful satire of the haves and the have-nots is set against the backdrop of a gorgeous lakeside villa in Switzerland. Wanda is a Polish caretaker who has left her own small children in Poland to look after a stroke-ridden patriarch of a wealthy Wegmeister-Gloor dynasty. Wanda adeptly navigates the tricky family dynamics between the two grown (if still childish) offspring and the elegant if controlling matriarch, but an unexpected turn of events turns everything upside down.
Winner of awards at Tribeca and Vancouver Film Festivals.
In German and Swiss German with English subtitles
Starring: Agnieszka Grochowska, Marthe Keller, André Jung, Birgit Minichmayr,

Jacob Matschenz
Trailer: https://youtu.be/68b5zqGeOLc


One-Way to Moscow (Moskau Einfach!)
Dir. Micha Lewinsky –– Switzerland | 2020 | 99 min. | Northern California Premiere

Around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall, hundreds of thousands of people were spied on in Switzerland. Policeman Schuler goes undercover to reveal a possible political coup in the Zurich Schauspielhaus.
Official Selection: São Paulo, Solothurn, Santa Barbara, Cleveland

In Swiss German and German with English subtitles
Starring: Philippe Graber, Miriam Stein, Mike Müller
Trailer: https://youtu.be/lzQ-6UGDAwM


GOETHE FORUM

Berlin Alexanderplatz – see CENTERPIECE FILM (above)
Exile (Exil)
Dir. Visar Morina –– Germany, Belgium, Republic Kosovo | 2020 | 121 min. Northern California Premiere

Xhafer, a 45 year old, Kosovo-born pharmaceutical engineer living in Germany suddenly feels discriminated against and bullied at work because of his ethnic background. Every occurrence, every word, every gesture is taken as evidence. Do his colleagues simply dislike him? Or is there more to their hostility? Is this all in his mind or is it the actual reality? In his second feature-length film, director Visar Morina dissects the psychological effects of social exclusion and presents them here as an interplay between belonging and alienation.
Official Selection: Berlinale (Panorama)
In German and Albanian with English subtitles
Starring: Mišel Matičević, Sandra Hüller, Rainer Bock, Thomas Mraz
Trailer: https://youtu.be/lwi9Rf6CkUY


SHORT STORIES

Bambirak
Dir. Zamarin Wahdat –– Germany | 2020 | 13 min. | US West Coast Premiere

When 8-year-old Kati from Afghanistan stows away in her father's delivery van, Faruk must juggle his responsibilities as a single dad while holding down his first job in a new country. As their relationship deepens, a brush with covert racism tests the bond between a father and daughter.
Winner of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction.
Starring: Kailas Mahadeva, Lara Cengiz-Karinnes
In German and Dari with English subtitles


Conversations with a Whale
Dir. Anna Samo –– Germany | 2020 | 9 min. | California Premiere

In this love letter to artists, their art and its audience, one filmmaker is confronted with rejection after rejection until at last, a beautiful fig tree bears sweet fruits.
Official Selection: Annecy, Seattle, Tallinn, Hamburg

In English

Dear to Me
Dir. Monica Vanesa Tedja –– Germany, Indonesia | 2020 | 19 min. | North American Premiere


A 27-year-old Indonesian, Tim, is having a family vacation with both of his parents on a remote island far from the city, where they learn about the myth of a reincarnated deer that exists somewhere along the beach. Island locals believe that seeing the deer is a sign of meeting one’s soulmate. Tim is the only one who secretly hoping to discover the deer, hiding his desire from his very devout Christian parents.
Starring: Jourdy Pranata, Jerome Kurnia, Willem Bevers
In Indonesian with English subtitles


Interstate 8
Dir. Anne Thieme –– Germany, USA | 2019 | 15 min. | California Premiere

In the southern United States, two young women meet by chance in the back of a police car and, without saying a word, experience the injustice hovering above them.

Official Selection: Warsaw, Barcelona, RiverRun USA

In English
Starring: Stephanie Amarell, Isabela Rengifo, Jacobi Howard, Drew Matthews

 
Learn to Swim (Freischwimmer)
Dir. Gaya Von Schwarze –– Germany | 2019 | 17 min. | Northern California Premiere


On an ordinary Sunday morning, Karin breaks out of her conventions and impulsively leaves home on her daughter's racing bicycle. She wants to look for her son, who left the sheltered family home a while ago. Karin’s way leads her to a farm where her son has settled down with other social dropouts.
Official Selection: Palm Springs, San Sebastian

In German with English subtitles
Starring: Luca Henning, Stephanie Petrowitz


Meeting
Dir. Jannis Alexander Kiefer –– Germany | 2020 | 9 min. | US Premiere | North American Premiere

3 minutes before the online meeting: The welcoming joke is well though out, the bottle is neatly tucked into the underwear, and the internet connection is premium – what could possibly go wrong? 2020 Winner of the German Short Film Award.
Official Selection: Bremen
Starring: Gisa Flake, Jürgen Heimüller, Gabriela Lindl, Gregor Knop
In German with English subtitles


The One Who Crossed the Sea (Der Übers Meer Kam)
Dir. Jonas Riemer –– Germany, Austria | 2020 | 11 min. | North American Premiere


An animated documentary that tells the story of a GDR refugee who joins the New Right. In a folding boat, he flees via Denmark to Western Germany, where the story tips into the dark. His newly acquired freedom turns into disorientation. Only in a burgeoning nationalist movement does he find a new home.
Official Selection: Dresden, Berlin, Lenzing, Athens
In German with English subtitles

Revolvo
Dir. Francy Fabritz –– Germany | 2019 | 8 min.

Two women are kidnapping a dubious right-wing politician by elegantly stealing his car with him caught in the boot. What seems like a supposedly harmless ride at first glance turns into a plan of revenge.
Official Selection: Hof, Lisbon, San Sebastian, Clermont-Ferrand

Starring: Marion Brasch, Paul Frielinghaus, Sigrid Grajek
In German with English subtitles


YOUTH 4 GERMAN CINEMA
DRIVE-IN and VIRTUAL CINEMA


Lessons of a Dream (Der ganz große Traum ) 10th Anniversary
Dir. Sebastian Grobler –– Germany | 2011 | 113 min.


Loosely based on the life of German football pioneer Konrad Koch in the late 19th-century. The young teacher Konrad Koch (Daniel Brühl) is hired to teach English at a strictly-run German school for boys in 1874. The reform-minded headmaster von Merfeld (Burghart Klaussner) has hired Koch as one of the very first English teachers of all at a German secondary school in order to let a fresh new wind into his musty institution. Koch sees how badly this is needed in his very first class. Everything that the boys know about England is common prejudices handed down from one generation to the next. In order to stir up some enthusiasm for the foreign language, Oxford graduate Koch resorts to unusual means and introduces his students to a curious sport that comes from Britain: football.
Starring: Daniel Brühl, Burghart Klaußner, Thomas Thieme, Theo Trebs

Trailer: https://youtu.be/fTZFLhKaiJU

SPECIAL GUESTS AND TRIBUTES

Ingrid Eggers
Founder of the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival with Yella

Caroline Link
2021 Career Achievement Award with Nowhere in Africa 20th Anniversary

Daphne Charizani
Director of Sisters Apart

Bettina Oberli
Director of My Wonderful Wanda

Burhan Qurbani
Director of Berlin Alexanderplatz

Filmmaker Caroline Link will be honored with a Career Achievement Award tribute, in conjunction with screening of Nowhere In Africa 20th Anniversary

Fort Mason Flix drive-in to host select Berlin & Beyond screenings
Berlin & Beyond Film Festival online
.
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San Francisco Greek Film Festival,  April 16 -25, 2021,  18th Annual Event

4/9/2021

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2021 San Francisco Greek Film Festival announces drive-in event Musical drama Fantasia screens April 18 at Par 3,
San Mateo

San Francisco Greek Film Festival, virtual film screenings offered
April 16-25, 2021 as a free gift to community

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  • The San Francisco Greek Film Festival (SFGFF) announces their drive-in movie presentation to complete the programming line-up for their 18th annual Festival. The musical drama Fantasia screens on Sunday evening, April 18, 8:30pm, at Par 3 at Poplar Creek in San Mateo.

  • The rest of the Festival’s feature and short film programs screen in virtual platform, and can be streamed anytime April 16-25.
Greece, October 1993. Greek Socialist party has just won the elections, television is dominated by trashy entertainment shows, and every night you can escape reality, or display your wealth in bouzouki clubs singing pop hits.

Fotini, a young talented singer arrives in Athens to work in an old bouzouki club. The lives of the three musicians will change forever… This musical drama brings to the screen the culture of bouzoukia, this unique Greek celebration of the good life. Moreover, it depicts the carefreeness, the abundance, and the euphoria of the Athenian nights of the early 90s as also draws its inspiration from the Greek urban-folk music scene.

It’s a homage to Greece’s urban-folk music tradition and a farewell to the old school of folk songwriting.


Fantasia is written and directed by Alexis Kardaras, and stars Stelios Mainas, Rena Morfi, and Yannis Stankoglou.
LISTINGS DETAILS, SPECIAL EVENT:

WHAT: Fantasia drive-in screening
WHEN: Sunday, April 18, 8:30pm (drive-in lot opens at 7:00pm)

WHERE: Par 3 at Poplar Creek, 1700 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo

COST: $40 per vehicle;
tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-francisco-greek-film-festival-drive-in-movie-fantasia-tickets-150127181441


WHAT: 2021 San Francisco Greek Film Festival – 18th annual
WHEN: April 16-25, 2021
WHERE: online, streaming is available in the United States and Canada (exclusions apply)

COST: Free! Donations are encouraged and appreciated (price for April 18 drive-in movie is tbd)


MORE INFO: Virtual Festival portal: sfgff2021.eventive.org
Also: grfilm.com and facebook.com/SFGreekFilmFest


Trailer for 2021 SFGFF YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmuNyPHrxqg

Download for trailer available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/533724925/8851723c19

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Fantasia, drive-in screening, Sun, April 18 at Par 3 at Poplar Creek in San Mateo

Click image to purchase tickets, $40

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Bay to Breakers Live Race Canceled (Again) for 2021

3/15/2021

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For the second year in a row, Bay to Breakers in 2021
will be virtual only May 16 to June 2

  • The annual race is typically in May, but postponed until August 2021. Just a few days ago, Bay to Breakers announced that the live event would be canceled for the second year in a row and would operate virtually.
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  • All currently registered runners have the option to run virtually or activate “Worry Free Registration” to defer their registration for race credit, all deferral fees have been waived.
2021 Virtual Run Update

  • Get ready to run wild in our Virtual 12k from May 16 to June 2! All participants will receive our first-ever Tie Dye Summer Swag, including 2021 Finisher Medal, finisher hat and a beach towel. Plus, a portion of all registrations will go to support the California Wildfire Relief Fund.
 
  • The virtual event is May 16 to June 2 (Global Running Day) and you’re encouraged to “run wild anywhere”  – register for the virtual 12k.
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Hearts in SF - Honor SF's COVID Heroes in a City-Wide Virtual Celebration,  Thursday, February 11, 2021, 11 am- 6 pm, FREE!

2/6/2021

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Honor SF's COVID Heroes
City-Wide Virtual Celebration

Join Renel Brooks-Moon (Voice of the SF Giants), Bob Weir, Santana and more for a free virtual fundraising event to say thanks to those on the front lines of public healthcare that benefits us all. 

Hearts In SF
Thursday, February 11 - 6pm Pacific

A virtual event

RSVP/FREE

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From combating COVID-19 to preventing chronic illness; from building healthy families to improving mental health; from treating substance use disorders to caring for San Francisco during moments of crisis; Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center has been there.

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need to support health equity and access for all.
Please join in for this year’s free virtual fundraising event to honor those on the front lines of public healthcare that benefits us all.
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The 22 new Heart sculptures in the iconic art series are now on display in the windows of the Flood Building (870 Market Street, San Francisco) and throughout Union Square from February 1- 14, 2021.
Event Schedule

5:45PM
Join in for the pre-show – peruse the Hearts in San Francisco, see familiar faces, and get ready for an inspiring evening.

6PM
Honor our Healthcare Heroes with Foundation CEO Kim Meredith, ZSFG CEO Dr. Susan Ehrlich, and Emcee Renel Brooks-Moon.
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The Boys Are Back! Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash, 2021 Online, Saturday January 9, 2021, 8 PM ~ 11 PM (PST)

1/5/2021

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Celebrate 2 legends with their music and visuals all night,
as the Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash goes virtual for its
11th annual party.
Join in on Zoom to  mingle and dance with friends!
(single click)

  • Experience the songs, personas, and lives of the unforgettable artists David Bowie & Elvis Presley.

  • The party is on the Twitch platform, accessible on any browser on computer or mobile, or the twitch app on mobile. Log in is only needed if you want to participate in chat.

  • It's absolutely free. No registration, RSVP, or ticket is required, but if you register on eventbrite, you're automatically entered to win a prize from a past Elvis Bowie bash: CD of Elvis & Bowie originals and related tracks, or a souvenir lanyard. Winners will be contacted via email and need to provide United States mailing address to ship prize
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  • Saturday at 8 PM PST – 11 PM PST
  • Price: Free - Duration: 3 hr
  • Public - Anyone on or off Facebook

This event began in January 2010 at Edinburgh Castle in San Francisco, where it was held for 8 years, until moving to Milk Bar on Haight the last 2 years!
Past Bowie & Elvis party crowds
DJ Shindog, Sprig (cofounder/coproducer), DJ Andy T
  • DJ Shindog presents both the best known, and rare tracks, from Bowie & Elvis, with special sets curated by DJs Cammy, Andy T, and Moonshine, and from the Bash co-creator Spig.

  • Watch video performances of their songs, and visuals chronicling their careers and lives. From Modern Love to a hunka hunka Burning Love, from Flaming Star to Ziggy Stardust, from Good Rockin’ Tonight to Rock ‘n Roll Suicide, the Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash has it all, this year available to a global audience!

NEW! While you listen to the show on Twitch, you and other friends and fans can join a room on zoom - turn your camera on if you like to dance and see each other. Best results are if all are muted and listening to the music on Twitch.

Single click to join here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82970913980?pwd=czZWdUU1UE9ZRkJOcEFWa0MzNG9aZz09


Register (not required): https://elvisbowiebash2021.eventbrite.com
Details and background at: https://www.elvisbowiebash.com
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What are you doing New Year's Eve? Plan to tune in  and welcome 2021 (finally!)  There's lots going on!

12/30/2020

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Looking for comedy to laugh 2020 away?
New Year's Eve Yoga? Meditation? Family Fun Party?
New Year's Eve Bingo? Zoom Magic Show?
Performing Arts Showcase?  Science Trivia For Adults? Cabaret?
... and there's more.

Free to low cost for NYE!
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Live on Zoom / 10:30pm / December 31 Help support black comics at this special "Black Laughs Matter" online New Year's Eve comedy show w/f comics from HBO, MTV, TBS, Upright Citizens Brigade, BET and more.
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Live on Zoom / 10:30pm / December 31 This live capstone New Year's Eve comedy showcase features comics from Netflix, Comedy Central, Clusterfest, SF Sketchfest and CB,. Come kiss the year from hell good riddance and join us for some love and laughs.
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Live on Zoom / 10:30pm / December 31 Get your last laughs of the year with a fantastic lineup of comics from Comedy Central, SF Sketchfest, HBO, Cobb's Comedy Club, Netflix and more with a midnight countdown and online toast with 500 strangers.
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Live on Zoom / 10:30pm / December 31 Top Indian, Pakistani & South Asian comics from Comedy Central, SNL, Netflix and Amazon Prime help you say goodbye to 2020 with laughs
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New Year’s Eve: Ring in 2021 at These Virtual Events
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Snoop Dogg's 2021 NYE Special
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NYE Virtual Family Game Night
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