2016
CINEMA ARCHAEOLOGISTS:
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Things got pretty festive last Sunday at the Rafael, with our special presentation of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE including cinematic secrets revealed by multi-award winning filmmakers Ben Burtt and Craig Barron! Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
11 December, 2016
PAINTING PEACE
We were honored to host Berkeley-based poet, artist and activist Kazuaki Tanahashi for an onstage conversation with noted scholar Liza Dalby and live calligraphy demonstration following a screening of PAINTING PEACE. Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
20 November, 2016
JON WILSON: THE RESTORER’S JOURNEY
Film subject Jon Wilson and director Oleg Harencar were in attendance to present their film to a sold-out crowd of Wooden Boat enthusiasts. We even had a beautifully restored 20-foot Viking boat from 1915 in the lobby! Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
16 November, 2016
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Actor Viggo Mortensen and director Matt Ross for a Q&A following a CFI MemberScreening of their film CAPTAIN FANTASTIC. A beautiful film and eloquent, warm guests – thank you to Bleecker Street and the support of our CFI Members! Photos © Tommy Lau Photography & CFI Staff
9 November, 2016
THE RED PILL
Last Sunday, we welcomed local filmmakers Cassie Jaye and Nena Jaye as well as Dr. Warren Farrell for a screening of the film THE RED PILL, followed by an active discussion regarding the gender equality issues addressed in the film. Photos © CFI Staff
6 November, 2016
COMPANY TOWN
We were happy to host COMPANY TOWN filmmakers Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow for a screening of their MVFF39 documentary, followed by an engaging onstage conversation discussing the social issues raised by the film and the impact of Big Tech on San Francisco. Photos © Allison Levenson Photography & CFI Staff
6 November, 2016
AQUARIUS
“I open my heart to you tonight,” said the lovely Sônia Braga to a delighted audience as she discussed her approach to acting and overcoming her previous aversion to rehearsals. Ms. Braga received a heartfelt standing ovation following the screening of her new film AQUARIUS. Photos © Bobby Pin
29 October, 2016
CAMERAPERSON
Thank you Kirsten Johnson for an awesome Q&A following last Saturday’s screening of Cameraperson! Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
1 October, 2016
A FULLER LIFE
We were so happy to host Christa Lang-Fuller and Samantha Fuller as part of our Samuel Fuller retrospective last weekend, two fantastic women offering their personal insights about the unique and iconoclastic filmmaker. Thank you both for being a part of our program!
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
24 September, 2016
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
We were absolutely thrilled to host writer/director/actor Matt Ross for an advance screening of his acclaimed new film CAPTAIN FANTASTIC for our CFI Membership Filmmaker Highlight Event. Thanks to Bleecker Street and Matt for an evening that was, indeed, fantastic!
Photos © Tommy Lau
6 July, 2016
GOLDEN KINGDOM
The Smith Rafael Film Center was pleased to open MVFF38 film GOLDEN KINGDOM, featuring conversations with director Brian Perkins and executive producer Jessica Ballard!
Photos © CFI
18 June, 2016
MISSION TO MARS –
SCIENCE ON SCREEN
THE GREAT RACE
2016 Great Race enthusiasts came out for our screening of THE GREAT RACE, a kick off event for the main festivities taking place on June 18th! Cars from the film and the race were swarmed by fans and gearheads, including our intrepid Executive Director, Mark Fishkin!
Photos © Leah LoSchiavo
15 June, 2016
DON’T THINK TWICE
We welcomed writer/director/actor/comedian Mike Birbiglia to the Smith Rafael Film Center for a Q&A following a Special Sneak Preview of his new feature film DON’T THINK TWICE. Thanks to Mike and The Film Arcade for a great film and great evening!
Photos © Allison Levenson
13 June, 2016
BEING GEORGE CLOONEY
Paul Mariano, a natural raconteur and director of the charming film BEING EORGE CLOONEY, effortlessly unspools story after story about the making of his world-spanning documentary. A delightful treat for a rapt audience.
Photos © Allison Levenson
12 June, 2016
ZARA MUREN DESIGN SERIES:
DREAMS OF THE SEA RANCH
Zara Muren brought us her 1994 documentary studies the “guiding dream” of The Sea Ranch, the celebrated residential development in Sonoma County. Following the screening, Muren was joined by visionaries of The Sea Ranch Donlyn Lyndon, the Eva Li Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Design at UC Berkeley and George Homsey, founding partner of Joseph Esherick & Assocs, and Laura Hartman, principal of Fernau + Hartman Architects who serves on The Sea Ranch Design Committee.
Photos © Allison Levenson
5 June, 2016
LA JAULA DE ORO
Canal Alliance Executive Director Tom Wilson leads engaging discussion following a screening of LA JUALA DE ORO, the widely acclaimed film that follows three teenagers’ journey from Guatamala to United States.
Photos © Allison Levenson
4 May, 2016
NORMAL IS OVER
Director Renée Scheltema visited the Smith Rafael Film Center with her climate change documentary NORMAL IS OVER. The audience rallied in support of the film, offering to spread the word about it and help generate interest in its being more widely screened.
Photos © Allison Levenson
21 April, 2016
DOGTOWN REDEMPTION
We hosted a fantastic screening of the locally produced documentary DOGTOWN REDEMPTION, presented by co-director Amir Soltani. This compassionate examination of the lives of some homeless citizens of Oakland, CA will have its national broadcast debut on PBS’ Independent Lens on 16 May, 2016. We’re so proud of this MVFF38 premiere – congrats to the whole team for all of your success.
Photos © Allison Levenson
7 April, 2016
FERLINGHETTI: A REBIRTH OF WONDER
To kick off the first evening in our POETRY IN MOTION series, Christopher Felver was in the house to share insights on his film FERLINGHETTI: A REBIRTH OF WONDER. Hosting the evening was Gaetano Maida of Buddhist Film Foundation, co-presenter of the program.
Photos © Allison Levenson
3 April, 2016
THEORY OF OBSCURITY: A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS
We hosted a screening of THEORY OF OBSCURITY: A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS, and were thrilled to welcome filmmaker Don Hardy, producers Barton Bishoff and Josh Keppel, as well as several members of The Residents‘ Universe on stage and in the audience (rumor had it actual Residents were in attendance!) A great film, enlivened by an enthusiastic audience and insightful post-screening Q&A
Photos © Allison Levenson
24 March, 2016
CODE: DEBUGGING THE GENDER GAP
Following a screening of CODE: DEBUGGING THE GENER GAP, and as part of our SCIENCE ON SCREEN SERIES, we were treated to a lively and informative panel discussion focused on women in the tech industry led by moderator Marco della Cava. Panelists: Danielle Feinberg, Albrey Brown, Rayona Sharpnack and Roz Ho.
Photos © Tommy Lau
22 March, 2016
TRAINS ON FILM
We were delighted to host the TRAINS ON FILM series presented by Michael Ondaatje and David Thomson, featuring beautiful restorations of THE TRAIN, SHANGHAI EXPRESS, THE LADY VANISHES, BRIEF ENCOUNTER and action packed thrillers RUNAWAY TRAIN and UNSTOPPABLE.
Photos © Allison Levenson
11 – 13 March, 2016
AWARDS NIGHT 2016
We rolled out the red carpet for a fun-filled evening in celebration of the 88th Academy Awards® Photos © Allison Levenson
28 February, 2016
KEEPER OF THE BEAT
At our screening of KEEPER OF THE BEAT, featuring filmmaker David L. Brown and film subject and drummer Barbara Borden, audience members got into the spirit of the live percussion performance, jumping to their feet to sway in rhythm to the beat.
Photos © Tommy Lau
25 February, 2016
A STAR IS BORN (1937)
In anticipation of the following week’s Academy Awards, author William Wellman, Jr. will present a rare archival 35mm screening of the 1937 classic A STAR IS BORN, directed by his father, subject of his recently published biography Wild Bill Wellman: Hollywood Rebel. Photos © Tommy Lau
21 February, 2016
BARTLEBY
Director and composer Jonathan Parker, composer Seth Asarnow and screenwriter Catherine Di Napoli in the house for a screening of BARTLEBY and a live theremin demo! Photos © Tommy Lau
18 February, 2016
AN EVENING WITH ILLEANA DOUGLAS
The ever-delightful Illeana Douglas charmed the Rafael audience with tales from her new book I BLAME DENNIS HOPPER (AND OTHER STORIES FROM A LIFE LIVED IN AND OUT OF THE MOVIES). Photos © Tommy Lau
4 February, 2016
ROOM
A special member screening of ROOM with director Lenny Abrahamson. Photos © Tommy Lau
3 January, 2016
