2019

CHINATOWN RISING

19 December, 2019
Filmmakers Harry Chuck and Joshua Chuck were in attendance for a well-received screening of their powerful documentary CHINATOWN RISING, featuring original footage of San Francisco’s Asian American Movement of the 1960’s

Photos © Kirke Wrench

JUST MERCY

19 December, 2019
JUST MERCY director Destin Daniel Cretton stopped by after a CFI Member Screening of his powerful film (MVFF42 Opening Night) for a thoughtful onstage conversation with California Film Institute Executive Director/Founder Mark Fishkin

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

JOKER

18 December, 2019
Great conversation and Q&A with director Todd Phillips and MVFF Program Manager Sterling Hedgpeth after a packed screening of Phillips’ unique and fascinating film JOKER.

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

BOMBSHELL

7 December, 2019
BOMBSHELL director Jay Roach and producer Michelle Graham in attendance for an onstage conversation with California Film Institute Executive Director/ Founder Mark Fishkin and reception following a CFI Member Screening of their film.

Photos © Christopher Markisz

PRECIOUS GURU

5 December, 2019
Sold-out screening of PRECIOUS GURU followed by an onstage conversation and Q&A with director Marc Wennberg, editor Catherine Hollander, and consultant Victress Hitchcock and Rafael Theater Manager Dan Zastrow

Photos © Christopher Markisz

ROCKETMAN

4 December, 2019
Another great night at the Rafael with Taron Egerton and Dexter Fletcher, who participated in an entertaining onstage conversation and Q&A with MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton after a CFI Member Screening of their electrifying Elton John biopic ROCKETMAN.

Photos © Christopher Markisz

WATSON

3 December, 2019
Lesley Chilcott, director of the powerful documentary WATSON, participated in an onstage conversation and Q&A at the Rafael last night to discuss the life and work of the film’s controversial subject, eco-activist Captain Paul Watson.

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

30 November, 2019
A great night at the Rafael with Quentin Tarantino in the house with his latest film ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. Another fantastic packed CFI Member Screening followed by an engaging, animated, and trivia-packed onstage conversation. Thanks to all who attended, and to Sony Pictures Entertainment and Columbia Pictures for making this event possible!

Photos © Christopher Markisz

BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

20 November, 2019
Filmmaker and farmer John Chester returned for another sold-out screening and Q&A for his enduringly popular film THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Photos © Tracey Pettis

BEHIND THE BULLET

19 November, 2019
Filmmaker Heidi Yewman and guests Tony Porter and Christian Heyne of Brady participated in a moving and insightful Q&A following a screening of Yewman’s BEHIND THE BULLET

Photos © George Lazarus

THE FIRST RAINBOW COALITION

18 November, 2019
CFI Education presented a Community Cinema screening of THE FIRST RAINBOW COALITION, with guest speaker activist and author Ericka Huggins, in conversation with CFI Education Outreach Manager Shakira Refos.

Photos © Bill Johnston, Jr.

THE TRAITOR

17 November, 2019
Director Marco Bellocchio and actor Pierfrancesco Favino visited the Rafael with a screening of their visceral Italian gangster epic THE TRAITOR, followed by a conversation with MVFF Senior Programmer Karen Davis and reception.

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

SCREENAGERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER

12 November, 2019
CFI EDUCATION TEEN WELLNESS SERIES
This sold-out screening of Dr. Delaney Ruston’s film featured a panel with co-producer Lisa Tabb, film subject Ishmael Briceno, Marin Stress and Anxiety Center’s Jonathan Pofsky, and CFI Education Director Joanne Parsont.

Photos © Christopher Markisz

ATLANTICS

11 November, 2019
Composer, musician, and conceptual artist Fatima Al Qadiri participated in a Q&A with MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton following a screening of Mati Diop’s ATLANTICS.

Photos © Christopher Markisz

HARRIET

4 November, 2019
Star Cynthia Erivo received a standing ovation following a screening of Kasi Lemmons’ HARRIET featuring a Q&A and reception with Erivo and moderator Ericka Huggins

Photos © Reny Huelskamp

FREAKS

2 November, 2019
Co-director Adam Stein was in attendance for a Q&A following a screening of his sci-fi thriller FREAKS

Photos © George Lazarus

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

2 November, 2019
Sony Pictures Classics sponsored a free community screening of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, followed by a live stream Q&A from The New Beverly Cinema featuring Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

AND WITH HIM CAME THE WEST

23 October, 2019
Mike Plante, director of AND WITH HIM CAME THE WEST, was in attendance for a screening and Q&A with his film about the Hollywood legend of Wyatt Earp

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

THE GREAT AMERICAN LIE

21 October, 2019
Producer Amanda Mortimer was in attendance with a packed screening of Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s film THE GREAT AMERICAN LIE, an installment in their film and media non-profit, The Representation Project

Photos © Kirke Wrench

THE SWEET REQUIEM

20 October, 2019
Directors Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam were in attendance for well-received screening and Q&A of their Himalayan film THE SWEET REQUIEM

Photos © Kirke Wrench

WAKING DREAM

17 October, 2019
Packed screening for WAKING DREAM, co-presented by CFI Education and Canal Alliance, with filmmaker Theo Rigby and special guests Steve Li and Gilbert Meija.

Photos © Bill Johnston, Jr.

DOWNTON ABBEY

19 September, 2019
We had an absolutely lovely time Last Night At The Rafael with Lesley Nichol, aka Mrs. Patmore who presented a CFI Member Screening of the new Downton Abbey movie!

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

UNSETTLED: SEEKING REFUGE IN AMERICA

16 September, 2019
A fantastic turnout for the CFI Education Community Cinema screening of UNSETTLED: SEEKING REFUGE IN AMERICA with director Tom Shepard, subject Junior Mayema and Melanie Nathan of the African Human Rights Coalition

Photos © Kirke Wrench

WILDER THAN WILD

12 September, 2019
We had a great community screening of WILDER THAN WILD with filmmakers Kevin White and Stephen Most and a panel discussion with special guests

Photos © Steve Disenhof

LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

8 September, 2019
Packed screenings all weekend, including two screenings with filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

Photos © Allison Levenson Photography

BECOMING NOBODY

6 September, 2019
The Rafael hosted a sold-out screening for the US Premiere of BECOMING NOBODY, a celebration of Ram Dass, with director Jamie Catto, Gagan (Jared Levy) of the Love Serve Remember Foundation, Dale Borglum of the Living/Dying Project and moderator Nina Wise

MR. FISH

7 August, 2019
Fantastic screening of Mr. Fish: Cartooning From The Deep End at the Rafael with director Pablo Bryant and subject Dwayne Booth, aka Mr. Fish!

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: MASTERPIECES

29 July, 2019
Director Michael Miner presented a screening of his latest film on the works of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to a sold-out audience of architecture fans.

CARMINE STREET GUITARS

27 July, 2019
The Rafael hosted a packed screening of CARMINE STREET GUITARS with special guest Tom Ribbecke, a master guitar maker who provided experienced insight into the art of crafting guitars.

DANSEUR

19 July, 2019
A special CFI Education co-presentation with Marin Ballet of the film DANSEUR followed by a thoughtful post-film discussion with SF-based dancer, choreographer, and educator Ben Needham-Wood and Donald Carter from No Bully.

HIMALAYA

30 June, 2019
Musician and actor Tsering Bawa Dorjee treated the Rafael audience to an impromptu concert of Tibetan music following a screening of the film HIMALAYA.

THE RAFT

29 June, 2019
THE RAFT crew member and film subject Mary Gidley joined us at the Rafael for two Q&As following screenings of the documentary about the controversial experimental journey conducted in 1972.

THE FAREWELL

24 June, 2019
Director Lulu Wang discussed her film THE FAREWELL during a pre-screening reception and Q&A with MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton in front of a rapt audience of CFI Members.

BE NATURAL

20 June, 2019
Filmmaker Pamela B. Green too part in an illuminating Q&A following a screening of her documentary BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHÉ

MAIDEN

16 June, 2019
MAIDEN film subject Tracy Edwards and director Alex Holmes participated in a spirited Q&A with MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton following a screening of their thrilling yachting documentary.

THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE

9 June, 2019
Director Aviva Kempner and Smith Rafael Film Center Director of Programming Richard Peterson participated in a Q&A following a screening of Kempner’s film about the fascinating life of Moe Berg