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
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
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!
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
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.
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
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.
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
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.
Photos © Steve Disenhof
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.
Photos © Steve Disenhof
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.
Photos © Kirke Wrench
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.
Photos © Tommy Lau Photography
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
Photos © Kirke Wrench & Jonathan Shensa
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.
Photos © Kirke Wrench & Tommy Lau Photography
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
Photos © Kirke Wrench
