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
ENLIGHTENMENT GUARANTEED
9 June, 2019
Dairyu Michael Wenger of Dragon’s Leap Meditation Center and Buddhist Film Foundation’s Gaetano Kazuo Maida discussed the theme’s presented in Dorris Dörrie’s ENLIGHTENMENT GUARANTEED, part of the Class of ’99 Buddhist Film Series
Photos © Kirke Wrench