2017
PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN
MIND THE GAP HONORS
13 December, 2017
What a special evening, the kickoff for our Mind The Gap Honors, which celebrates our gender parity initiative. A special screening of PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN with director Angela Robinson receiving the very first ever Mind the Gap award.
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography
MONT ALTO MOTION PICTURE ORCHASTRA – SPITE MARRIAGE
3 December, 2017
We had a wonderful time screening Buster Keaton’s silent film SPITE MARRIAGE last Sunday, presented in 35mm and accompanied by the fantastic Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra – thanks to all who came out to enjoy this one-of-a-kind special event!
Photos @ Bill Johnston, Jr.
I, TONYA
2 December, 2017
We were so honored to host a very special screening of I, TONYA last Saturday night with guests director Craig Gillespie, screenwriter Steven Rogers and stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney. The sold-out event including a presentation of the critically acclaimed film, an onstage conversation featuring heartfelt award presentations for the actresses and a warm and intimate reception at the beautiful Falkirk Cultural Center. Thank you to NEON, all of our guests and always amazing audience!
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography | © Jonathan Shensa
RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD
19 November, 2017
Thanks to the production team and subjects behind the film RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD who participated in a great Q&A and reception following the film: Stevie Salas, Taboo (Black Eyed Peas), director Catherine Bainbridge and producer Christina Fon!
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography | © Kaisa Lee
SURVIVING SKOKIE
19 November, 2017
Thank you to Eli Adler and Blair Gershkow for a wonderful Q&A and presentation of their film SURVIVING SKOKIE! We were honored to have you and your moving and important film at our theater.
Photos @ Bill Johnston, Jr.
LAWRENCE JORDAN: FILM AS ART
12 November, 2017
We were so pleased to welcome legendary experimental filmmaker Lawrence Jordan to Smith Rafael Film Center for a very special presentation of a curated selection his films!
Photos @ Bill Johnston, Jr.
BUGS
5 November, 2017
Thank you to Andreas Johnsen for joining us yesterday for an insightful Q&A following a screening of his film BUGS which follows food adventurers from the Nordic Food Lab as they travel the world to learn from the two billion people who already eat insects.
Photos @ Steve Disenhof
JANE
27 October, 2017
A great evening with director Brett Morgen after a sold-out screening of his incredible documentary JANE, featuring never-before-seen footage of Dr. Jane Goodall during the early days of her trailblazing research on chimpanzees in Gombe National Forest.
Photos @ Steve Disenhof
SERENADE FOR HAITI
26 October, 2017
Thank you to the SERENADE FOR HAITI filmmakers Owsley Brown, Anne Flatté and Christy McGill for coming out in support of their moving and compassionate documentary – we were very honored to screen your work at the Smith Rafael Film Center.
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
DAVE MADE A MAZE
3 August, 2017
We had a fantastic time with the affable DAVE MADE A MAZE crew last Thursday night, including producers John Charles Meyer and Etienne Eckert, writer Steven Sears and lead sculptor Michael Murnane, plus a few awesome characters from the film!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
THE GLASS CASTLE
31 July, 2017
CFI Members were treated to an amazing member screening of THE GLASS CASTLE followed by an emotional and candid conversation with author Jeanette Walls, who connected with engaged and passionate audience members on and off stage. Thank you to Lionsgate for providing this wonderful film for our wonderful members!
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography
FUNNY BONES: THE COMEDY OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN
20 July, 2017
We had a fantastic time with Dan Kamin last week and his celebration of the comedy of Charlie Chaplin, FUNNY BONES!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
BAND AID
6 June, 2017
Writer/actor/director Zoe Lister-Jones sat down with Rafael Film Center Director of Programming Richard Peterson to discuss the process of making her feature film debut BAND AID, a charming independent comedy (helmed by an all-female crew) about commitment and “fighting through music”.
Photos @ The Understory & CFI Staff
ALICE COOPER: WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE
1 June, 2017
A fun flashback to Alice Cooper’s 1975 shock rock extravaganza with David Templeton and Tom Silberkleit, whose father produced this dynamic concert film!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
DEAN
9 May, 2017
We had great time last night with Demetri Martin at our exclusive CFI Member screening of his new film DEAN. Our members thoroughly enjoyed this sweetly comic film about loss, grief and the redemptive power of love, as well as Martin’s entertaining anecdotes about being a first-time filmmaker. Thank you CBS Films for a wonderful evening!
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography
JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT
30 April, 2017
Legendary chef Jeremiah Tower last Sunday at a sold-out screening of the documentary about his life and work, followed by an animated Q&A with Tower’s longtime friend & colleague L. John Harris.
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
TOMORROW
16 April, 2017
Filmmaker Cyril Dion and Recology‘s Robert Reed presented a screening of the wonderful TOMORROW to a sold-out house!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
LOVE AND TAXES
26 February, 2017
We were so happy to host Jacob Kornbluth and Josh Kornbluth at the Rafael last Sunday with a screening of their new film LOVE AND TAXES! The brothers proved to be as entertaining in person as on screen!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
AWARDS NIGHT
26 February, 2017
We had a great time at Awards Night 2017 – certainly one of the most memorable ceremonies of all time – See you again next year!
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
THE SENSE OF AN ENDING
14 February, 2017
So pleased to have welcomed filmmaker Ritesh Batra to the Rafael who joined us for a Q&A following the screening of his latest film THE SENSE OF AN ENDING – our annual CFI Membership Filmmaker Highlight Event.
Photos @ Tommy Lau Photography
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE BRAIN
9 February, 2017
Our first Science On Screen® screening of the year, presented by co-director Gary Weimberg, followed by a lively Q&A with Weimberg and film subjects Indigo Prasad and pathologist (and student of Dr. Marian Diamond) Dr. Che Prasad
Photos @ Allison Levenson Photography
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
6 February, 2017
So many great moments at our CFI Education Screening of TAKE ME TO THE RIVER with director Martin Shore and rapper and film subject Frayser Boy, a part of their Education Initiative to share this fantastic documentary about the intergenerational and inter-racial Memphis music legacy featuring Snoop Dogg, Mavis Staples, Jerry Harrison, Terrance Howard, Otis Clay, Lil P-nut, Yo Gotti, Bobby “Blue” Bland and many more!
A BITTER LEGACY
30 January, 2017
Director Claudia Katayanagi and A BITTER LEGACY Film Editor engaged the audience following a CFI Education Community Screening of this timely documentary addressing Japanese incarceration camps during WWII.
