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
ECHO IN THE CANYON
7 June, 2019
Producer/musical sherpa Jakob Dylan and director Andrew Slater participated in back-to-back Q&A’s following two sold out screenings of their reverent document of 1960s-era Laurel Canyon, ECHO IN THE CANYON
Photos © Steve Disenhof and Bill Johnston, Jr.
THE SILENCE OF OTHERS
19 May, 2019
We were thrilled to welcome filmmaker Robert Bahar for a Q&A following a screening of his film THE SILENCE OF OTHERS
Photos © Kirke Wrench
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
18 May, 2019
Thank you to THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM and director/farmer/author John Chester from Apricot Lane Farms for coming to visit Smith Rafael Film Center for a fun and engaging Q&A.
Photos © Kirke Wrench
SATAN & ADAM
15 May, 2019
So pleased to have welcomed director V. Scott Balcerek to the stage for a Q&A following his engaging documentary film SATAN & ADAM.
Photos © Bill Johnston, Jr.
INSTANT FAMILY
9 May, 2019
Last night at the Rafael, CFI Education and Marin Foster Care Association presented a screening of INSTANT FAMILY, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Marin foster care community.
Photos © Kirke Wrench
FINDING KIND
30 April, 2019
CFI Education presented a screening of FINDING KIND, followed by a panel discussion on the topic of girl-against-girl bullying, part of the Teen Wellness Series in partnership with Tam High TUHSD.
Photos © Steve Disenhof
MONT ALTO MOTION PICTURE ORCHESTRA
LIVE MUSIC FOR ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S BLACKMAIL
29 April, 2019
A wonderful crowd for the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra presentation of Alfred Hitchcock’s silent classic BLACKMAIL!
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography and Bill Johnston, Jr.
A DANGEROUS IDEA
24 April, 2019
Packed house for our screening of A DANGEROUS IDEA last night at the Smith Rafael Film Center with filmmakers Stephanie Welch, Maureen Gosling and Jed Riffe and public interest attorney and activist Andrew Kimbrell!
POINT OF NO RETURN
22 April, 2019
Excellent turnout for our Earth Day screening of the documentary POINT OF NO RETURN with filmmakers Quinn Kanaly and Noel Dockstader, special guests and the Spirit Of St. Louis!
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography and Bill Johnston, Jr.
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY
16 April, 2019
Happy 20th Birthday to the Rafael! Director of Programming Richard Peterson, Theater Manager Dan Zastrow, CFI Founder and Executive Director Mark Fishkin, Rafael architect Mark Cavagnero, and CFI Board President Jennifer Coslett MacCready share poignant and hilarious stories from 20 years of our wonderful theater.
Photos © Christopher Markisz
THE CAMP FIRE
15 April, 2019
There was a fantastic turnout for the Camp Fire Benefit Screening for the Rotary Club of Paradise, featuring Jonathan Cook of Good Green Moving, Chris Gallagher, past District Governor; Nancy Hamilton, Filmmaker; Desiree De Anda, President of Golden Eagle Films; and Brian Gray, Paradise Rotary Club President – thanks to all who came out in support of this great cause!
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
FERLINGHETTI
24 March, 2019
On Sunday, March 24, we celebrated the great Lawrence Ferlinghetti on his 100th Birthday with a screening of FERLINGHETTI, presented by director Christopher Felver, followed by a Q&A with Felver and director Haydn Reiss.
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography
GLORIA BELL
28 February, 2019
CFI Members were treated to a special Filmmaker Highlight Event with a screening of A24’s new film GLORIA BELL starring Julianne Moore and visit from Academy Award® winning director Sebastian Lelio, who participated in a post-film Q&A and reception.
Photos © Tommy Lau Photography
AWARDS NIGHT
24 February, 2019
It was a great Awards Night at the Smith Rafael Film Center, celebrating the 91st Academy Awards! Guests were treated to delicious drinks and treats, and received the movie star treatment on our red carpet and in our photo booth before enjoying the big show on all three Rafael screens! Red Carpet Guest photos can be found HERE
Photos © Allison Levenson Photography, Bill Johnston, Jr. and Nikki Scioli
WHO KILLED LT. VAN DORN?
3 February, 2019
Filmmakers Zachary Stauffer and Jason Paladino attended a thought-provoking Q&A following a screening of their film WHO KILLED LT. VAN DORN, the first feature film produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
Photos © Bill Johnston, Jr.
NEVER LOOK AWAY
13 January, 2019
Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others, The Tourist) joined us for a private screening of his latest film NEVER LOOK AWAY, Germany’s official submission for the 91st Academy Award® for Foreign Language Film.
Photos © Christopher Markisz
CHARM CITY
2 January, 2019
Director Marilyn Ness and editor Don Bernier attended a screening of their powerful Baltimore documentary Charm City, part of the Rafael’s Oscar Spotlight: Documentaries series.
Photos © Kirke Wrench
