Will Steph present?
Within the run-up to the 2023 SFFILM Pageant’s kick-off occasion April 13 at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre, this has develop into essentially the most bandied-about query.
Clearly, Stephen Curry has obtained an invite, since he's the point of interest of the opening-night movie, award-winning Oakland documentary-maker Peter Nicks’ distinctive “Stephen Curry: Underrated.”
However even when the Golden State Warriors star is a no-show, the East Bay filmmaking group will probably be within the highlight, with Nicks and Oakland native Ryan Coogler, director of “Fruitvale Station” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually,” planning to attend, together with different notables.
Though “Stephen Curry: Underrated” obtained its world premiere at this yr’s Sundance Movie Pageant, Nicks (identified for his trio of Oakland-based movies, “The Ready Room,” “The Pressure,” and “Homeroom”), stated there's something particular about seeing his newest effort launch SFFILM Fest in in Oakland.
“I’m simply excited to look at the movie with our group as a result of at Sundance it was thrilling … but it surely was Sundance, you realize,” he stated. “That is simply completely different. That is dwelling. That is going to be a mirrored image of the pleasure that all of us have in our dwelling and the way Stephen Curry has helped elevate that group within the nationwide consciousness.”
The Oakland presence could be felt all through the 11-day pageant’s run. Oakland additionally instructions the highlight for the fest’s closing-night characteristic, East Bay rapper and director Boots Riley’s wild Amazon Prime sequence, “I’m a Virgo.” 4 episodes of the upcoming Oakland-set little bit of surrealness will probably be screened April 23 at CVG San Francisco 14 cinemas.
In the meantime, director Stanley Nelson receives SFFILM’s Mel Novikoff Award — given to a filmmaker who has “enhanced the filmgoer’s appreciation of world cinema” at 3:15 p.m. April 15 at CGV Cinema. Nelson’s 2015 documentary “Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” will probably be proven after the presentation.
To not be outdone, Fremont additionally grabs star billing. After its raved-about world premiere at Sundance, director Babak Jalali’s black-and-white “Fremont,” a drama a few former U.S. navy translator in Afghanistan who's now dwelling in Fremont and dealing at a fortune cookie manufacturing facility in San Francisco screens as a part of the pageant April 22 in San Francisco and April 23 in Berkeley.
The Peninsula will get represented too with San Mateo folks legend Joan Baez the main target of the documentary “Joan Baez I Am a Noise,” screening April 18 at The Castro in San Francisco. The enduring performer plans to attend.
There may be a lot to savor on the SFFILM Fest. Listed here are 10 standout films we’ve seen.
‘Rally’
When and the place: 5:30 p.m. April 21 at CGV San Francisco 14; midday April 23 at Berkeley Artwork Museum and Pacific Movie Archive
Company anticipated: Director Rooth Tang and others
Why it stands out: On this engrossing documentary in regards to the late Chinese language-born San Francisco political activist Rose Pak, getting its world premier right here, Tang by no means soft-pedals the divisiveness of his topic. And that makes “Rally” all that extra particular and attention-grabbing. Tang covers a whole lot of floor — Pak’s meager origins in China, her temporary San Francisco Chronicle reporting stint, her brazen chess-like maneuvers to get favored politicians elected and the verbal jibes she took whereas emceeing the Chinatown New Yr’s Parade at politicos who, in her eyes, had failed the Asian group. In the event you’re a Bay Space historical past buff or a fan of fascinating documentaries about larger-than-life characters who upset the established order, “Rally” is a should.
‘Previous Lives’
When and the place: 8 p.m. April 18 at The Castro, California Premiere and Centerpiece Choice
Company anticipated: Director/screenwriter Celine Track and actor Greta Lee
Why it stands out: Each scene, each rigorously slimmed-down but revealing line of dialogue in Celine Track’s heartbreaker on a South Korean childhood friendship and the infinite prospects of soul-stirring previous connections displays a sensible and empathetic understanding of the conflicts waging inside its three characters (performed with virtuosity by Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro). Instructed with literary grace and with metaphorical thrives, “Previous Lives” speaks quietly on the immigrant dynamic and on life’s what-might-have-beens after which hits us with an emotional ending that’s so unbelievably good and delightful it renders you wordless.
After the pageant: The A24 launch is slated to open June 2 in theaters.
‘BlackBerry’
When and the place: 7:30 p.m. April 17 at Premier Theater, San Francisco; receiving the Sloan Science on Display Award
Why it stands out: How within the heck did the primary smartphone, which everybody anticipated would rule the world, tank? Matt Johnson’s pitch-perfect characteristic movie jauntily reveals us what went up and what went down with the BlackBerry, from its kooky begin to its rise to its crash-and-burn demise. It makes for a massively entertaining experience with two fundamental actors steering the motion: Glenn Howerton as tantrum-prone Canadian businessman James Balsillie, who slices himself an enormous piece of the corporate pie; and Jay Baruchel as founder Mike Lazaridis, the OCD brainiac behind the cellular machine. That is merely irresistible and informed with simply the best contact.
Company Anticipated: Director/co-writer/co-star Matt Johnson, co-screenwriter Matthew Miller, scientist Joel Moore
After the pageant: “BlackBerry is slated for a Could 12 launch.
‘Dalíland’
When and The place: 8:30 p.m. Friday at CGV San Francisco 14 (tribute to director Mary Harron), 7:45 p.m. Saturday at BAMPFA
Company anticipated: Director/co-writer/co-star Mary Harron and producers David O. Sacks, Daniel Bunt and Sam Pressman
Why it stands out: The psychedelic, anything-goes New York artwork scene bursts out in Harron’s (“American Psycho,” “I Shot Andy Warhol”) dishy romp through which good-looking gallery assistant James Linton (Christopher Birney) crosses paths with the enduring surrealist Salvador Dali (Ben Kingsley, chewing into the half) and the painter’s tempestuous spouse Gala Dali (Barbara Sukowa). James will get entangled like a fly in a spider’s internet with the couple’s stormy relationship. However can he earn a everlasting spot with this crowd or is he only a plaything? Harron’s sinfully enjoyable characteristic ponders that a bit.
After the pageant: The movie is slated for a June launch.
‘Earth Mama’
When and the place: 8 p.m. April 14 at BAMPFA, 6 p.m. April 15 at CGV San Francisco 14
Company anticipated: Director/author Savanah Leaf, actors Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander and Keta Value
Why it stands out: Olympian-turned-filmmaker Savanah Leaf’s spectacular characteristic debut adopts a John Cassavetes-like method in observing pregnant single mother Gia (Tia Nomore) as she agonizes over whether or not she’s going to provide her upcoming child to a different Bay Space household. “Mama” fills the display with pictures of East Bay, however your consideration will focus extra on Leaf’s signature type of spotlighting the voice of an individual we so not often hear expressed. Equally, Leaf’s uncooked and susceptible debut reveals that there are various nurturing arms wanted to assist somebody like Gia alongside the best way.
‘Nonetheless: A Michael J. Fox Film’
When and the place: 8:30 p.m. April 21 at CGV San Francisco 14
Company anticipated: Director Davis Guggenheim
Why it stands out: Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Reality”) retains issues frank and artistic and avoids getting overly sentimental in depicting Michael J. Fox’s life, profession and battle with Parkinson’s illness. As an alternative, his movie is very similar to the actor himself: candid, partaking and immensely likable. “Nonetheless” is something however a scientific overview of what Parkinson’s can do. The focus is on Fox and the way the diminutive Canadian actor who nobody initially wished for TV’s “Household Ties” by no means managed to remain nonetheless or content material as he raced by means of his profession after which stored secret about his situation. Guggenheim’s method is solely in sync with Fox himself, making it probably the greatest documentaries you’ll see in 2023.
After the pageant: The Apple TV+ launch comes out Could 12.
‘Stephen Curry: Underrated’
When and The place: 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. April 13 at Grand Lake Theater, Oakland
Company anticipated: Director Peter Nicks and producer Ryan Coogler
Why it stands out: This astutely conscious documentary avoids taking a cheerleading method to its topic, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. Award-winning Oakland documentary-maker Peter Nicks ventures away from oft-repeated nuts and bolts about Curry’s life and astonishing profession, and comes up with a novel method, interlacing Curry’s basketball profession at Davidson School in North Carolina with the championship 2021-2022 Warriors season. Even if you happen to aren’t a sports activities fan, you’ll come away from “Underrated” impressed by this underdog. It’s additionally Nicks’ finest movie but.
After the pageant: The movie has no launch date set but however is anticipated to hit theaters someday in 2023.
‘I’m a Virgo’
When and the place: 6 and seven:30 p.m. April 23 at CGV San Francisco 14
Company anticipated: Creator Boots Riley
Why it stands out: It’s at all times an E-ticket experience every time Oakland’s overflowing fount of creativity Boots Riley hitches his title onto one thing. He doesn’t disappoint with this Amazon sequence, which one-ups his Oakland-set 2018 characteristic debut “Sorry to Trouble You” in being brilliantly bizarre. It’s a surreal fable about 13-foot-tall teen Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), an Oakland youth, who discovers that the world exterior the 4 tall partitions he’s been confined to could be each stunning and problematic, particularly when there’s a white superhero (Walton Goggins, a scream) operating round The City who thinks he’s doing the best factor, however so isn’t. “I’m a Virgo” is such a particular murals and I can’t wait to google up all seven episodes. (4 will probably be proven)
After the pageant: The sequence is anticipated to debut this summer season on Amazon Prime.
‘1000% Me: Rising Up Combined’
Screening with “Creating Issues” and “Southern Afternoon”
When and the place: Midday April 22 at BAMPFA
Company anticipated: Director W. Kamau Bell, Bryan and Taylor Simpson and Tian Lan
Why it stands out: The Bay Space’s Bell, a media vivid mild, best-selling writer and Bay Space treasure, drops in on Bay Space mixed-race households to talk about how they outline themselves and the way others attempt to outline them. The responses show to be considerate, heartwarming, incisive and, since children are sometimes those responding, fairly humorous and en pointe. Whereas it’s simply shy of an hour, it raises – as does all of Bell’s work – essential factors and points that hopefully will spark even additional conversations.
After the pageant: Count on it to pop up on HBO quickly.
‘Residence Is a Lodge’
When and the place: 12:45 p.m. April 22 at CGV San Francisco 14; world premiere, entry for Golden Gate Award Documentary Competitors
Company anticipated: Administrators Kevin Duncan Wong, Todd Sills and Kar Yin Tham, plus a couple of contributors from the movie.
Why it stands out: What’s it wish to reside in one of many wealthiest cities on the planet — San Francisco — and should carve out an existence in an SRO? A trio of filmmakers put audiences into the sneakers of single-room occupants, people and households who're barely scraping by and are wedged into tight, typically bug-ridden quarters to allow them to keep away from touchdown on the town’s unforgiving streets. Whereas the verité method lends itself to relating these tales ever so properly, some context say from an skilled akin to San Jose native Matthew Desmond, the award-winning writer of “Poverty, by America” and “Evicted: Energy and Poverty within the American Metropolis,” would have made it much more efficient.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.
SFFILM FESTIVAL
When: April 13-23
The place: Varied San Francisco and East Bay theaters
Tickets: Most screenings $19-$20; particular occasions value extra; sffilm.org