Special Gala Screenings and Events
OPENING NIGHT
Thursday, April 26
Film
Golden Door
7:00 pm
Castro Theatre
429 Castro Street (near Market)
Party
9:30 pm–12:00 midnight
San Francis co Cit y Hall
Entrance on Polk Street (Grove/McAllister)
Kick off the San Francisco International Film Festival’s golden anniversary with a world-class cinematic event, special guests and a festive celebration with live entertainment, dancing, free-flowing food and drinks and a complimentary gift bag. Celebrate 50 years in style in the glorious City Hall rotunda. Indulge in culinary delights from hot Bay Area restaurants, sophisticated cocktails and other libations. As you find your groove, dance the night away in the hip North Light Court lounge to the Toledo Show, the coolest band in Hollywood.
Golden Door is presented in association with the Italian Cultural Institute. The Opening Night party is presented with the generous support of the San Francisco Film Commission.
Sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways
MIDNIGHT AWARDS
Saturday, April 28
10:30 pm–1:30 am
W San Francisco Hotel,
181 Third Street
Members and general public $50
Given in memory of Charles Barile.
The San Francisco International Film Festival’s Midnight Awards have been created to honor a dynamic young American actor and actress entering the prime of their careers, who have made outstanding contributions to independent and Hollywood cinema, and who bring striking intelligence, exemplary talent and extraordinary depth of character to their roles. The first annual Midnight Awards will be given to Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell.
The Midnight Awards takes the form of a late-night awards ceremony and cocktail reception featuring great food and drinks, DJ entertainment, film clips and remarks by our special guests. Festive dress required.
Special support for this event is provided by Miracle Pictures.
The Midnight Awards are given in memory of Charles Barile (1954–2004), a lifelong film aficionado. Charles’s love for the medium began as a child, when he would spend his Saturdays at the cinema watching the same film over and over. He studied film at UCLA and became a well-known publicist, in which capacity he was fond of saying that when you have a jewel of a film it speaks for itself. Charles would be the first to applaud our honorees for their talent, their independent spirit and their exceptional achievements.
Rosario Dawson
Since making an indelible impression in her film debut, Larry Clark’s controversial Kids, Rosario Dawson has lit up the screen in both big-budget mainstream hits (Rent, Sin City,
Men in Black II) and well-received indie gems (25th Hour, Sidewalks of New York, Chelsea Walls). Dawson is equally at home amid the swords-and-sandals splendor of Oliver Stone’s Alexander and the down-and-dirty convenience store of Kevin Smith’s Clerks II. Her upcoming films include Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse, John Madden’s Killshot and Talia Lugacy’s Descent, which she also produced.
Sam Rockwell
Hailing from Daly City, local-boy-makes-good Sam Rockwell has forged a unique path among actors of his generation, stealing entire movies with his tousle-haired charm and seemingly effortless ability to get under the skin of some out-there characters. Following noteworthy appearances in In the Soup, Box of Moonlight, The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest, Rockwell’s breakthrough came in George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, in which he brilliantly embodied game show host-cum-CIA hitman Chuck Barris. Rockwell’s upcoming films include Snow Angels and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Sponsored by W San Francisco, SKYY Vodka and 7x7 Magazine.
FILM SOCIETY AWARDS NIGHT
Thursday, May 3
6:00 pm VIP Cocktail reception with celebrity guests
7:00 pm Dinner and awards program
Westin St. Francis Hotel, Grand Ballroom
Post Street entrance
Individuals $500/$1,000/$1,500;
Tables of 10: $5,000/$10,000/$15,000/$25,000
The Film Society honors this year’s directing, acting and screenwriting awards
recipients along with the one-time-only Irving M. Levin award honoree at a
glamorous black-tie event filled with onstage appearances, dining and dancing.
Honorees are George Lucas, Spike Lee, Robin Williams and Peter Morgan.
The Peter J. Owens award is made possible by a grant from the Peter J. Owens trust at the San Francisco Foundation. Gary Shapiro and Scott Owens, trustees.
For Awards Nights ticket information, call 415-551-5190.
For all other ticket information call 925-866-9559 or visit www.sffs.org.
No cameras please.
Sponsored by Westin St. Francis Hotel, SKYY Spirits, Tiffany & Co. and Stephen Vincent Winery
CENTERPIECE
Saturday, May 5
Film
Delirious
7:00 pm Sundance Cinemas Kabuki
1881 Post Street (at Fillmore)
Party
9:30–11:30 pm Suite one8one
181 Eddy Street (Turk/Mason)
At the center of this year’s Festival is an extraordinary event that features an edgy new film by a celebrated director, followed by an incredible party at one of San Francisco’s hottest nightspots. Purchase your ticket to be part of one of the Festival’s most anticipated events. Celebrate after hours at stylish downtown nightclub Suite one8one. Indulge in cocktails and tasty bites, grooving and lounging. Ticket entitles you to club admission and one complimentary drink ticket. No-host valet parking available.
Sponsored by Bay Area Women in Film and Television and Women in Film/GM Alliance
CLOSING NIGHT
Thursday, May 10
Film
La Vie en Rose
7:00 pm Castro Theatre
429 Cast ro Street (near Market)
Party
10:00 pm–12:30 am
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street (Fifth /Sixth )
Join us as we screen one more unforgettable film, announce Audience Award winners and dance the night away at a fantastic after-party. The streets of Paris collide with San Francisco warehouse minimalism at Mezzanine at the Festival’s wrap party. Indulge in treats from the crème de la crème of the city’s restaurants, imbibe drinks à go go, mix with artistes extraordinaires and regrettez rien on the dance floor. Mezzanine is the ultimate spot to paint the town en rose and bid adieu to the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival.
Sponsored by bebe and 7x7 Magazine