San Francisco International Film Festival, 2018

What’s It About?

Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) is the longest-running film festival in America. Held each spring for two weeks and highly anticipated by its loyal, passionate audiences, SFIFF is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation, featuring more than 180 films and live events with upwards of 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for excellence in film craft. The 2018 SFIFF will take place from April 4–17.

A Kid Like Jake

Directed by Silas Howard, the film is a timely social drama exploring issues at the heart of multiple national debates in the USA with intensity and sly humour. Pregnant Alex and her psychiatrist husband Greg are anxiously navigating the minefield of New York’s exclusive private schools. Their young son Jake’s intelligence and imagination have helped him win impressive test scores. While at first encouraged to play up their son’s possible transgender leanings so he might be considered a ‘diverse’ candidate for a progressive school, the parents begin a round of self-questioning once Jake begins acting out when confronted with bullies and teachers looking for more normative behaviour.

Documentary Feature

Bad Reputation

Bisbee ‘17

Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Carcasse

Chef Flynn

City of the Sun

Civilization

The Cleaners

The Distant Barking of Dogs

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Half the Picture

Hal

Red Room Orchestra

The Pushouts

The Shape Of A Surface

At Night I’m Lying

Crisanto Street

I Will Not Write Unless I Am Swaddled In Furs

Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month

Palenque

Skywards

While I Yet Live

Crossing River

49 Mile Scenic Drive

Graven Image

Made in Iowa

Marty

Shadow Animals

Zion

Fiction Feature

Alex Strangelove

American Animals

Angels Wear White

Beast

The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales

Boundaries

A Boy, A Girl, A Dream.

The Children Act

Claire’s Camera

Cold Water

Djon África

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot

Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film is about an autistic and wickedly funny, celebrated quadriplegic, Portland cartoonist John Callahan, who has a knack for depicting taboo subjects – especially people with physical disabilities – without political correctness.

– Suranjana Biswas

Byline: Suranjana Biswas