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.
OPENING NIGHT
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.
WATCH OUT FOR
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
Short Films
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
CLOSING NIGHT
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