Despite the passing thunderstorms during the first week of spring, filmmakers, festival supporters and theatergoers enthusiastically gathered at the Sonoma International Film Festival from March 20–24 to celebrate world-class filmmaking and world-renowned food and wine.
The SIFF program was punctuated with two private industry events, the first being a reception for filmmakers and festival judges hosted at Anaba Winery on March 22. San Francisco-Northern California Local President Kathryn Howell mingled with, among others, members Ivan Leung and Harrison Xu, who were promoting the premiere of their first self-funded project, Extremely Unique Dynamic, which they wrote, shot and directed at the height of the pandemic. Leung and Xu expressed to Howell their gratitude for SAG-AFTRA’s part in keeping the process safe and streamlined.
The Future of Film panel took place the following morning at the Sonoma Valley Women’s Club. Co-sponsored by the SF-NC Local and Upstate California Film Commission, the discussion featured a group who moderator Rosa Bosch described as the “all-stars of independent filmmaking,” covering everything from filmmaking to distribution and exhibition: Roadside Attractions Head of Marketing Dennis O’Connor; Strand Releasing Co-Founder Marcus Hu; IndieWire Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson, Director of Sundance Film Festival & Public Programming Eugene Hernandez; Cinetic VP Documentary Projects Brian Brooks; and Sideshow Acquisitions, Marketing, Operations Jason Hellerstein.
The conversation centered around the future of film — not so much about the influence of technological advances, but rather on the importance of the audience experience and thoughtful curation of independent films. The SF-NC Local welcomed the panel’s audience with a reminder of the fertile ground of creativity that Northern California offers to filmmakers and its pool of stunt, principal and background talent.
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