The San Francisco International Film Festival (abbreviated as SFIFF) is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries. The Festival highlights current trends in international film and video production with an emphasis on work that has not yet secured U.S. distribution. Since its inception, the International has grown to serve over 80,000 patrons, with screenings held in San Francisco, Berkeley, and the Peninsula.^[1] Graham Leggat became the executive director of the festival on October 17, 2005.

Contents 1 History 2 Honors and Tributes 2.1 Founder’s Directing Award 2.2 Peter J. Owens Award 2.3 Kanbar Award 2.4 Mel Novikoff Award 2.5 Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award 2.6 Midnight Awards 3 Awards and Prizes 3.1 New Directors Award 3.2 Golden Gate Awards 3.3 FIPRESCI Prize 4 See also 5 Notes 6 External links

[edit] History

Founded in 1957 by film exhibitor Irving "Bud" Levin, the SFIFF began as a philanthropic effort to secure San Francisco's place in the international arts scene as well as expose locals to cinema as an art form.^[2] The Festival played a major role in introducing foreign films to American audiences. Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood and Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali were among the films that screened at the first festival. One obstacle in the early years was the lack of support from the major Hollywood studios, suggested reasons being the growing threat of international films' appeal and a fear that the festival would draw commercial attention away from the Oscars.^[3] It wasn't until 1959 that a major American film, Henry King's Beloved Infidel, played at SFIFF.

[edit] Honors and Tributes

[edit] Founder’s Directing Award

This award is given each year to one of the masters of world cinema, in memory of SFIFF's founder, Irving Levin.^[4] Recent recipients include:

• Francis Ford Coppola, 2009
  
• Mike Leigh, 2008
  
• Spike Lee, 2007
  
• Werner Herzog, 2006
  
• Taylor Hackford, 2005
  
• Milos Forman, 2004
  
• Robert Altman, 2003
  

[edit] Peter J. Owens Award

Named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936–91), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity.^[5] Recent recipients include:

• Robert Redford, 2009
  
• Maria Bello, 2008
  
• Robin Williams, 2007
  
• Ed Harris, 2006
  
• Joan Allen, 2005
  
• Chris Cooper, 2004
  
• Dustin Hoffman, 2003
  

[edit] Kanbar Award

The Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting acknowledges the crucial role that strong screenwriting plays in the creation of great films.^[6] Recent recipients include:

• James Toback, 2009
  
• Peter Morgan, 2008
  
• Robert Towne, 2007
  
• Jean-Claude Carriere, 2006
  
• Paul Haggis, 2005
  

[edit] Mel Novikoff Award

Named in honor of legendary San Francisco film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922–87), this award is given to an individual or organization notable for making significant contributions to the Bay Area's richly diverse film community.^[7] Recent recipients include:

• Bruce Goldstein, 2009
  
• J. Hoberman, 2008
  
• Kevin Brownlow, 2007
  
• Anita Monga, 2005
  
• Paolo Cherchi Usai, 2004
  
• Manny Farber, 2003
  

[edit] Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award

The POV Award honors the lifetime achievement of a filmmaker whose work is crafting documentaries, short films, animation or work for television.^[8] Recent recipients include:

• Lourdes Portillo, 2009
  
• Errol Morris, 2008
  
• Heddy Honigmann, 2007
  
• Guy Maddin, 2006
  
• Adam Curtis, 2005
  
• Jon Else, 2004
  
• Pat O'Neill, 2003
  

[edit] Midnight Awards

The Film Festival's Midnight Awards have been created to honor a dynamic young American actor and actress who have made outstanding contributions to independent and Hollywood cinema, and who bring striking intelligence, talent and depth of character to their roles.^[9] Recent recipients include:

• Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood, 2009
  
• Rose McGowan and Jason Lee, 2008
  
• Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell, 2007
  

[edit] Awards and Prizes

[edit] New Directors Award

This $15,000 cash award supports innovative thinking by independent filmmakers and shines the spotlight on an emerging director.^[10]Films in this juried competition must be the director's first narrative feature and are selected for their unique artistic sensibility or vision.

[edit] Golden Gate Awards

The Golden Gate Awards is the competitive section for documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental film and video, youth works and works for television. Eligibility requires that entries have a San Francisco Bay Area premiere and be exempt from a previous multiday commercial theatrical run or media broadcast of any kind. At the SFIFF52, three juries awarded cash prizes in eleven of the fifteen categories:^[11]

• Documentary Feature
  
• Investigative Documentary Feature - prize: $25,000
  
• Documentary Feature - prize: $20,000
  
• Bay Area Documentary Feature - prize: $15,000
  
• Documentary Short - prize: $5,000
  
• Narrative Short - prize: $5,000
  
• Animated Short - prize: $2,000
  
• New Visions - prize: $1,500
  
• Youth Works - prize: $1,500
  
• Adobe Youth Film for Change Award - prize: $1,500
  
• Works for Kids and Families - prize: $1,500
  
• Television Narrative Long Form - no cash award
  
• Television Narrative Short Form - no cash award
  
• Television Documentary Long Form - no cash award
  
• Television Documentary Short Form - no cash award
  

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the San Francisco International Film Festival as a qualifying festival for the short films (live action and animated) competitions of the 81st annual Academy Awards. ^[12]

[edit] FIPRESCI Prize

Selected by the International Federation of Film Critics, the FIPRESCI Prize aims to promote film art, to encourage new and young cinema and to help films get better distribution and win greater public attention.^[13]

[edit] See also

• San Francisco Film Society

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• San Francisco Film Society website
• SFIFF Information
• SFIFF First to Fifty History Site

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