The folks at SF Indiefest know how to throw a party and put on a killer film festival. The group hosts four film festivals a year as well as such events as the Big Lebowski Party and the Anti-Valentine’s Day Power Ballad Sing A Long Party.
Now comes time for the group’s biggest shindig, the SF Independent Film Festival, which spotlights filmmakers (many with Bay Area ties) who know how to make innovative features on itty-bitty budgets. The fest kicks off Jan. 29 with “Woman in Motion,” a documentary that devout “Star Trek” fans will want to see. Directed by Todd Thompson, it focuses on the life of Nichelle Nichols who played Lt. Uhura. Her roles as one of the first African-American women to grace a TV series and as a civil rights activist are explored.
Concluding the fest on Feb. 13 is “Alice,” a narrative drama about a fed-up woman who becomes an escort after her husband spends all of their loot on his lusty predilections.
Among the lineup of of 47 features and 57 shorts feature are such must-see creations as “Around the Sun,” a clever romantic drama that explores the gulf between expectations and realities. It features two beautiful lead performances by Gethin Anthony and and Cara Theobold, gorgeous cinematography and a tender, soulful screenplay from Alameda’s Jonathan Kiefer.
For a kooky experience, there’s the hyperactive black-and-white creature feature “The Lake Michigan Monster.” It is hilarious
Features with Bay Area connections include Berkeley director Jason Cohn’s documentary on California’s Prop. 13, “The First Angry Man”; San Francisco filmmaker Richard Wong’s comedy/drama “Come As You Are” — about a group of friends with disabilities on a road trip to get some sexual satisfaction — “39½,” Kara Herold’s comedy/drama about a single woman seeking to have a child; and Mill Valley resident Zio Ziegler’s comedy about art and pretense, “’Bad Art.”
Details: Jan. 29-Feb. 13 at Roxie Theater and Victoria Theatre, San Francisco; most screenings $15, opening night showing is $25; sfindie.com.
— Randy Myers, Correspondent
