San Francisco Black Film Festival 12: Films For Juneteenth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 4, 2010 --

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – “The little festival that could” is proving it will. With 35 films screening over 4 days the San Francisco Black Film Festival will produce its first major festival event since the unexpected loss of its founder and director Avé Montague. Thursday, June 17th, will be the first night of film, which will be held at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas. Friday, in The Fillmore, SFBFF will be screening at the Jazz Heritage Center’s Media an Education Room. SFBFF12 will screen the majority of its’ films on Saturday and Sunday, downtown at Opera Plaza Cinemas, collaborating with San Francisco’s 60th Juneteenth Celebration, (one block away in Civic Center Plaza) to provide the festival atmosphere while they “bring it back to just film”.

The festival’s initial screening block of shorts fits together perfectly, and serves as a family friendly snap shot of what this year’s festival has to offer. Living up to its promise, SFBFF presents dialogue stimulating, socially conscious black cinema from around the world, while exploring an array of current relevant topics, which affect all facets of daily life. Johnny’s Leaving follows titular star Johnny and baby brother Kevin who suffer the violence of abusive parents. Moments before running away, Johnny is torn between caring for his younger brother, and following his dream to become a professional superhero. Then a boy of similar age has a totally different set of problems; in Abidjan a young soccer player is taken somewhere he never imagines

Canadian writer/director, Reed ‘iZrEAL’ Jones’ dramatizes his true story of racial profiling in DWB. Crafting his personal experiences into a theatrical, stripped-down look, Jones presents an example of the conflict that can erupt when two white officers pull over two black citizens. Fresh Peas is short documentary about a struggling black California farmer who finds support for his produce in an unlikely place. More suited for the younger set, these films are presented together in lieu of the Urban Kidz Film Festival this year. The rest of the day will be an exciting combination of Shorts, Features, and Documentaries.

SFBFF also has jazz related film content, which will be hosted at the Jazz Heritage Center. The Wayman Tisdale Story gives us insight into the life the basketball star whose first love was jazz. “You can never give up because quitting is not an option. No matter how dark it is, or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight" -Wayman Tisdale (1964-2009). Flags, Feathers, and Lies takes a look behind the luxurious extravaganza of the famous Mardi Gras in New Orleans, to the desolate back streets, devastated by Katrina, where some say survives one of the most ancestral and hidden celebrations of the African-American population: The Mardi Gras Indians. Suicide Dolls could very well serve as a PSA as these two lonely girls decide to chronicle their last 24 hours before they commit suicide.

SFBFF continues to serve as a bridge between worlds, forging cultural connections by presenting universal themes from filmmakers around the globe. The festival continues to be San Francisco’s platform for local and international filmmakers to showcase their diverse array of cinematic works, which serve to encourage a positive image of the African-American and those of the African cultural diaspora. Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com. For a complete calendar of events, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer sign up, as well as addition information about films and trailers please visit the SFBFF website at www.sfbff.org.

WHO: San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF12)
WHAT: SFBFF12: Films For Juneteenth a day of screening in Fillmore
WHEN: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:00 am – 10:00pm
WHERE: The Jazz Heritage Center’s Koret Screening Room
1320/1330 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115
COST: $10.00 per screening block; $35.00 day pass; $85.00 festival pass
SPEAKERS: Film directors and actors available for Q&A after screening when present

COMMENTS: Limited seating available for J.H.C’s screenings. Pre-sale ticket purchase is highly recommended.

june festival     juneteenth celebrations     SFBFF