SPECIAL EVENTS
SFFS Film Arts Forum—Thinking Outside the Doc Box
Monday, February 8, 7:30 pm
Monday, February 8, 7:30 pm
SF360 FILM+CLUB
A Sneak Preview of a Film About Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields
Sunday, February 28, 8:00 pm, doors 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 28, 8:00 pm, doors 7:00 pm
Releases
52nd San Francisco International Film Festival Honors Robert Redford with Peter J. Owens Award for Extraordinary Acting Career
Redford to be Honored for His Brilliance, Independence and Integrity
in Onstage Tribute at the Castro Theatre and at Film Society Awards Night Gala
3/10/2009
The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Robert Redford will be the recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award to be presented at the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 23–May 7). The Owens Award, named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations and Film Society board member, honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity. The award will be presented to Redford at Film Society Awards Night on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.
The Film Society’s acclaimed Youth Education Program will be the beneficiary of the gala black-tie fundraiser honoring Redford and the soon-to-be announced recipients of the Founder’s Directing Award and the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting. Penelope Wong and Tim Kochis chair the 2009 Film Society Awards Night committee. Celeste and Anthony Meier are the honorary chairs.
Redford will also be feted in a public onstage tribute at the Castro Theatre Wednesday, April 29, at 7:30 pm. The program will feature career retrospective film clips and an onstage interview with Phil Bronstein, editor-at-large of the San Francisco Chronicle, followed by the world premiere screening of the restoration of one of Redford’s most beloved films, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) directed by George Roy Hill.
“We feel honored to be paying tribute to Robert Redford, a man who is in a class by himself, both on and off the screen,” says Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. “His intelligence, skill and dedication as an actor have brought to life scores of unforgettable characters, while the same qualities in the service of politics, the arts and the environment have been an inspiration to millions.”
One of the world’s most recognizable actors for more than 40 years, Redford has maintained his independence within the industry and retained his passion for film as an art. He has devoted his life to making films of social and cultural relevance, as well as to encouraging and developing the talents of young film artists through the extraordinary work of the Sundance Institute. His longtime dedication to political and environmental causes can also be seen threaded throughout his onscreen career.
Redford landed his first Broadway roles in Tall Story, Highest Tree and Little Moon of Alban, and his first starring role in 1961’s Sunday in New York followed by the lead in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, directed by Mike Nichols. In 1969, Redford costarred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Directed by George Roy Hill, the film became an instant classic and firmly established Redford as one of the industry’s top leading men. The trio reunited for The Sting, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and garnered Redford a Best Actor nomination.
He has since built a distinguished career, starring in such notable features as The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Three Days of the Condor, Jeremiah Johnson, The Natural, Out of Africa, Indecent Proposal and Up Close and Personal, among many others. His two overtly political films, All the President’s Men and The Candidate resonate just as strongly today as they did when they were made.
A large part of Redford’s life is the Sundance Institute, founded in 1981 and dedicated to the development of emerging screenwriters, producers and directors of vision and the exhibition of new independent cinema. Its highly acclaimed screenwriting, directing, playwriting and producing laboratories take place at the Sundance Village mountain retreat in Utah, founded by Redford in 1969. His Sundance Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this January, is recognized as one of the most important showcases of independent cinema in the world.
In 1996, Redford received the Screen Actors Guild’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. It is significant that the movies Redford is proudest of are not the necessarily his blockbusters, but smaller, heartfelt projects, many of which he directed, like Ordinary People, Quiz Show, Jeremiah Johnson and A River Runs Through It. Reflecting on his career, Redford has said, “I have been able to make some films that were important to my soul. That’s lucky in an industry that is business first and art second. Art is only accepted when it makes money. To make certain movies close to your heart, you have to hold down the cost, work at least twice as hard and make sacrifices along the way. But it’s worth it because doing what you believe in makes a huge difference.”
Previous recipients of the Film Society’s Peter J. Owens Award are Mario Bello (2008), Robin Williams (2007), Ed Harris (2006) Joan Allen, (2005), Chris Cooper (2004), Dustin Hoffman (2003), Kevin Spacey (2002), Stockard Channing (2001), Winona Ryder (2000), Sean Penn (1999), Nicolas Cage (1998), Annette Bening (1997) and Harvey Keitel (1996). The Peter J. Owens Award is made possible through a grant from the Peter J. Owens Trust at the San Francisco Foundation.
For tickets and information for Film Society Awards Night only call 415-561-5005.
For tickets ($20 members/$25 general) and information for the tribute to Robert Redford at the Castro Theatre go to www.sffs.org or call 925-866-9559.
San Francisco Film Society
The San Francisco Film Society is a nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to celebrating the world of film and media in four core areas: Internationalism and Cross-Cultural Exchange; Educating and Inspiring Bay Area Youth; Showcasing Bay Area Film Culture; and Exploring New Media.
SFFS shows the best of world cinema year-round on its SFFS Screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and presents the San Francisco International Animation Festival, New Italian Cinema and French Cinema Now annually in the fall. In all, the Film Society presents more than 300 days of programming each year, reaching a total audience of more than 100,000 people. Its acclaimed youth education program introduces international cinema and media literacy to more than 7,000 teachers and students annually.
The Film Society publishes a daily online magazine, SF360.org, with broad-ranging news and features on Bay Area film culture and provides crucial support to the Bay Area filmmaking community through SFFS filmmaker services including grants & residencies, fiscal sponsorship, production assistance and development, networking and conference events, and professional-level filmmaker classes and workshops.
52nd San Francisco International Film Festival
The 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 23–May 7, 2009 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre and Landmark’s Clay Theatre in San Francisco; and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring 25 juried awards, 200 films and live events with upwards of 100 participating filmmakers and diverse audiences of 75,000+ people.
For tickets and information go to www.sffs.org or call 925-866-9559.
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The Film Society’s acclaimed Youth Education Program will be the beneficiary of the gala black-tie fundraiser honoring Redford and the soon-to-be announced recipients of the Founder’s Directing Award and the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting. Penelope Wong and Tim Kochis chair the 2009 Film Society Awards Night committee. Celeste and Anthony Meier are the honorary chairs.
Redford will also be feted in a public onstage tribute at the Castro Theatre Wednesday, April 29, at 7:30 pm. The program will feature career retrospective film clips and an onstage interview with Phil Bronstein, editor-at-large of the San Francisco Chronicle, followed by the world premiere screening of the restoration of one of Redford’s most beloved films, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) directed by George Roy Hill.
“We feel honored to be paying tribute to Robert Redford, a man who is in a class by himself, both on and off the screen,” says Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. “His intelligence, skill and dedication as an actor have brought to life scores of unforgettable characters, while the same qualities in the service of politics, the arts and the environment have been an inspiration to millions.”
One of the world’s most recognizable actors for more than 40 years, Redford has maintained his independence within the industry and retained his passion for film as an art. He has devoted his life to making films of social and cultural relevance, as well as to encouraging and developing the talents of young film artists through the extraordinary work of the Sundance Institute. His longtime dedication to political and environmental causes can also be seen threaded throughout his onscreen career.
Redford landed his first Broadway roles in Tall Story, Highest Tree and Little Moon of Alban, and his first starring role in 1961’s Sunday in New York followed by the lead in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, directed by Mike Nichols. In 1969, Redford costarred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Directed by George Roy Hill, the film became an instant classic and firmly established Redford as one of the industry’s top leading men. The trio reunited for The Sting, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and garnered Redford a Best Actor nomination.
He has since built a distinguished career, starring in such notable features as The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Three Days of the Condor, Jeremiah Johnson, The Natural, Out of Africa, Indecent Proposal and Up Close and Personal, among many others. His two overtly political films, All the President’s Men and The Candidate resonate just as strongly today as they did when they were made.
A large part of Redford’s life is the Sundance Institute, founded in 1981 and dedicated to the development of emerging screenwriters, producers and directors of vision and the exhibition of new independent cinema. Its highly acclaimed screenwriting, directing, playwriting and producing laboratories take place at the Sundance Village mountain retreat in Utah, founded by Redford in 1969. His Sundance Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this January, is recognized as one of the most important showcases of independent cinema in the world.
In 1996, Redford received the Screen Actors Guild’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. It is significant that the movies Redford is proudest of are not the necessarily his blockbusters, but smaller, heartfelt projects, many of which he directed, like Ordinary People, Quiz Show, Jeremiah Johnson and A River Runs Through It. Reflecting on his career, Redford has said, “I have been able to make some films that were important to my soul. That’s lucky in an industry that is business first and art second. Art is only accepted when it makes money. To make certain movies close to your heart, you have to hold down the cost, work at least twice as hard and make sacrifices along the way. But it’s worth it because doing what you believe in makes a huge difference.”
Previous recipients of the Film Society’s Peter J. Owens Award are Mario Bello (2008), Robin Williams (2007), Ed Harris (2006) Joan Allen, (2005), Chris Cooper (2004), Dustin Hoffman (2003), Kevin Spacey (2002), Stockard Channing (2001), Winona Ryder (2000), Sean Penn (1999), Nicolas Cage (1998), Annette Bening (1997) and Harvey Keitel (1996). The Peter J. Owens Award is made possible through a grant from the Peter J. Owens Trust at the San Francisco Foundation.
For tickets and information for Film Society Awards Night only call 415-561-5005.
For tickets ($20 members/$25 general) and information for the tribute to Robert Redford at the Castro Theatre go to www.sffs.org or call 925-866-9559.
San Francisco Film Society
The San Francisco Film Society is a nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to celebrating the world of film and media in four core areas: Internationalism and Cross-Cultural Exchange; Educating and Inspiring Bay Area Youth; Showcasing Bay Area Film Culture; and Exploring New Media.
SFFS shows the best of world cinema year-round on its SFFS Screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and presents the San Francisco International Animation Festival, New Italian Cinema and French Cinema Now annually in the fall. In all, the Film Society presents more than 300 days of programming each year, reaching a total audience of more than 100,000 people. Its acclaimed youth education program introduces international cinema and media literacy to more than 7,000 teachers and students annually.
The Film Society publishes a daily online magazine, SF360.org, with broad-ranging news and features on Bay Area film culture and provides crucial support to the Bay Area filmmaking community through SFFS filmmaker services including grants & residencies, fiscal sponsorship, production assistance and development, networking and conference events, and professional-level filmmaker classes and workshops.
52nd San Francisco International Film Festival
The 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 23–May 7, 2009 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre and Landmark’s Clay Theatre in San Francisco; and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring 25 juried awards, 200 films and live events with upwards of 100 participating filmmakers and diverse audiences of 75,000+ people.
For tickets and information go to www.sffs.org or call 925-866-9559.
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