OPENING NIGHT FILM True to the spirit of the SFIAF, the Opening Night film works in innovative and exciting ways, pushing the boundaries of what we think of as animation. A reclusive, talented artist, Jay, seldom leaves his small town in Northern California. One day Jay’s cousins Jeff and Eric visit from LA and invite him to live with them in Hollywood. Hoping to cheer him up, the brothers show Jay the city. But Jay begins to feel the oppression of what he calls "the grid" and turns to excessive partying to fill the void. Using a canny hybrid live action/animation approach, real settings become the landscape for Jay’s inner life, as his subjectivity—his thoughts, emotions and longing for spiritual renewal—is displayed as a series of stop motion sequences. Eventually, Jay returns to his small town, while Eric and Jeff pursue relationships in New York and England. Alone once again, Jay almost loses hope when a powerful moment shakes him to his core, and he faces the most important decision of his life.

Celebrate Opening Night of the San Francisco International Animation Festival with director Eric Leiser, cast and crew after the first screening of the film at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Limited tickets are available for this suitably animated party featuring modern Japanese cuisine–inspired hors d’oeuvres and sponsored beverages provided by Birra Moretti and José Pastor Wine Selections.



USA/England 2011, 83 min. Written by Eric Leiser, Photographed by Rory Owen Delaney, Marco Menestrina. With Jay Masonek, Jeffrey Leiser, Eric Leiser, Linda Darnall. Albino Fawn Productions.