Ten days of film, food, wine, and filmmakers in conversation in northern Sonoma County

Our annual film festival showcases new and emerging talent worldwide, curated from hundreds of submissions and renowned distributors. We program a mix of brand-new indie favorites from the festival circuit and unseen works from and about underrepresented artists and communities.

Schedule:
Friday, Apr 28, 2023
11:00am: What'S Love Cot To Do With It? 108 Mins
When Zoe, an enterprising documentarian, solicits her childhood best friend, Kazim, to appear in her new film on arranged marriages, the stage is set for a cross cultural clash of values on marital love and courtship. As she interviews a series of Muslim couples and travels to Pakistan to witness Kazim’s first meet-up (and marriage) to his new wife, their relationship is increasingly put to the test over traditions she can’t accept or understand. Shekhar Kapur’s breezy romantic comedy frames familiar tropes through a fresh new lens in a film packed with humor, romance, and an exceptional all-star cast, including Emma Thompson as Zoe’s zany mother.

1:45pm: Anima 120 Mins
Set in the breathtakingly beautiful forests of Inner Mongolia, two brothers struggle to make a living in the Chinese logging industry. Tensions rise when they both take an interest in a local widow and find themselves at odds over the increasingly reckless deforestation practices destroying their homeland. Visually stunning and exquisitely scored, Anima is a deeply-moving family drama about the need to keep our Earth in balance. It reconnects us with indigenous traditions and reminds us about man’s spiritual interdependence with the natural world.

5:00pm: Opening Night + Block Party: Blackberry 122 Mins
Blackberry chronicles the rise and fall of one of the most game-changing technologies in the last 30 years. Centered on the eclectic array of personalities that converged to launch the world’s first smartphone, this irreverent, tech-world satire captures much of the creative chaos that comprises today’s Silicon Valley (despite the story taking place in Ontario, Canada). Shot in a verité, handheld style reminiscent of The Office and featuring a retro soundtrack and a cast that electrifies the screen, Blackberry is a fast-paced nerd comedy about the early days of addiction to our phones.

Kick off the fest with a champagne toast at The Clover Theater. Director/writer/star Matt Johnson and Executive Producer/composer Jay McCarrol are expected to be in attendance. Immediately following the filmmaker Q&A, step out into the rockin’ 1st Street Block Party with the sounds of AVFilm-fave Sabor de mi Cuba. Bask in community, good eats, and local wines, and party the night away.

9:00pm: Late Night Shorts 90 Mins
An edgier collection of stories for a midnight audience at 9:00pm. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.

ITCHSANITY
Directed by Ben Lohrentz, USA, 8 min
In this fresh take on body horror, a business executive with itchy teeth will stop at nothing to find relief. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

SUSHI NOH
Directed by Jayden Rathsam Hüa, Australia, 18 min
Trapped in the care of her lonely uncle, a young girl’s nightmares about a bizarre kitchen appliance manifest into reality.

SAFE
Directed by Josema Roig, Spain, 10 min
In this tense thriller, a startled young girl hears a noise outside in the middle of the night and fears a monster, but the real danger may be lurking inside closer than she thinks.

CHRISTOPHER AT SEA
Directed by Tom CJ Brown, France, 21 min
Christopher embarks on a transatlantic voyage as a passenger on a cargo ship with the hope of finding out what lures so many men to sea. Instead, he finds himself on a surreal journey into fantasy, solitude, and obsession. Jury Award Winner at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival.

JUST A REHEARSAL
Directed by Hugo Sanz, Spain, 9 min
Two sisters, seven and eleven years old, are hiding inside a wardrobe. The little sister thinks they are rehearsing for a game but the older one knows that a terrible threat lurks outside.

PRUITT AND IGOE
Directed by Rachael Daniels, USA, 10 min
An undead white supremacist targets an African American teenager on the harsh, impoverished streets of North St. Louis in this fresh take on the horror genre.

ASPIRATIONAL ****
Directed by Caroline Lindy, USA, 14 min
Rosemary embarks on a journey of sexual liberation as an antidote to the heartbreak she experiences chasing Mr. Right, until one day when a casual hookup puts her newfound persona to the test. Audience Award Winner at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival.

Location: The Clover Theater

Saturday, Apr 29, 2023
10:30am: Student Film Competition 90 Mins
Come support local student filmmakers as they walk the red carpet and see their films on the big screen!

The Student Film Competition is an annual event that encourages – and incentivizes (CASH + PIZZA) – students from across Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties to practice their storytelling skills. Students work in and outside of classrooms to produce their own short films, which are then entered into a competition.  This event will screen the finalists in each category for middle school, high school, and college students. Students and their families are welcome to stay for lunch after the student film awards and watch the SATURDAY MATINEE SHORTS for free!

1:15pm: Matinee Shorts 84 Mins
Join us for a collection of award-winning shorts from this year’s Festival circuit, including works from Sonoma County filmmakers. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.

ICE MERCHANTS
Directed by João Gonzalez, Portugal, 15 min
An ice-peddling father and son engage in an extraordinary daily ritual as they travel from their cliffside ice house to the village below until one day when a disaster changes everything. Nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2023 Academy Awards.

CHASIN’ BUTTERFLIES
Directed by Joshua Harding, Adam Hobbs, and Matt Klug, USA, 19 min
This charming portrait of eccentric Alabama artist Butch Anthony peels back the layers of the man who created a quirky drive-thru museum, a trophy-covered Cadillac, and a pontoon pirate ship known as Llatikcuf (read it backwards).

ANDY: A DOG’S TALE
Directed by Jamy Wheless, USA, 8 min
Petaluma’s Ignite Animation Studios collaborated with Jean Schulz (of the Charles M. Schulz Museum) to deliver this uplifting tale of how one puppy overcomes a series of obstacles to find his purpose in life: becoming a Canine Companion.

EL CARRITO
Directed by Zahida Pirani, USA, 15 min
Nelly barely makes ends meet by working as a street vendor from dawn to dusk until an unexpected event jeopardizes her livelihood and the ability to care for her father. Audience Award Winner at the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

BELLINGHAM’S BELIEF
Directed by Tom Salvaggio, USA, 9 min
Panic erupts when the citizens of Bellingham, Washington notice strange cracks in their car windshields. Tom Salvaggio combines experimental film techniques with a retro-style voiceover to create a completely original neo-noir sci-fi mystery.

DOG-APARTMENT
Directed by Priit Tender, Estonia, 14 min
Awakened by the barking of his dog-apartment, a middle-aged ballet dancer travels through a rain-drenched wasteland to his most unusual job in this surreal stop-motion animation inspired by an Andres Ehin poem.

MOSES SUPPOSES
Directed by Caleb Teicher, USA, 2021, 4 min
A diverse cast of New York City dancers reimagines tap in the city with this updated take on “Moses Supposes” from the film Singin’ in the Rain.

4:00pm: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood 89 Mins
Mystical, meditative, and life-affirming, Anna Hints’ new documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood explores how Scandinavian and Baltic women have ritualized the sauna experience to purge toxins from the mind and body alike. Featuring breathtaking cinematography reminiscent of a Rembrandt and an audio track of communal chants and folk songs, the film transports us to a smoky and steamy world where women feel free to bare their bodies and souls without shame or judgment in the ultimate cleansing ritual of fire and ice. It is a quiet revelation of a film that captures womanhood in a way rarely expressed on screen, empowering female viewers and enlightening men in equally satisfying ways.

Location: The Clover Theater

6:00pm: Neighbor Night: Jack Has A Plan 73 Mins
When San Francisco musician, storyteller, and self-proclaimed apartment guru Jack decides to end his life due to an irreversible brain tumor (and asks filmmaker Bradley Berman to document the experience), the result is the immensely thought-provoking and hugely entertaining documentary Jack Has a Plan. Despite the film’s heavy premise, Berman’s film is surprisingly light and airy. It captures Jack’s witty persona while underscoring his unwavering desire to die with dignity on his own terms. Taking advantage of California’s 2016 ballot initiative that permits physician-assisted suicide, Jack realizes that dying is a gift, one that his wife and friends must accept at his final, permanent going away party.

Sidle up to Alexander Valley Hall for our much-loved Neighbor Night! Grab a glass of the good stuff, fill your plate with Bar-B-Que, and snag a seat with friends and family. After dinner, settle in for a provocative exploration of issues that affect us all. Filmmakers Bradley Berman and Chris Metzler are expected to be in attendance.

Location:  Alexander Valley Hall

Sunday, Apr 30, 2023
11:00am: Lynch/Oz 108 Mins
No film has penetrated the public consciousness more than the Wizard of Oz, a classic that has been seen by millions of people around the world. Alexandre Philippe’s clip-rich documentary explores how the film is not only a seminal point of inspiration for David Lynch but how its ideas and imagery have permeated the entire history of cinema. Presented as six visual essays by five contemporary filmmakers and one film critic (including camp auteur John Waters and filmmakers Karyn Kusama and David Lowery), each artist offers their own homage to the classic and invites us to journey down the rabbit hole of our collective cultural consciousness and into the mind-bending cinematic oeuvre of David Lynch.

1:45pm: Doc Shorts: Mavericks 90 Mins
Portraits of humans at their eccentric, creative-minded best – a crowd-pleasing delight. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.

CHASIN’ BUTTERFLIES
Joshua Harding, Adam Hobbs, and Matt Klug, USA, 19 min
This charming portrait of eccentric Alabama artist Butch Anthony peels back the layers of the man who created a quirky drive-thru museum, a trophy-covered Cadillac, and a pontoon pirate ship known as Llatikcuf (read it backwards) to reveal the mind of a true maverick.

GOING GREENLAND
Erich Roepke, Jessica Baker, and Rachael Burks, USA, 23 min
Female adventurists Jessica Baker and Rachael Burks embark on an inspiring and formidable journey to explore Greenland’s West coast fjords and towering mountains in one of the world’s first renewable energy sailboats.

INSIDE THE BEAUTY BUBBLE
Cheryl Bookout and Cheri Gaulke, USA, 31 min
Jeff Hafler fancies himself as the world’s first hairstorian. Opening a kitschy pastel dreamland of 3,000 vintage beauty artifacts in the desert community of Joshua Tree, Hafler demonstrates that sometimes it’s strong people on the margins of society that hold a community together.

4:00pm: Ricochet 76 Mins
When a young woman is shot by an undocumented immigrant on Pier 14 in San Francisco during the summer of 2015, the incident ignites a political and media firestorm that reverberates through the 2016 presidential campaign. Plagued by misinformation, politicians and national media outlets misrepresent the facts of the case, distorting the public’s understanding of the event as well as the meaning of sanctuary cities. In the eye of this storm, two public defenders fight to reveal the truth. With unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the defense teams’ approach to managing the case, Adachi and Wimbush craft a riveting and highly illuminating documentary that peels back the layers of stereotypes, jingoism, and scapegoating to reveal the challenge of providing an adequate public defense in a country awash in misinformation.

6:00pm: The 3.E.D.I. Award: Our Father, The Devil 116 Mins
Marie, an African refugee, enjoys a simple life in a small French village as the head chef at the local retirement home. When a charismatic new priest arrives to counsel the elderly, it triggers a flood of memories and emotions from her traumatic past that she hoped to leave behind. What follows is a tense and provocative exploration of how we heal from past injustices and whether redemption is possible for the most heinous of crimes. With extraordinary performances and masterful filmmaking, Our Father, The Devil is an emotionally-charged thriller of extraordinary power from a rising new talent in American cinema.

Location: The Clover Theater

Monday, May 1, 2023
7:00pm: Doc Shorts: Chancemakers 90 Mins
This collection of emotionally moving documentary shorts features activists and advocates who are changing lives in meaningful and transformative ways. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.

BRING THE SALMON HOME
Shane Anderson, USA, 14 min
Dams and drought have pushed the Klamath River salmon population to near collapse. In response, local youth created the Klamath Salmon Run, a 300+ mile trek from the ocean to the headwaters to cultivate support for the biggest river restoration project in history – the removal of four regional dams. Shane Anderson captures the emotions, courage, and determination of Klamath River tribal communities as they struggle to preserve and restore their local ecology.

BEYOND THE BETA
Heather Murray, USA, 18 min
Competitive rock climbing is more than just a sport of mental acuity and physical prowess. It fosters a sense of community and teaches athletes to be resilient and compassionate critical thinkers. Heather Murray explores these ideas and more in this illuminating portrait of a youth climbing team in Santa Rosa and the social and emotional benefits the program has afforded young people.

MY NAME IS SIRI
Sarah Moshman, USA, 15 min
When Siri was diagnosed with non-verbal autism at the age of 3, experts told the Chettipally family that their daughter would likely face a lifetime of dependency. But experimental teaching therapies, a loving network of family and friends, and Siri’s indomitable spirit prove them wrong in this deeply moving story about perseverance against all odds.

BY MY SIDE
Vicki Topaz and Wynn Padula, USA, 30 min
By My Side tells the powerful story of three war veterans who suffer from PTSD and the service dogs that help them heal. Through intimate interviews with the vets’ families and revealing footage of the soldiers bonding with their canine companions, the film demonstrates how man’s best friend may be one of the best ways to mitigate the psychic scars imprinted on those who have been in service to our country.

Location: Lost Church Santa Rosa - 427 Mendocino Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
6:30pm: Aapi Heritage Night: 7 Days 86 Mins
Ravi and Rita, two modern-day Indian-Americans, politely comply with a pre-arranged date set up by their old-fashioned Indian parents. But when the start of the pandemic sends the country into lockdown, and they’re forced to spend seven days together, the personas they project to their parents quickly unravel, dismantling stereotypes and challenging traditions. With incredible performances from Karan Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan and a smart and funny screenplay, 7 Days is a fresh and satisfying take on the classic romantic comedy updated for the 21st century. It’s an impressive directorial debut that is charming, brisk, and heartfelt.

Location: Lo & Behold

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
6:30pm: Dinner + Film Under The Stars: Sorry We'Re Closed 77 Mins
In the summer of 2020 on the heels of COVID, chef Elizabeth Falkner set out across the country to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, America’s second-largest employment sector. The result is a fascinating exposé on how chefs pivoted, improvised, and innovated in an industry already grappling with low-profit margins to keep their businesses afloat and support the staff that depends on them. Featuring interviews with a parade of legendary chefs, including Nancy Silverton, Chris Cosentino, Alice Waters, and Dominque Crenn, Falkner demonstrates the entrepreneurial fortitude and resiliency that American chefs displayed to avoid making the permanent declaration, Sorry, We’re Closed.

We’re back for a second installment of the fan-favorite “dinner and movie under the stars” at Catelli’s. Auntie Domenica and team will welcome us back to the patio with her signature Italian comfort food family-style, local wines, and a view of the night sky that can’t be beat. Grab a blanket and get cozy for an intimate look at how our beloved restaurants faced COVID and a changing world. Director Pete Ferriero and local chefs will be in attendance.

Location: Catelli's

Thursday, May 4, 2023
7:00pm: Arthouse At The Madrona: Freaks Out 141 Mins
During the rise of the Third Reich, four Jewish circus performers with extraordinary powers decide to flee persecution by traveling to America. The only problem is Franz, a clairvoyant Nazi pianist who believes they’re the key to Germany winning the war. Defying easy classification, Freaks Out is a phantasmagoric historical drama that is at once enchanting, surprising, funny, and heartfelt. Featuring jaw-dropping visual design, a science fiction premise, and visual stylings reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino or Tim Burton, the film is a spectacle-filled joyride about misanthropes banding together to rage against the Nazi regime.

Join us for the zaniest (and one of the most satisfying) films of the Fest under a canopy of stars on the picturesque lawn of The Madrona.

Location: The Madrona

Friday, May 5, 2023
11:30am: Nowhere Special 96 Mins
After receiving devastating news, John, a window cleaner in Belfast, is confronted with the impossible decision of finding an adoptive family for his four-year-old son, Michael. Together, they meet a series of prospective parents, all the while attempting to shelter Michael from the life-changing circumstances that lie ahead. Pasolini’s film is surprisingly understated and restrained, never veering into the melodramatic territory one might expect. Instead, it revels in the unique father-son bond they share, magnifying small gestures and intimate moments. James Norton shines in the lead role and has incredible chemistry with Daniel Lamont who plays his son. Nowhere Special is a subtle, humane, heart-wrenching film that you won’t soon forget.

1:30pm: Persian Lessons 127 Mins
When a group of Jewish refugees attempt to escape from occupied France in 1942 but are apprehended by Nazi soldiers, Gilles attempts to escape persecution by declaring he is Persian. Coincidentally, an SS officer is seeking a tutor to teach him the language, and Gilles is spared. What follows is an incredible story of creative resistance where a Jewish prisoner constructs an entirely made-up language to help him survive the final years of the war. Inspired by a true story and grounded in impressive leading performances, this suspenseful and unexpected WWII tale is a testament to the old adage “truth is stranger than fiction.”

4:00pm: Blackberry 122 Mins
Blackberry chronicles the rise and fall of one of the most game-changing technologies in the last 30 years. Centered on the eclectic array of personalities that converged to launch the world’s first smartphone, this irreverent, tech-world satire captures much of the creative chaos that comprises today’s Silicon Valley (despite the story taking place in Ontario, Canada). Shot in a verité, handheld style reminiscent of The Office and featuring a retro soundtrack and a cast that electrifies the screen, Blackberry is a well-paced nerd comedy about the early days of addiction to our phones.

7:00pm: World Shorts Showcase 120 Mins
Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.
JEFF
Directed by Walter Woodman, Patrick Cederberg, & Matthew Hornick, Canada, 6 min
An Amazon delivery drone named JEFF muses on the monotony of life until an unexpected system failure brings about a seismic change in his world view.

SIERRA
Directed by Sander Joon, Estonia, 16 min
A father and his shapeshifting son enter into the surreal world of car racing in this crowd-pleasing festival favorite, loosely inspired by the director’s childhood. Best Animated Short Winner at the 2022 San Francisco International Film Festival.

PUZZLE
Directed by Ricardo Muñoz Senior, Mexico, 14 min
When Albertini reaches out to The National Institute of Games and Leisure Activities for the People to complain about the missing last piece of his puzzle, he becomes embroiled in a Kafkaesque struggle with the state. The result is a funny and absurd socialist satire about one man’s rage against the machine.

DESERT LIGHTS
Directed by Katherina Harder Sacre, Chile, 19 min
Antay and his friends struggle to make ends meet in their neglected and drought-stricken town in the Atacama Desert. Official Selection of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

THE SPACE BETWEEN US
Directed by Julianne Martin, USA, 3 min
A lonely spaceman’s desire for company may be about to come true when a mysterious ship arrives at his space station.

AN EVENING WITH TAGLIONI
Directed by Jessica Wright & Morgann Runacre-Temple, UK, 14 min
When legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni, the first woman to ever go ‘en pointe’ retired, her pointe shoes were bought by a fan, cooked at a lavish dinner party, and served to 35 guests with quite unexpected results.

DREAM ON, LEON
Directed by Roger Gariépy, Canada, 8 min
With humor, warmth, and impressive visual flair, we journey into the dreamlife of Leon, man’s best friend. Official Selection of the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

HATCHBACK
Directed by Riley Sugars, Australia, 12 min
In this hilarious dark comedy from down under, Vince attempts to dispose of a dead body for the mob, but when he reluctantly enlists the help of his dim-witted brother-in-law Ted, things don’t go according to plan. Best Short Film nominee at the 2022 Australian Academy Awards.

Location: Longboard Vineyards

Saturday, May 6, 2023
10:30am: Lakota Nation Vs. United States 120 Mins
Poetic and insightful, Lakota Nation vs. United States is a powerful primer on the history of Native American relations with the US government and an eye-opening exposé of the lingering injustices that require national redress. At the film’s core is the ongoing dispute around the Black Hills territory in the Dakotas which was stolen in a greed-driven gold rush during American expansion. Featuring a carefully curated collection of entertainment imagery that has distorted our perception of native people, sublime images of disputed lands, and the incredible poetry of Layli Long Soldier, the film is a call to action for the land back movement by a people who attest that their “best days are yet to come.”

1:30pm: Pretty Problems 103 Mins
Life for Lindsay and Jack is…meh. But a chance encounter with an absurdly wealthy stranger throws the struggling couple into a boozy wine-country getaway weekend in Healdsburg, where they stumble through the most unhinged weekend of their lives. What might have been a well-worn narrative of ostentatiously bad behavior from the uber-rich, Pretty Problems deftly takes us on a surprising comedic journey, at once gleefully skewering the super-wealthy and painting them with tender eccentricities, all while humbling the protagonists. A shrewd work from an emerging female director, the film features superb physical comedy and a first-rate ensemble performance. Pretty Problems won The Audience Award at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival and the Jury Awards for Best English Language Feature Film at the 2022 Sonoma International Film Festival.

4:00pm: The Happiest Man In The World 100 Mins
Set in Sarajevo at a speed dating meet-up for middle-aged singles, Asja and Zoran engage in a series of question exchanges to suss out whether they’d make a good match. What begins as a playful exchange quickly grows tense as their personal histories are slowly revealed, including their roles in the Yugoslav War. Mitevska’s impressive visual style, combined with the mercurial nature of the story and characters, make The Happiest Man in the World mesmerizing viewing. It’s both a wry, heartfelt comedy about lonely souls looking for love and an explosive, unpredictable drama about war trauma, forgiveness, and the need to move on.

Location: Longboard Vineyards

6:00pm: Plaza Cinema Center Celebration: Little Richard: I Am Everything 98 Mins
He was right. The flamboyant, outspoken, and often hilarious musical icon finally gets his due in Lisa Cortés’ new documentary, Little Richard: I Am Everything. Featuring newly discovered archival footage and interviews with a pantheon of rock-n-roll legends, the film offers a deep dive into the musical genius’ early influences as well as the role he played in the history of popular music. The film thoughtfully deconstructs the complex nature of Little Richard’s personal and public identity to reveal how his Black and queer roots were inextricably linked to the subversive nature of the art form.

Let’s celebrate Plaza Cinema Center! Join us in the adjacent courtyard with a picnic meal, Cartograph wines, and live music from Healdsburg Jazz. At 7:30 pm, make your way to The Plaza to claim your VIP seating for the film.  

Location: Courtyard at Plaza Cinema Center

Sunday, May 7, 2023
11:00am: The Origin Of Evil 125 Mins
When Stéphane decides to reach out to her estranged father, she becomes embroiled in a dark web of family politics full of suspicion and hidden agendas. Sébastien Marnier’s twisty, subversive, and beautifully-executed family drama rides a razor’s edge between dark comedy and suspenseful thriller. With a magnificent cast, a script filled with surprising dramatic turns, and a playful array of foregrounded film techniques, the film cleverly skewers the decadent excesses of the aristocratic class and ultimately reads as a modern-day parable about the inevitable end of the patriarchy.

2:00pm: Sunday Shorts 89 Mins
A perfect Sunday program featuring eclectic selections from storytellers of all kinds. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance.

THE RECRUIT
Directed by Bao Truong, USA, 11 min
When Kat shows up for an interview at Intrinsic Recruiting, she experiences one strange turn after another until she slowly loses her grip on what is reality and what is fantasy in this surreal allegory on social anxiety.

A MOST EXQUISITE MAN
Directed by Jonas Taul, Estonia, 15 min
One man’s hubris is called into question as his true position in the universe is slowly revealed in this exquisitely animated Estonian fable. Grand Prix Winner at the Fredrikstad Animation Festival.

THE FOURTH
Directed by Johnny Kirk, USA, 12 min
Offering a fresh take on an all-too-familiar tale, a group of young black and Latino friends, eager to celebrate the 4th of July, experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

MILEZ
Directed by Stephanie Patrick & Ben Lee, USA, 4 min
Eight artists must decide whether to stay within the boxes that confine them or break free in this experimental screendance film, featuring music from the Austin-based hip-hop duo Magna Carda.

THE SEINE’S TEARS
Directed by Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, and Alice Letailleur, France, 9 min
This stunning stop-motion reconstruction of a 1961 Algerian protest in Paris over mandatory curfews imposed by the police during the Algerian war is a tribute to what people will sacrifice when they believe in a cause.  Best Animated Student Short Winner at the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

PRO POOL
Directed by Alec Pronovost, Canada, 8 min
The value of Charles-Olivier’s degree in history and civilization is called into question when he ends up working at a pool supply store. Official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

ON THE RIDE
Directed by Jen McGowan, USA, 13 min
In writer Jeremy Glazer’s expertly constructed narrative, Scott is haunted by the memories of his past during an early morning bike ride, until he reaches a most unexpected destination.

THE SPRAYER
Directed by Farnoosh Abedi, Iran, 9 min
Set in a post-apocalyptic fascist state where its citizens are forbidden from growing plants, a seed is planted that initiates an unexpected uprising.

CUCKOO!
Directed by Jörgen Scholtens, Netherlands, 8 min
In this absurdist comedy about a lonely man who lives inside a cuckoo clock, all hell breaks loose when a radio quiz disrupts his hourly routine.

5:00pm: Closing Night + Awards: 26.2 To Life 90 Mins
Filmed inside San Quentin Prison, 26.2 to Life explores the transformative power of the 1000 Mile Club, a training program where incarcerated men prepare to run a marathon on the dirt and concrete path circling the prison yard. Featuring unprecedented access behind the walls of the infamous correctional facility, the film tracks the emotional and physical journey of a handful of runners as they seek to define themselves by something other than their crimes. Stimulating both our intellect and emotions, Christine Yoo’s debut documentary is a testament to rehabilitation and redemption in a country that still incarcerates more of its own citizens than any other place in the developed world. 26.2 to Life was featured as a work in progress in AVFest 2020.

Wrap up the Fest with Director Christine Yoo and film subjects in attendance at Longboard. After the screening, join us at The Matheson for the Closing Night Awards.

Closing Night reception with ample bites, beer, and wine, plus the screening, are included in the ticket price. Event is complimentary for Platinum, Gold, & Closing Weekend Pass Holders.

Location: Longboard Vineyards

Date: April 28 - May 7, 2023

Location:
Clover Cinema - 121 East First Street Cloverdale, CA 95425
Lo & Behold - 214 Healdsburg Ave Healdsburg, CA 95448
Alexander Valley Hall - 5512 California 128 Geyserville, CA 95441
Catelli's - 21047 Geyserville Ave. Geyserville, CA 95441
LongBoard Vineyards - 5 Fitch Street Healdsburg, CA 95448
Plaza Cinema Center - 371 Healdsburg Ave Healdsburg, CA 95448
Lost Church Santa Rosa - 427 Mendocino Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95401
The Madrona - 1001 Westside Rd Healdsburg, CA 95448

Click here for Tickets

Click here for more information