Schedule Of Events:

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

05:30PM-10:30PM - Opening Night Film and Reception - The Holdovers

Feature

The 22nd Annual San Diego International Film Festival is 'Celebrating the Power of Film' on its Opening Night with film lovers, filmmakers, arts patrons, elected officials, executives and professionals gathering at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Guests will enjoy a Pre-screening Cocktail Party followed by the Studio Premiere of 'The Holdovers'.

5:30 PRE-RECEPTION

6:30 DOORS OPEN FOR SEATING

6:45 SCREENING OF OPENING NIGHT FLM
POST RECEPTION AFTER SCREENING

The Holdovers:

Nobody likes teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti) not his students, not his fellow faculty, not the headmaster, who all find his pomposity and rigidity exasperating. With no family and nowhere to go over Christmas holiday in 1970, Paul remains at school to supervise students unable to journey home. After a few days, only one student holdover remains a trouble-making 15-year-old named Angus, a good student whose bad behavior always threatens to get him expelled. Joining Paul and Angus is head cook Mary (Randolph)-an African American woman who caters to sons of privilege and whose own son was recently lost in Vietnam. These three very different shipwrecked people form an unlikely Christmas family sharing comic misadventures during two very snowy weeks in New England. The real journey is how they help one another understand that they are not beholden to their past-they can choose their own futures.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

01:00PM-02:32PM - To Fall In Love

Synopsis: When a woman estranged from her husband meets with him as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, they read through the 36 Questions To Fall in Love and she discovers that their love might not be enough to keep them together.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

01:15PM-03:12PM - A Letter from Helga

Synopsis: In a remote fjord in 1940's Iceland, young farmer Bjarni begins a passionate, forbidden affair with his neighbor Helga, emotions running as wild as the ocean waves that surround them.
 
Thursday, October 19, 2023

03:15PM-05:09PM - A Kind Of Kidnapping

Synopsis: Brian and Maggie, a struggling couple, decide to kidnap London MP Richard Hardy whilst visiting their local area. Hoping for a big payout they're soon disappointed when Hardy's wife refuses to pay the ransom. But things take a surprising turn when Hardy offers to pay the ransom himself, in return for keeping him there longer, knowing how good this will be for his political profile. But can they all trust each other to stick to the plan?

Thursday, October 19, 2023

03:15PM-05:09PM - The Accidental Getaway Driver

Synopsis: During a routine pickup, an elderly Vietnamese cab driver is taken hostage by three recently escaped Orange County convicts. Based on a true story.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

03:30PM-04:30PM - Filmmaker Happy Hour

The Festival Lounge is the place to be for the Filmmaker Happy Hour before hopping into your next film screening! This is your opportunity to network with the Filmmakers, engage in stimulating conversation and learn about other films to go see!

Thursday, October 19, 2023

03:30PM-05:09PM - Docudrama

These filmmakers take us on an impactful journey inside the hearts and minds of everyday people.

The Night Doctrine: An Afghan journalist embarks on a journey to find out who murdered her family 30 years ago, only to uncover hundreds of civilians killed in a secretive American-backed program.

Forgiving Johnny: Young lawyer Noah Cox grapples with his own past as he attempts to use a progressive new law and digital system to win grace for his developmentally disabled client, Johnny Reyes.

Squid Fleet: On any given night, tens of thousands of fishermen in China's distant-water squid fleet perform an industrial ballet thousands of miles out on the high seas. With unprecedented access to the extremely remote fishing grounds, SQUID FLEET is a poetic exploration of the motivations of the fishermen, the brutality of systemic labor abuses in the Chinese fishing industry, and the destruction wrought by the commodification of people and nature in our globalized world. It is based on two years of rigorous investigative journalism from the Pulitzer Prize-winning team of The Outlaw Ocean Project.

KINGDOME: From its humble beginnings to becoming one of the most revered street basketball tournaments in New York City, the documentary captures the highs and lows, and the unbreakable spirit that has defined the Kingdome.

Running With Emilio: In the summer of 2018 a 65 year old father ran 1,500+ miles down the west coast of the United States in order to raise money for childhood cancer in honor of his late son Emilio.

Our Children's River: An indigenous guard in the Ecuadorian Amazon uses solar energy to power their patrols and document encroachment on their ancestral land."

Thursday, October 19,2023

04:30PM-05:15PM - Inclusion in Entertainment

Join Joey Travolta and the team from Inclusion Films to discuss the importance of the current growth of inclusive hiring practices in the film and production industry. A pipeline of talented and trained individuals with neuro diversities and developmental disabilities are having an impact. Celebrate the successes of self-reliance and incredible work that benefits everyone in
the film industry.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

05:30PM-06:45PM - Lights, Camera, Friendship! - Lodi

Lights, Camera, Friendship - Lodi! examines friendship, connection and common ground through the perspective of 16 young adults on the autism spectrum spending a week together in Lodi, California. The filmed workshop focuses on creating fun connections with others, making friends and practicing money management through improvisation, relationship coaching, dance classes and friendship gatherings. The community of Lodi plays a major role as the young adults share their journey exploring the city. 10 of the 16 LCF crew members have developmental differences and were trained by Inclusion Films or their partner programs. All of the 16 cast members have developmental differences.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

05:45PM-07:30PM - Silver Dollar Road

A Black family in North Carolina has been harassed for decades by land developers attempting to take their waterfront property.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

07:15PM-08:59PM - Simone: Woman of the Century

Simone Veil's life story through the pivotal events of Twentieth Century. An intimate and epic portrait of an extraordinary woman who eminently challenged and transformed her era defending a humanist message still keenly relevant today.

Friday, October 20, 2023

10:30AM-12:00PM - Patron Breakfast

The exclusive breakfast reception for Patrons only aligns with a stunning luxury brand in Westfield's UTC. Treat yourself to delectable breakfast bites and sip on champagne as you mingle and prepare to 'Celebrate The Power of Film' throughout the entire weekend.

Friday, October 20, 2023

12:15PM-02:04PM - The Grab

Synopsis: An investigative journalist uncovers the money, influence, and alarming rationale behind covert efforts to control the most vital resource on the planet, in the latest exposé from filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Blackfish).

Friday, October 20, 2023

12:30PM-02:37PM - Brave the Dark

Synopsis: Based on a true story in 1986, small town USA. Brave the Dark tells the story of a homeless teen struggling to find his purpose and the courage to confront the darkness of his past. When popular drama teacher, Stan Deen, takes on a troubled kid, Nate, no one quite prepared him for the journey he was undertaking or the dark secrets Nate is hiding. Brave the Dark is a heartwarming story about a teenager who finds his true father.

Friday, October 20, 2023

01:00PM-03:00PM - 48 Hour Film Project

The San Diego 48 Hour Film Project showcase contains the top films from the 2023 competition. All of the films were written, shot, and edited in the 48-hour period from 7:00pm June 23rd to 7:00pm June 25th. Each filmmaking team was given two randomly drawn genres, and all teams were assigned a character, a prop, and a line of dialogue which must have been included in their film.

Character: Felix or Fiona Fischer, Podcaster
Prop: a Thermometer
Line: "Wouldn't it be fun to do that?"

'The Fischer Files'
by RSVP FILMS
Not all unsolved murders are cold.

'The Lockbox'
by Digital Lemonade Stand
A group of five thieves will work together or not at all.

'Autumn Leaves'
by Extra Rad
Would you like to listen to this ad?

'Laqueum'
by Film Logic Studios
Who can stop the world's most powerful Podcaster?

'Renewable Romance'
by Cane Toad Productions
Reduce your conflict, and you might just renew your love.

'How Does That Make You Feel?'
by The 2880 Minute Movie Makers
Sometimes therapy isn't always black and white.

'THE FISCHER FILES'
by Fallen Light Media
The Fischer Files Podcast - You might wanna buckle up for this one.

'Malignant'
by Let's Get Rolling
Life's new purpose.

'Lunch Break'
by Almost Good Films X Jabronie Pictures
Who stole Sarah's lunch?

'EVANESCE'
by Aahfilm
Sometimespeople aren't missing.

'Martial Hearts'
by Cimitoro Productions
Don't underestimate the power of love.

'High Stakes'
by Persian Carpet Productions
Now open up.

'Namesake'
by CHARTHOUSE
Beware of podcasts; they might just kill you.

'Help'
by Metal Pixel Foundry
A successful podcaster discovers an old passion.

'Podcast and Chill'
by SPROUTIN' studio
What a way to break the ice.

'Sojourn'
by And Company Productions
Life's a beach.

'mE-Ow for now'
by Dog Jaw Productions
The secret thoughts of a cat.

Friday, October 20, 2023

01:15PM-03:15PM - Scarlet Winter

Synopsis: After waking up to find his girlfriend murdered in bed, Mark must cover up her death while trying to piece together events from the previous night to find her murderer.

Friday, October 20, 2023

02:30PM-3:30PM - AI Disruption and Innovation in Entertainment

Join a panel of experts and entertainment industry specialists as they delve into the impact of new technologies like generative artificial intelligence on the film and television business. The group will discuss the upheaval that new technologies can have on business models and jobs, as well as the benefits and modernization that they can bring to filmmakers and artists as they tell their best stories.

Friday, October 20, 2023

03:00PM-04:57PM - A Kind Of Kidnapping

Synopsis: Brian and Maggie, a struggling couple, decide to kidnap London MP Richard Hardy whilst visiting their local area. Hoping for a big payout they're soon disappointed when Hardy's wife refuses to pay the ransom. But things take a surprising turn when Hardy offers to pay the ransom himself, in return for keeping him there longer, knowing how good this will be for his political profile. But can they all trust each other to stick to the plan?

Friday, October 20, 2023

03:15PM-05:13PM - King of Kings : Chasing Edward Jones

Synopsis: Gangster for some, hero for others, who was really Edward Jones? In the '30s and '40s, this descendant of slaves becomes one of the richest men in the US thanks to the Policy business, an illegal numbers game that ultimately became the modern State Lottery. But in these times of segregation, his success and unfailing support to the African American community are a problem. In conflict with both the mob and the Feds, he is forced into a life on the run. Exploring the rise and fall of the most famous Policy King of all times, the filmmaker, Edward Jones' granddaughter, uncovers an unparalleled story.

Friday, October 20, 2023

03:30PM-04:30PM - Filmmaker Happy Hour

The Festival Lounge is the place to be for the Filmmaker Happy Hour before hopping into your next film screening! This is your opportunity to network with the Filmmakers, engage in stimulating conversation and learn about other films to go see!

Friday, October 20, 2023

04:00PM-05:21PM - Evocative Storytelling

Evocative: Adjective
Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.
Example:"So evocative that they bring tears to the eyes"

Demon Box: After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust, and transforms it into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of the film and his life. Ten years in the making.

Each Lovely Thing: In the midst of setting up for a mysterious party, a woman tries to stop her flighty younger sister from making a devastating choice.

Nothing, Except Everything: A graduating high schooler navigates a world of seemingly inevitable chaos by finding order in the number 7.

Tian Hei Hei: TIAN HEI HEI follows Bingjie, a precocious eight-year-old girl whose father runs an underground gambling den. She must fight to survive in this hostile environment, and protect her friend, Huanhuan, from the violent gangsters, loan sharks, and petty criminals who slither in and out each night.

Motherland: Leah, a Korean adoptee raised in America, returns to Korea to search for her birth mother. Leah is met with secrecy from the adoption agency as well as her own family but remains relentless on her solo journey, driven by her longing to discover the truth of her origins."

Friday, October 20, 2023

04:30PM-06:01PM - The Portrait

After her husband suffers a horrific brain injury in an accident she caused, devoted wife Sofia begins to obsess over a mysterious portrait that resembles him as he used to be. When it begins to terrorize her, Sofia struggles to understand if the painting is really possessed or if she's simply losing her mind through grief and guilt.

Friday, October 20, 2023

06:00PM-07:32PM - Unhinged

You will go from LOL To IDK what I just saw To OMG what just happened

Zae is Zendaya: A small town husband and father discuss the struggles with balancing his double life as Zendaya.

Room Tone: When a sound guy's attempt to capture "room tone"" is constantly thwarted by the noisy antics of his coworkers, he takes extreme measures to achieve silence.

Trundle and the Lost Borscht of Atlantis: Even though Trundle makes the best borscht in the city, Mr. Murray says he is too hideous to work the counter. But when a Regular wants to thank the chef, Trundle takes matters into his own hands.

Pushover: A man's life is upended by increasingly threatening phone calls demanding he leave a review for a paperweight purchased online.

Feng Shui: A girl who lives alone comes to find she has a roommate.

Kakor (Cookies): A frustrated, underappreciated programmer is struggling to balance work and being father to a toddler. When his boss disrespects him once again in front of his colleagues, he finds a new way to channel all that built up rage - baking.

The Wondrous Worlds of Piero Maria: A shadow roams the kingdom of Piero Maria, the kitty: his Humans got tech-sick! Helped by his plushy Roomies and the wise Garibaldi, Master in taming humans, he will find insight in the great feline virtues: patience, stubbornness and imagination.

CORNERBOY: A bad guy gets possessed by a mean fly (the death/the Devil/ Karma), which confronts him with his own personality. This narration is wrapped in a genre blending experimental dance film.

Ice Cream. Sladoled: A Day in the Life of a recent immigrant, where a trip to buy ice cream triggers a series of absurd misadventures. "

Friday, October 20 2023

06:15PM-08:05PM - Ariel - Back to Buenos Aires

ARIEL is the story of a brother and sister who return to the country of their birth, Argentina, for the first time in their adult lives. Against the backdrop of glamorous tango clubs of Buenos Aires, they uncover dark family secrets and the reason for their parents' emigration to Canada.

Friday, October 20, 2023

06:30 PM - 08:09 PM - Sunlight

Synopsis: IVER once brought LEON back from the edge and now LEON is determined to do the same for Iver, only to find that his best friend is being a stubborn *******. Easy, Leon thinks, nothing a day out in their beloved Dublin won't fix.

Friday, October 20, 2023

07:15 PM - 08:56 PM - Isle of Hope

Synopsis: Victoria (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a university professor with a grudge against her self-absorbed mother, the famed actress, Carmen Crawford (Diane Ladd), for crushing her dreams of becoming a playwright. When Carmen suffers a life-threatening stroke and wakes up thinking she is living 15 years in the past, Victoria is given a unique opportunity to figure out where her life went off track and reconcile her relationship with her mother.

Friday, October 20, 2023

08:30 PM - 10:30 PM - Friday Night Party With a Purpose

Join in 'Celebrating the Power of Film' at the 'Friday Night Party with a Purpose' benefitting the Festival's FOCUS on Impact Educational Program for San Diego County high school students.

Immerse yourself in captivating conversations about films you have seen that day, savor delectable appetizers and cocktails, take your picture at the 360 photo booth and explore the cutting-edge EV vehicles from Vinfast. As we all join for a night of fun festivities, we bring attention to our social justice film initiatives that use the power of documentary films to tell transformational stories with lasting social impact and to create positive change in the world. Let's raise a glass to change!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

11:00 AM - 12:45 PM - Simon

Synopsis: Simón, a young freedom fighter who faced off against the Venezuelan regime, escapes to Miami and tries to obtain political asylum before he is forcibly sent back home.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

11:15 AM - 01:45 PM - The Grab

Synopsis: An investigative journalist uncovers the money, influence, and alarming rationale behind covert efforts to control the most vital resource on the planet, in the latest expose from filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Blackfish).

Saturday, October 21,2023

11:30 AM - 12:12 PM - LÍMITE

Synopsis: Manuel is a 16-year-old living in Tijuana, Mexico with his grandfather while his mom works in the U.S., supporting them. When he meets a girl he thinks he loves, he sees an opportunity to assert his independence, but what he doesn't know is that she is working for a drug dealer to whom Manuel is now indebted. When he is asked to perform a favor he can't refuse, Manuel must choose between risking his life and losing his dignity.

Saturday, October 21,2023

12:45 PM - 01:30 PM - Unstoppable Woman

Hear from women filmmakers who are shattering stereotypes while making a unique mark in the film and entertainment industry.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

01:15 PM - 03:00 PM - The Taste of Things

Synopsis: Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

01:30 PM - 02:54 PM - Fresh Kills

The daughters of the Larusso family struggle to break the unspoken code of the women behind the men in the mob world of Staten Island in the late '80s and early '90s. Unlike any mob movie you've ever seen before, FRESH KILLS reveals the women behind the men. The stories never told. Violence, fear, and unspoken rules dictate who they are and who they are allowed to become.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

01:45 PM - 02:50 PM - Global Consciousness

Global stories that put the spotlight on untold or underexpressed conflicts faced by our fellow humans.

Every Five Miles: A petrol station attendant is drawn into the harsh world of a trafficked immigrant car washer, torn between speaking out at the risk of losing everything.

Our Males and Females: A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. When no one agrees to wash her, how far is the father willing to go to make sure his "son" is washed?

Lambing: A young dad in rural Ireland must face his anxiety around gender and bullying when his baby is born intersex

JA (Water): Tosi (Naomi León), a native girl from an indigenous community in Baja California, motivated by her grandmother's (Inocencia Saenz) delicate condition and annoyed by the apathy of her brother (Ratkley Lopez) and the other members of the community, seeks to do the difference in a moment where darkness has consumed everything.

Teddy: As a young girl's teddy bear wears out, a new one is already being made.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

02:00 PM - 03:34 PM - Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun Film

An intimate and thrilling portrait of a young Siksika woman and her family in the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world… bareback.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

02:30 PM - 03:15 PM - Military Panel: Brothers At War, using film as a catalyst for healing

After risking his life to tell his brothers' story, Jake turned the award-winning film into the Brothers at War Resiliency Workshops. These Workshops have been conducted for more than 33,000 Service Members and their Families over the last twelve years. This six-hour experience invites veterans to see their story in the film, journal about their experiences and then participate in an interactive discussion. Sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation, this has become a go-to resource for units struggling with reintegration issues from a deployment or a suicide within their unit.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM - Filmmaker Happy Hour

The Festival Lounge is the place to be for the Filmmaker Happy Hour before hopping into your next film screening! This is your opportunity to network with the Filmmakers, engage in stimulating conversation and learn about other films to go see!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

03:30 PM - 05:01 PM - For Shorts and Giggles

From unexpected comedy to laugh out loud situations, these shorts will keep you guessing.

Scream Gardens: "Scream Gardens" is a comedic mockumentary that follows the self-serious cast and crew of a theme park as they prepare for their upcoming Halloween season.

Manbag: "Manbag", written and directed by Pieter De Cnudde, is what he calls a very short short holding a magnifying glass on a man struggling with the handbag of his girlfriend. Doing so, he portrays the struggle with identity and what being man really means in todays society.

The Breakthrough: Jane and Teddy are on the brink of divorce. But when their marital problems come to a sticking point, they have an unexpected breakthrough.

Favourites: Two parents face an impossible choice when their family camping trip goes terribly wrong.

The Firefighter's Ball: This evening, for the summer ball, three friends have the brilliant idea of "dressing up" as firefighters to flirt with girls. But their stupid project takes another turn when Joseph, already uncomfortable on the dance floor, finds himself embarked despite himself in a real firefighters' intervention...

Confessions: After the death of a friend, two nuns in their golden years contemplate what their future holds. One confession leads to another and before they know it, they're embarking on an adventure.

We Have Notes: A movie studio struggles to make one perfect scene in a Joan of Arc film.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

04:00 PM - 06:11 PM - Miranda's Victim

It's 1963 when eighteen-year-old Patricia "Trish" Weir is kidnapped and brutally raped at knife-point. Committed to putting Ernesto Miranda in prison, Trish's life is destroyed by America's legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the Nation.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

04:15 PM - 05:48 PM - Junction

Tackling the modern-day opioid epidemic, JUNCTION tells three interconnected stories of a CEO of a pharmaceutical corporation, a doctor, and an addict, exploring the ways in which they're all deeply affected by - and play a part in - the crisis in America.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

04:45 PM - 06:35 PM - Brothers After War

Synopsis: From Executive Producers Gary Sinise and Phil Gurin, in Brothers After War, Jake Rademacher reconnects with his brothers and elite Soldiers and Marines he embedded with during the Iraq war. Intercutting footage past and present creates a unique "then and now" journey into the toll of war, and a never before seen look at warfighters, and the veterans they become.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

05:45 PM - 07:02 PM - When Worlds Collide

This is where unlikely individuals clash sometimes resulting in friendship, and other times despair.

A Wedding Day: For newlyweds Brad and Jill, it seems the honeymoon is over before it even began. When an eccentric stranger stumbles into the couples first argument as man and wife, the day takes an abrupt turn and changes their lives forever.

Faranak: Fired from his job, behind on his rent and abandoned by his wife, a burnt-out Uber driver gets an unusual passenger.

Cataract: In this hectic tale of overlooked and marginalized existences, a woman robs a gas station with her nearly-blind younger brother and catapults herself into deep water in order to pay for his cataract surgery.

Things Unheard of: A little Kurdish girl tries to put a smile back on her grandmother's face after the disappearance of her television, her only window into the world.

Halmoni's Pot: A dutiful, loving halmoni reluctantly agrees to buy pot for her grandson. But pay full price? NEVER!!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

06:30 PM - 07:58 PM - Peak Season

Synopsis: Feeling neglected during a getaway with her fiancé to the wealthy town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, New York yuppie Amy finds herself drawn to the free-spirited Loren, a local wilderness guide.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

07:00 PM - 08:40 PM  - A Revolution on Canvas

Synopsis: In this hybrid political thriller and verité portrait documentary, Sara Nodjoumi, working with co-director and husband, Till Schauder, makes her directorial debut with this personal film, diving into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of more than 100 "treasonous" paintings by her father, seminal Iranian modern artist Nickzad "Nicky" Nodjoumi. (Tribeca Film Festival)

Saturday, October 21, 2023

07:30 PM - 09:15 PM - Dream Scenario

A hapless family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. When his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

09:30 AM - 01:00 PM - Culinary Cinema Screening and Tasting 1

Culinary Cinema is the perfect recipe for Sunday fun and a dream come true for foodies! The ingredients begin with a cuisine-themed movie. Afterwards everyone adjourns to enjoy dishes inspired by renowned San Diego Chefs. Add some nice wines and good conversation and you have a perfect Sunday afternoon!

Schedule for Tasting 1:

9:30 - 10:30 AM - Pre-Reception at Capitol One Cafe

10:30AM - Culinary Cinema Screening 1

12:00 - 1:00PM - Chef Tastings and Open Bar 1

Film Title: STELLA

Synopsis: There has never been a pizzeria anywhere in the world to receive a Michelin Star. Could that be about to change? Ciro Oliva is a young, highly spirited and proud chef in Naples. With his restaurant Concettina ai Tre Santi he passionately aims to be the first pizzaiolo ever awarded with a prestigious Michelin Star.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

10:30 AM - 02:00 PM - Culinary Cinema Screening and Tasting 2

Culinary Cinema is the perfect recipe for Sunday fun and a dream come true for foodies! The ingredients begin with a cuisine-themed movie. Afterwards everyone adjourns to enjoy dishes inspired by renowned San Diego Chefs. Add some nice wines and good conversation and you have a perfect Sunday afternoon!

Schedule for Tasting 2:

10:30 - 11:30AM - Pre-Reception at Capitol One Cafe

11:30AM - Culinary Cinema Screening 2

1:00 - 2:00PM - Chef Tastings and Open Bar 2

Film Title: STELLA

Synopsis: There has never been a pizzeria anywhere in the world to receive a Michelin Star. Could that be about to change? Ciro Oliva is a young, highly spirited and proud chef in Naples. With his restaurant Concettina ai Tre Santi he passionately aims to be the first pizzaiolo ever awarded with a prestigious Michelin Star.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

11:45 AM - 01:28 PM - Student Showcase

Marvel at the incredible story telling our young generation can produce.

The External-Internal Monologue of an Interdependent Insomniac: Fraught with insecurities over sexuality, self-acceptance, and gender, a sleep-deprived teenager explains various smells.

Starstruck: Dan Gilman's traumatic childhood destined him for musical fame, yet the crescendo of his destiny reaches far beyond any stage.

"Virgins for Satan": Mac is a religious, ***** girl on a mission to lose her virginity. After getting rejected by her sexy church crush, Satan offers her the chance to snag the guy of her dreams. But, when dealing with the devil, there's always a catch…

TOM and CINDA: Two 20 somethings meet at a bar while waiting for their app dates to arrive.

DISCHARGED: After Eddie, a young woman, has an uncharacteristically promiscuous weekend, she is forced to confront her sexual insecurities whilst battling a raging STD.

Rickshaw: Paul and his family are going for a fun rickshaw ride when a sudden encounter stops them on their way home.

iCare: A care robot looks after an elderly woman, played by Sara Wilson-Soppitt.

Waves Apart: A Jewish surfer confronts the dark, antisemitic history of the sport he once loved.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

12:00 PM - 02:00 PM - Peafowl

Synopsis: There still might be hope in this town where I was born and denied. Myung is a transgender who cut ties with her family and hometown because of who she is. Now, all she needs is the surgery but the only way to earn money, by winning the Waacking dance competition, didn't go well. One day, she receives a call that her father passed away and Myung finds out that her father left a will that he will give her the legacy if she performs Drum Dance during his 49th memorial ritual. With no choice left, Myung goes back to her hometown to perform according to her father's will.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

01:15 PM - 03:02 PM - Blood for Dust

Cliff, a road salesman drowning under the weight of providing for his family, finds himself on a dangerous path after a chance meeting with Ricky, an old colleague from a part of his past he's tried to conceal. Desperate to keep his fragile home life intact, Cliff agrees to partner with Ricky running cocaine across Texas and finds himself embroiled in a struggle to get away clean, in a business where no one does.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

01:45 PM - 03:10 PM - A Three Storey Comedy

Synopsis: The film depicts the comical and often preposterous adventures of the tenants living in an ordinary apartment building in Belgrade. These lonely and alienated neighbors slowly discover that their neglected community and deteriorating building are in dire straits: malfunctioning pipes and an enigmatic underground water system in Belgrade catch them off guard and force them out of their routine.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

02:15 PM - 03:44 PM - Short and Sweet

Either by choice or by accident, sometimes the least likely person saves the day.

Goodbye Persil: In the middle of the night, two brothers in their thirties break into a public garden guarded by a security guard to accomplish a mission dear to their hearts.

Under Refurbishment: An animatronic cowboy at a Western-themed family entertainment center struggles to maintain his creative freedom.

Share For Me: An elderly Greek father and his Down Syndrome son can't take care of themselves but together they can crash a funeral on mom's birthday.

Sweet Refuge: A passionate Syrian baker spends his first Eid in the US attempting to sell the sweet he has spent his lifetime perfecting: walnut baklava. As he roams the streets of Brooklyn, he bumps into a savvy Indian ladoo maker, who appears to have figured out how to appeal to one of New York's most coveted customers: Health-conscious Brooklynites.

Desi Standard Time Travel: When a new father suddenly loses his own dad, an opportunity to travel back in time for an evening gives him a chance to end things on a better note."

Sunday, October 22, 2023

02:30 PM - 03:57 PM - The Oil Machine | Co-presented with Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Synopsis: Oil has been an invisible machine at the core of our economy and society. It now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil? By highlighting the complexities of how oil is embedded in our society – from high finance to cheap consumer goods – THE OIL MACHINE brings together a wide range of voices from oil company executives, economists, young activists, workers, scientists, and pension fund managers. It considers how this machine can be tamed, dismantled, or repurposed.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM - Filmmaker Happy Hour

The Festival Lounge is the place to be for the Filmmaker Happy Hour before hopping into your next film screening! This is your opportunity to network with the Filmmakers, engage in stimulating conversation and learn about other films to go see!

Sunday, October 22, 2023

04:45 PM - 05:50 PM - Animation Filmmaking

Immerse yourself within the animated realm through incredible narrative, experimental technique and literal moving art.

Flutter: Jerry, a hummingbird of a different feather, must stand up to a hungry house cat in order to keep the flock together.

LivandBell " Hearty soup of Fruitful forest ": The way of enrichment brought about by harmony with nature and food. This is a message to the children who will live in the world of the future.

I am from Palestine: As Saamidah, a young Palestinian-American girl, anxiously starts her first day of school, she finds her identity in question when faced with a world map that doesn't include her homeland.

Morning Joy: A recently widowed pianist has an unexpected encounter.

Gene's 6th Symphony: The original animated short "Gene's 6th Symphony" is based on a true story and was born with only six notes of music that became a symphonic magical story that defines true love and a life-long journey ending with a hope that lives forever.

Awakening: The First Day: Long ago, a god of Light travels in search of belonging, but he cannot escape the shadows in pursuit of him. In a journey through all the earthly realms, a fundamental truth is revealed once Light finally chooses to confront the Darkness.

Stories to be Remembered: A homage to one of humanity's most powerful tools. Our stories. ""Stories to be remembered"" is an ambitious and evocative piece condensing humanity's story in an impactful and moving 2.5 min. The evocative and poetic concept delves into the core aspects of humanity, touching the audience's hearts and letting their imagination fly.

Driftwood: "Driftwood" is an animated short film telling the story of Askr and his beloved driftwood - Askr survives the attack on Pearl Harbor by clinging to a driftwood log, but when he's finally rescued, he refuses to let go, leading to a lifelong relationship of sacrifice and respect.

My Tiny Friends: "My Tiny Firends" is an animated short film about an artist who does not like her work. The video shows her inner space during her journey of artistic creation with a sense of wonder.

Charge: In an energy-scarce dystopia, an old destitute man breaks into a battery factory but soon finds himself confronted by a deadly security droid and no way out.

American Sikh: As a child in India, Vishavjit witnesses an anti-Sikh genocide first-hand and hopes to one day return to the place where he was born, the United States. But when he gets the chance as a young man, he finds that even in the land of his birth, he is treated as an outsider. Torn between his religious and national identities, he goes on a journey to find himself. A journey that is once again challenged in the aftermath of September 11th. Unwilling to give up his identity, but frustrated by the hate he faces on a daily basis, Vishavjit decides to respond in a unique way - by dressing up as a superhero. In so doing, even to his own surprise, he's able to flip the terrorist stereotype on its head, find acceptance, and show the world who he really is."

Sunday, October 22, 2023

05:00 PM - 06:40 PM - Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes

Synopsis: George Platt Lynes began his career photographing celebrities, and it's those portraits along with his extravagant fashion work that he's best remembered for today. However, George's heart, his passion, and his greatest talent lay elsewhere, in his work with the male nude. This work, sensuous and radically explicit for its time, has only recently begun being fully discovered and appreciated for the revolution that it represents — a man capturing his fantasies as a gift, a window to a future his camera saw coming before anyone else. From visionary art director Sam Shahid, HIDDEN MASTER features a stunning collection of photography from the 1930s-50s, uncovering the life of Lynes less known: his gifted eye for the male form, his long-term friendships with Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and his lasting influence as one of the first openly gay American artists.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

06:30PM-08:00PM - Award Winner - Shorts Track

Sunday, October 22, 2023

07:00PM-08:30PM - Award Winner - Best Feature

Sunday, October 22, 2023

07:30PM-09:00PM - Award Winner - Artistic Award


Date: October 18-22, 2023

Location: Various Venue, San Diego, CA

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