24th San Francisco Documentary Festival, 11 days of great new non-fiction films from around the world playing at the Roxie and Vogue theaters and also on demand right here.

Festival Schedule:

Thursday, May 29th, 2025

Rebel with a Clause
6:15 - 8:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Filmmaker and subject expected to attend. JOIN US AT MANNY'S AFTER THE FILM FOR THE AFTER PARTY. | OPENING NIGHT: A new docu-comedy where a grammar guru takes her pop-up grammar advice stand on a road trip across all 50 states to show that comma fights can bring us closer together in a divided time.

Opening Night Party
8 - 10 PM @ Manny's

Join film fans and filmmakers at the Rebel with a Clause Grammar Party at Manny's after the screening! Ellen Jovin will be on hand to sign her book, provide grammar therapy, resolve long-standing marital grammar conflicts, enjoy tales about people’s grammar ancestors, and more. The party is free and open to all.

Peaches Goes Bananas
8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

OPENING NIGHT: For the past 17 years, Marie Losier (Cassandro, the Exotico!, DocFest 2019) has captured the dynamic and provocative essence of Peaches, the trailblazing feminist queer icon. This intimate portrait offers a deep dive into the life of an inspiring, taboo-shattering artist. Discover Peaches’ electrifying concerts, her close bond with her sister and how her boundless energy, fearless exploration on and off stage has transformed every phase of her life into a captivating work of art.

Friday, May 30th, 2025

Any Problem is No Problem
6:15 - 8:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Any Problem Is No Problem captures the personal journeys of five young entrepreneurs. In an industry often misrepresented by hype and stereotypes, this intimate portrayal reveals the grit, creativity, and passion required to make it as a startup founder in crypto, no matter the headwinds.

The Hole Story
6:30 - 8:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

The discovery of a sixty-foot hole on a California mountain implicates a small town’s unusual local industry in a bizarre unsolved crime.

Flamingo Camp & Salvation Mountain
8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Flamingo Camp
Next to the Salton Sea, in a near-lawless squatter town known as Slab City, a group of young queer and trans people create a thriving safe space called Flamingo Camp. Under the leadership of their founder, Nova, the camp flourishes through the winter months. When Nova departs, summer’s brutal heat sets in with an unthinkable tragedy that fractures their once close-knit chosen family.

Salvation Mountain
A portrait of outsider artist Leonard Knight and his visionary monument, Salvation Mountain, located next to the Salton Sea. Painted with 18 coats of donated latex paint, Salvation Mountain, was created over many years, and this charming film by Harrod Blank shows how one man's determination and faith can make for quite a majestic achievement.

Avant-Drag
8:45 - 10:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Ten drag performers find solace in each other as they rebel against their oppressive reality and those who control it.

Saturday, May 31st, 2025

Film Festivals, What Are They Good For?
11 AM - 12 PM @ Manny's

In this ever changing digital world, what are film festivals good for? Are they a relic of filmgoing in the pre-COVID world or do they have something to offer both filmmakers and audiences in today's world?

We obviously believe there is value in film festivals, but don't just take our word for it. Join esteemed film critic Michael Fox as he hosts a panel discussion with a stellar lineup of local film festival programmers and curators including: Rod Armstrong (SFFILM), Dominique O'Neill (San Francisco Jewish Film Festival), Sterling Hedgpeth (Mill Valley Film Festival) and Isabel Fondevila (Roxie Theater) in a conversation about the behind the scenes world of film festival programming.

Resistance of Vision: Selects
12 - 2:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

RESISTANCE OF VISION is a touring festival presented by the 27-year-old 5 01c3 non-profit arts organization San Francisco IndieFest , comprising four programs of social justice themed short films debuting this month in Boston, San Francisco, Wichita and Birmingham.

25 Cats from Qatar
1 - 3 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Special guest appearance by a cat from Oman available for adoption by Give Me Shelter ! Join the filmmaker, film goers and the folks from Give Me Shelter (and the cat!) after the screening for a reception at 518 Valencia St. | Multi-national rescuers in Qatar team up with a cat cafe owner from America to rescue 25 cats amidst a population crisis.

Sketches on the Sky & Mercedes
2:30 - 4:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Surrounding Tajin Mexciothere are several schools for Papantla flyers attended by Dana, Said, Jairo and Sarahí, four children that learn a prehispanic dance where people fly to invoke the rain. While they are prepared to become flyers, they will take us on a journey through the legends that tell how new generations can fly and save the region from drought. In order to fly, they must confront their fears, be disciplined and keep dreaming.

Cat Rescue Reception
3 - 4:30 PM @ 518 Valencia

Join Mye Hoang and the team behind 25 Cats from Qatar , film goers and the folks from Give Me Shelter (and a cat from Qatar they have available for adoption) after the screening for a reception from 3pm-430pm at 518 Valencia St. Free and open to all.

Life After
3:30 - 5:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

A gripping personal investigation that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying. Disabled filmmaker Reid Davenport uncovers shocking abuses of power while amplifying the voices of the disability community fighting for justice and dignity in an unfolding matter of life and death.

The Flamingo
4:45 - 6 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

In her 60s, Mary Phillips embarks on a bold pursuit of pleasure, attending dungeon parties, engaging in intimacy with strangers, and offering healing touch through her BDSM practice. After 13 years of celibacy and isolation, Mary begins to reclaim her power, rediscovering herself through sexual play, open-road adventures, and deep self-embodiment.

No Bad Takes: An American Picture Show with William T. Vollmann
6 - 8 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Special Guests expected to attend. Sneak preview. | CENTERPIECE: No Bad Takes is a raw, offbeat documentary nearly a decade in the making, following the longest—and possibly last—literary journey of legendary cult writer William T. Vollmann. Capturing both the mind of the artist and a fractured portrait of America, the film is a meditation on impermanence, friendship, and the possibilities of the creative process when one is open to the world.

Wild Magic
6:45 - 8:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Wild Magic is a kaleidoscopic road trip through modern mystical Americana, revealing the hidden magic that’s happening all around us. A living tribute to the glimmering pockets of light beneath the crumbling facade of the American Dream, inviting viewers to slow down and engage with the unseen.

Short Stories Part One
8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Part poetry, part memoir-style reflection and part prayer, PARAMITA bears witness to Prajna Paramita Choudhury’s 25-year coming out process with her traditional Bangladeshi mother. Told with intimacy, tenderness and a quiet power, PARAMITA invites us into a meditative spiritual experience as Prajna connects with Buddhist practices and nature as gateways for intergenerational healing.

40 Watts from Nowhere
9 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

40 Watts from Nowhere is a documentary about Los Angeles pirate radio station KBLT. It is based around vintage footage shot in 1998 that shows the station operating 24/7 out of an apartment closet in Silver Lake with DJs running the gamut from Keith Morris (Circle Jerks), Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Don Bolles (Germs) to garden-variety music fans playing everything from jungle and punk to vintage country and French pop.

Sunday, June 1st, 2025

Norita
12 - 1:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Discover the extraordinary journey of a feminist icon in Norita the forthcoming feature documentary about Nora Cortiñas. From Executive Producers and Academy Award® Winners Jane Fonda and Gustavo Santaolalla comes a film that takes viewers on a gripping journey through Argentina's tumultuous history, where Norita's personal tragedy becomes a catalyst for change.

Short Stories Part Two
1 - 3 PM @ Vogue Theater

After a catastrophic stroke left James paralyzed and voiceless, he spent months trapped inside his own body, his mind unreachable. With the fierce devotion of his family and new technology that let him write with his eyes alone, James defied the odds and reignited his creative fire. A Man Comes Down is a gripping portrait of survival, creativity, and the relentless force of human will.

Mahwash & The Honest Poet
2:15 - 3:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Mahwash: A Documentary Film follows the extraordinary journey of Mahwash, Afghanistan’s pioneering female singer, whose voice transcends borders, exile, and political turmoil. Encouraged by her devoted husband, Farooq, she rises to fame despite cultural barriers, only to face severe backlash when her identity is revealed. As she dreams of a final concert in her homeland, the Taliban’s rise shatters her hopes, banning music and silencing artists.

Looking For My Anchor & Rays: A Kayaktivism Story
3:15 - 5:15 PM @ Vogue Theater

Set against the stark contrast of an affluent surrounding area, Looking For My Anchor is a powerful exploration of loss, housing insecurity, and the universal search for stability in a community on the verge of being lost. | Rays: A Kayaktivism Story follows a group of activists who take to the water in kayaks to confront the fossil fuel industry that is directly threatening their community.

A Taste For Things
4:30 - 6 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

For the last 3 years, Pierre-Gilles and Antoine have been growing their vegetables entirely naturally. It's not an easy job, with daily threats such as a changing climate, pests and diseases, not to mention financial pressures. The year 2023 has begun with an added challenge: the road running alongside the plot is undergoing major works, which are making access to the crops more difficult. What's more, they have to live with the workers and put up with the noise

Staff Picks from the Prelinger Archives - A Live Cinema Experience
5:30 - 6:45 PM @ Vogue Theater

Join us for a special live cinema event in collaboration with the Prelinger Archives who has scanned over 3 million feet of film and uploaded over 2,000 items, while collectively developing practices of inclusive and reparative description to allow multiple avenues into a vast trove of moving images. This curated screening will highlight rarities and treasures within the collection that have inspired, delighted and bewildered staff.

Zodiac Killer Project
6:30 - 8:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Against the backdrop of sunbaked parking lots, deserted courthouses, and empty suburban homes—the familiar spaces of true crime, stripped of all action and spectacle—a filmmaker describes his abandoned Zodiac Killer documentary and probes the inner workings of a genre at saturation point.

Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man
7:30 - 9 PM @ Vogue Theater

Join the film team and filmgoers after the show at Ireland's 32 ( 3920 Geary Blvd) for a post-screening celebration! | Sneak Preview Work In Progress: One of the most controversial visionaries and political leaders of our time, Gerry Adams led the people of the North of Ireland from conflict towards peace, (1968-1994).

They're Here
8:45 - 10:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Daniel Claridge and Pacho Velez’s They’re Here uses UFO culture to explore perception and the human quest for connection. New York, with many UFO sightings, is home to believers like Cookie, her friend Steve, comic Twon, and spiritual devotee Dave, who share their encounters, revealing humor and empathy in their search for a shared experience.

Sunday Night Craic
9:30 - 11:30 PM @ Ireland's 32
After the screening of Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man at the Vogue Theater, all are invited over to Ireland's 32 to celebrate the film with festival staff, filmmakers and filmgoers.

Monday, June 2nd, 2025

The Last Hounds
6:15 - 7:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Greyhound racetrack workers, trainers, and breeders in Iowa and Kansas cling to survival as the 100-year-old sport of dog racing faces extinction amidst mounting pressure from animal rights groups.

The Last Mongolian Horseman
8:15 - 9:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

The Last Mongolian Horseman follows the life of a nomadic shepherd family across four seasons in the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Through quiet observation and poetic imagery, the film captures the rhythms of traditional Mongolian life amidst growing pressures from industrialization and cultural displacement.

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025

Acts of Reparation
6:15 - 7:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Acts of Reparation follows two friends as they explore what reparations means to them. Selina, who is Black, and Macky, who is white, have been friends and filmmaking partners for 25 years. Genealogy nerds, they travel south to reclaim and reckon with their roots. In the process they move from awkward outsiders toward belonging to broad kin networks who come along for the ride.

Gamemaster & Bad Hostage
8:30 - 10 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

A poetic and honest story about a man who believes that those who forget to be playful will grow old very quickly. Jens-Rune lives to create an enchanting world full of adventures. For 40 years, he and his friends have been exploring it in Jens-Runes version of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Rebel with a Clause (repeat show)
6:15 - 7:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

OPENING NIGHT: A new docu-comedy where a grammar guru takes her pop-up grammar advice stand on a road trip across all 50 states to show that comma fights can bring us closer together in a divided time.

Shoot the People
8:30 - 10 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Photographer and activist Misan Harriman, documents the global impact of protest movements, capturing the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice in the year he's nominated for an Oscar.

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Beyond the Gaze
6 - 8 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

CLOSING NIGHT: In the 1960s, Jule Campbell shattered glass ceilings, transforming a struggling magazine into a media empire: the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The documentary chronicles her 32-year reign, where she championed intelligence and empowered supermodels like Christie Brinkley. Weaving together her journey with feminism's evolution, the film explores the changing gaze on beauty, from objectification to body positivity.

Anxiety Club
Thursday, June 5, 8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Anxiety Club offers a heartfelt and humorous exploration of anxiety through the lens of some of today’s most brilliant comedians: Tiffany Jenkins, Joe List, Marc Maron, Aparna Nancherla, Mark Normand, Baron Vaughn, and Eva Victor. With a mix of stand-up performances, sketch videos, exclusive interviews, and relatable everyday life scenarios, they candidly share their personal struggles with anxiety, the world’s most prevalent mental health condition, affecting more than 300 million people globally.

Fest Date: May 29 - June 8, 2025

Locations:
Manny's, 3092 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Roxie Theater House 1, 3117 16th St, San Francisco CA 94103
Roxie Theater House 2, 3125 16th St, San Francisco CA 94103
518 Valencia, 518 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Vogue Theater, 3290 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Ireland's 32, 3920 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

Click here for more information.