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2008 Film Lineup

Thursday, August 28
Opening Night at El Rio (must be 21 years and over to enter)
3158 Mission Street
7–8pm Meet-the-Filmmakers reception
8–9pm Screenings

Movie Map     Chip Lord   9:00         
MOVIE MAP creates an imaginary geography of San Francisco using the chase sequences from Bullitt and Vertigo interrupted by quiet observations of local movie theaters. Chip Lord is an artist who works with video and photography. He lives in Noe Valley.

star Passion & Power:
The technology of Orgasm (segment) 
Emiko Omori
     5:00 
Viagra, yes! Vibrators, no! This is the story of one simple invention, the vibrator, and its relationship to one complex human experience, the misunderstood female orgasm. Tracing the history of the vibrator reveals a secret sexual history of denial, doctors and deceit. Long time Bernal resident Emiko Omori began her filmmaking career on the hill and is still doing it!  She is honored to be participating in the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, a labor of neighborhood love - and a few truly dedicated and tireless residents.

star Barbie Nation: Barbie on the Street (segment)     
Susan Stern                6:00 
Generations of people are obsessed with Barbie, the world’s most popular toy. Journeying from Barbie conventions to anti-Barbie demonstrations, from San Francisco’s gay pride parade to Croatia’s bunkers, BARBIE NATION plumbs the phenomenon of the Barbie doll. In this BARBIE NATION special short Susan Stern reveals personal recollections of how Barbie has affected our lives as children and adults.

A Sus Ordenes           Eric Escobar        8:00
A day laborer is hired for an unusual job, but in the end finds its more than he can stomach. A SUS ORDENES was chosesn as an official selection of the Chicago Latino Film Festival and Cine Latino of San Francisco. Eric Escobar has been making films and videos since he was 15. He is one of the directors of Kontent Films and works on shorts, features, web serials and advertising.

Look Again        Jennifer Lin                   7:00
June and Kelly, a bi-national couple building a life together in the United States, attempt a tricky tap dance with Immigration when Kelly's visa suddenly expires. Winner of the "Best Emerging Filmmaker Award" at the 2008 San Francisco Women's Film Festival, Jennifer Lin is a graduate of MIT where she earned her Bachelors of Arts and Design and Masters of Architecture.

star Lucid         Dean Mermell             7:30
"I need to explore the terrain of my sexual subconscious without getting in a lot of trouble!" The tale of a very modern dream girl and her hapless dreamer. Dean Mermell is a long time Bernal Heights resident, an editor and filmmaker, and you can find out more about him on his website: www.storyfarm.com

Friday, August 29
Beyond the Call feature length documentary plays at
4 Star Video

402 Cortland Avenue
7–8pm Music
8–9:30pm Screening

Beyond the Call         Adrian Bellic       Feature Length
In an Indiana Jones meets Mother Teresa adventure, three middle-aged men, former soldiers and modern-day knights travel the world delivering life-saving humanitarian aid directly into the hands of civilians and doctors. Ed Artis, James Laws and Walt Ratterman inspire through deeds not words, in some of the most dangerous yet beautiful places on Earth, the front lines of war. Adrian Bellic and his brother produce another beautiful and inspiring film. This film has received numerous awards and won the Grand Jury award at Telluride.

Saturday, August 30 (afternoon)
Films for Kids at Red Hill Books
401 Cortland Avenue
1:30–2:30pm

Popsicle             Josh Cooley        3:00
An Academy of Art student production illustrates the danger of eating popsicles for penguins and bears alike. Joshua Cooley now works for Pixar.

When I Grow Up        Michelle Meeker  6:00
In this charming animated film Michelle Meeker, juxtaposes the boundless ambition of youthful expectations with the unpredictable, and sometimes tragic realities we end up living. We hear the words of children and Bernal Heights seniors illustrated by an international team of 12 animators.

Dog Cartoon      Jeff Fino     5:00
Dog finds bone, dog loses bone, dog “googles” bone. Another animated short from Jeff Fino of Wild Brain, Inc., a San Francisco-based computer animation production studio.

Fleeced     David Winn        3:00
David Winn, a local animator and Bernal resident, presents this modern political parable.

Magic Trick        Scott Kravitz       4:00
Bernal resident Scott Kravitz started out as a wildlife biologist, but decided he liked  animating wild things on film better. As a result, he’s worked on such features as “The Matrix Revolution,” “Scooby Doo 2,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” “Magic Trick” is Scott’s own production.

The Bubbleman         Karil Daniels       5:00
Bubble artist, Sterling Johnson creates fascinating and unbelievable bubble sculptures, using only his hands. This will convince your kids to wash their hands.

Hide & Seek      Charlie Canfield          2:00
Baby Wolf and Mama Wolf play in The Great Big Woods. Baby and Mama get separated, and before they meet again Baby discovers some of his surprising, and surprised, neighbors in The Forest. Charlie Canfield is an animator who works on many commercial projects. This piece is his personal film.

I Used to be a Filmmaker            Jay Rosenblatt    10:00
Jay Rosenblatt, filmmaker dad, finds himself “producing” another type of work. A humorous and tongue-in-cheek look at the changes wrought in the new dad’s life by the introduction of a new cast member in his life.

Saturday, August 30 (evening)
Music and Films at Holly Park
5:30–7:30pm Karen Huggins and Classic Rain
6:30–7:30pm Meet-the-Filmmakers reception on site

Sundown –9:30pm Screenings

Stretch     Garim Glassy              3:00
This short documentary follows Stretch, a tall, lanky homeless man living on the streets of San Francisco. Stretch spends most of his days recycling. It's how he makes his income. He is a man intent on earning his own money, and making his own way through life no matter what obstacles are presented to him. Beneath the dirty, smelly, exterior, lies a warm and hopeful soul. Garin Glassy is currently an MFA candidate at the Academy of Art University and has worked on numerous short films throughout his career.

Ann’s Hoard      Ellen Lake          7:00
Confessions of a hoarder. Ann considers herself more of a hoarder then a collector. She has vases, covered glass dishes (butter dishes, candy dishes, cake platters), hats, wigs, loads and loads of jewelry and clothes, most bought from eBay. She stashes her collections in the attic, the garage, under beds, and in closets. Ellen Lake is a media artist living in Oakland and working in Berkeley.

San Francisco Exposition Organ        Vic Ferrer           12:00
A documentary look into the magnificent Exposition Organ originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Since the 1989 earthquake, the fate of this historical instrument has become uncertain and its survival is still compromised. Vic Ferrer is a prolific producer currently operating from The Producer's Loft, a flexible production studio based in the Mission and welcoming independent filmmakers.

Lot 63 Grave C          Sam Green                 10:00
LOT 63, GRAVE C is a short documentary by Sam Green which attempts to uncover the enigma of Meredith Hunter, the young man who was killed at in late 1969 at Altamont Speedway during the Rolling Stones’ performance, Sam Green is a documentary filmmaker, living in San Francisco. He is one of the directors associated with Kontent Films.

The Purpose Driven Life      Phillip Bonner     21:00
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE is a ridiculous Gulliver's Travel chronicling the swinish populace of an alternate universe. It unfolds in small episodes, imparted by a mad historian from the end of time. THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE was created by Phillip Bonner (aka Bulk Foodveyors) while in residence at the San Francisco City Dump. Spontaneous costumes, miniatures, props and sets were formed from found materials.

star Blah,Blah, Blah                  J.H. Lucas          4:00
An armed robbery of a “local video store,” forces Powerboy into action! The Don’ts help out only to be surprised by the identity of the perpetrator. J.H. Lucas, Bernal resident and member of The Don’ts began making films when he was eight years old, using his
father's Super-8 camera, a razor blade, and a roll of tape.

Open Eyes         Jana Sintschnig           7:00
The short documentary deals with problems and opportunities that Arab artists are facing in the western world as well as in Arab countries. The film features two young Arab artists, who at the time the movie was made, both lived and worked in San Francisco. Jana Sintschnig has been interested in film production and art for a number of years. She is presently a student at the Academy of Art and has produced short documentaries about people with interesting stories and their relation to society.

star I Can See          Mary Beaven               4:00
Bernal resident Mary Beaven captures her friend’s song through images while roaming the streets of London. Mary writes about her inspiration, “As Peter Gabriel says in one of his songs, ‘I talk in pictures, not in words...’  Video and music are my passions, and I love to express myself creatively through them.”

star Violin        Dean Mermell             7:00
The town sweeper has a secret life, a new talent, and a very strange lover. Violin is Dean Mermell's third silent film and features an original piano score. Dean Mermell is a long time Bernal Heights resident, an editor and filmmaker

Time to Go Home       Michael Franti     4:00
Music video by Michael Franti and Spearhead from the album Yell Fire released in 2006. Franti is a local musician of international acclaim and an activist for peace.

Saturday, August 30 (late evening)
Soapbox Lecture at Bernal Bubbles 10pm
327 Courtland        
A Conversation with Emiko Omori, longtime resident of Bernal Hill and acclaimed documentary filmmaker. Among her recent works are PASSION & POWER: THE TECHNOLOGY OF ORGASM, of which a segment was shown on Opening Night of this series and RIPE FOR CHANGE.

Sunday, August 31
Music and Films at Precita Park
5:30–7:30pm Avotcja and Modupue
6:30–7:30pm Meet-the-Filmmakers reception on site
Sundown–9:30pm Screenings

Lipstick             Sam Rubin          3:00
What’s he doing in the bathroom behind the door? Sam Rubin produced this short film with the Film Workshop of the San Francisco Art & Film Program.

star Ocarina             John Lucas         4:00
The Birds and Batteries go on an animated underwater music tour. Bernal resident, John Lucas is a band member of The Don’ts and a filmmaker.

Urban Fisherman               Stuart Christoph          4:00
Trying to catch the one that got away,” this fisherman seems to have lost more than just a fish! Shot in San Francisco’s Civic Center, the fisherman strangely fits into the surrounding environment. Stuart Christoph produced this short film while a participant in TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools).

Trina’s Collection       Ellen Lake          6:00
This short documentary celebrates San Francisco resident Trina Robbins (writer/producer of Go Girl! Comics) and her eclectic collections: girl action figures, super heroines, vintage aprons, rubber bath tub toys, saints, tikis, hawaiiana, and more. Ellen Lake is a media artist living in Oakland and working at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley.

I Saw a Monster        Nika Summers     3:00
Powerful collage of photography, video clips and poetry by a young woman whose experience of racial stereotyping inspired this piece. Nika Summers produces a poignant, personal piece that speaks to us all.

Everyone Deserves Music   Michael Franti     4:00
Music video by Michael Franti  local musician and organizer of the Power to the Peaceful Festival. Everyone Deserves Music is from the album of the same title, recorded with Franti’s band Spearhead, and released in 2003.

star Fashion Resistance to Militarism  Kim Alvarenga  10:00
Are you wearing your camo, today? What of it? It’s just a fashion trend, isn’t it? Or is it. Kim Alvarenga and the Women of Color Resource Center have produced a provocative look at the military’s influence on fashion and popular culture.

The Doll House          Tara Beyhn         9:00
Tara Beyhm artfully animates the story of a young girl whose obsession with her “friend’s” doll house leads her to question her family.

star Girls Rock! (trailer)   Arne Johnson and Shane King        5:00
The Rock ‘n Roll Camp for Girls is a place where 8–18 year olds come to learn “how to play in a rock and roll band.” But it turns out to be so much more than that. This trailer of the feature film produced by Bernal residents Arne Johnson and Shane King will be ready for release on September 9 via the web.     

Label Literacy    TILT teens         2:00
A selection from TILT’s Environmental PSAs: effective messages over a makeup session. Another production from TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools).

Kool Jobs: Sean Even, DJ Seven          Mark Decena       9:00
Finding work that supports your life style and feeds your passion is a rare and wonderful thing. Sean Even (aka DJ Seven) has found his calling and is loving it. But it’s clear that work you love takes a lot of work. One in a series of pieces of “kool jobs” by Mark Decena of director, writer with kontent films.

Paranoid   Nigel Gallagher   4:00 
Too much news can do bad things to your head. Nigel Gallagher creates a dark, overwhelming landscape of news media, pushing a man to become increasingly fearful of his surroundings. Another work by a participant in the TILT Summer 2007 program.

star SF Neigborhood Centers Together    Joseph Smooke   13:00
In 2001, nine neighborhood centers in San Francisco came together to form a coalition. This film shows the impact these agencies have had on the communities they serve individually and collectively. Joseph Smooke, Executive Director of Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, is also a professional photographer. He brings these talents forward in weaving this story.

Parkour Masters        David Johnson            5:00
PARKOUR MASTERS, is a spoof on one of youth culture’s worldwide movements. Filmmaker, David Johnson, TILT Summer 2007 program, does a great job sharing the inside joke.

Sunday, September 7
Films & Filmmaker Q & A at ZEUM
4th Street and Howard
2–2:45pm  Meet-the-Filmmakers reception
2:45–4pm  Films and Q & A

Foreign Exchange: BAYCAT to Kibera            13:00
In October 2007 students from BAYCAT and Kibera, Kenya started a video exchange projects. We follow the daily lives of three young men, Ibrahim, Evan and Christopher contrasted with the lives of the students in San Francisco.

Kool Jobs: Sean Even, DJ Seven          Mark Decena       9:00
Finding work that supports your life style and feeds your passion is a rare and wonderful thing. Sean Even (aka DJ Seven) has found his calling and is loving it. But it’s clear that work you love takes a lot of work. One in a series of pieces of “kool jobs” by Mark Decena of director, writer with kontent films.

The Ascent        Max Sokoloff
The scene opens on a man tied up. How or why he got there, we don’t know. He manages to free himself and begins to climb the stairs. And then... This suspenseful short piece was produced by another young filmmaker of the San Francisco Art & Film Program

Seventeen        Kallin Werner              5:00
SEVENTEEN, is a meditative piece about a young woman’s perspective on mass media. Kallin Werner was a pariticipant in the TILT Summer 2007 program.

Lipstick             Sam Rubin          3:00
What’s he doing in the bathroom behind the door? Sam Rubin produced this short film with the Film Workshop of the San Francisco Art & Film Program.

Girls Rock! (trailer)    
Arne Johnson and Shane King
        5:00
The Rock ‘n Roll Camp for Girls is a place where 8–18 year olds come to learn
“how to play in a rock and roll band.” But it turns out to be so much more than that.
This trailer of the feature film produced by Bernal residents Arne Johnson and Shane King will be ready for release on September 9 via the web.     

Little Failures             John Dilley         10:00
Girl meets boy, then boy gets on bus. This quirky, short film by John Dilley premiered at Sundance 2003 and was an Official Selection. In 2006 after several other successes, it was featured in a program of work of emerging filmmakers at Cinematheque Franciaise in Paris. A graduate of SFSU’s Film School, John is a director, writer with Kontent Films.

 

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