Please contact us
with corrections
or breaking news
15th Annual Indie Fest is Back by Tom Mayer
Scene from Davide Manuli’s hallucinogenic revisting of the Kaspar Hauser starring, starring Vincent Gallo, scored by the amazing Vitalic and directed by the Parisian cinema collective Pleix. Read about the film and get tickets HERE. photo: courtesy SFIndieFest
SF Indie Fest is back, bigger and badder than ever, with a stellar lineup of independent films and parties. It runs from February 7 to 21 at the Roxie Theater and other venues (and a pre-fest Super Bowl: "Men in Tights" show on February 3.) IndieFest celebrates the 15th anniversary with a "Quinceanera" coming-of-age theme and celebration.
This year the festival kicks off with “The We and the I“, the latest by Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind“,“The Science of Sleep“,“The Green Hornet“) latest, with the casual cruelty of adolescents presented in a film that refuses to be sentimental.
This film was part of the Directors Fortnight at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. "Gondry gives this film depth and poignancy without ever undermining its humour, making this film a fun ride." -- Michael Hayden, British Film Institute. The opening night film is followed by a party at Brava Center for the Arts, 24th and York Sts. in SF, with DJs, live music, open bar, and surprise guests.
SFIndieFest impresario Jeff Ross knows how to host a good party as well as festival. photo: courtesy SFIndieFest
The Centerpiece film this year is Everardo Gout's “Days of Grace“ (Dias de Gracia), with Carlos Bardem, of which Hugh Jackman writes, "’Days of Grace’ will simultaneously rip your heart of, and have your mind reeling long after you have left the theater."
Closing night film is "All the Light in the Sky" directed by Joe Swanberg, starring Jane Adams and Sophia Takal, in which a woman clings to her earlier ambitions while living in a house in Malibu perched on stilts.
Other highlights of the festival include “Funeral Kings“,“I Declare War“,“The Story of Luke“, and the short film program Innocence Bursting. The festival represents the 70s with Berberian Sound System and Iceberg Slim: “Portrait of a Pimp“. The festival moves on to the 80s with “Manborg“ and “Video Diary of a Lost Girl“.
This year's Valentine's Day tribute expands to two sing-along nights, the 80s Power Ballad Sing-a-Long preceded by the Super Secret Sing-a-Long, where the title of the 1984 film presented is a secret. IndieFest alumnus Gregory Hatanaka returns, bringing the festival into the 90s with "Blue Dream", with James Duval and Dominque Swain. Saturday, Feb. 16 brings “It's a Disaster“, a comedy riffing on disaster films, with Julia Stiles and David Cross.
A House of Psychotic Women sidebar features rare prints of two films and author Kier-la Janisse, who wrote a book on the subject. photo: courtesy SFIndieFest
On Feb. 17, the adult entertainment industry is investigated with the Canadian film Inside Lara Roxx. The autism comedy-drama Story of Luke with Seth Green, Cary Elwes, and Kristen Bauer screens on Feb 20.
On February 9, “The Big Lebowski“ screens in 35mm at midnight as part of the 10th annual Big Lebowski Party earlier in the evening at 518 Valencia. Other features of the festival are the pre-fest Super Bowl: Men in Tights on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9, Bad Art Gallery Happy Hour at 518 Valencia on February 9, and the Roller Disco Party at the Women's Building on February 15.
For more info and tickets, go to www.sfindie.com or call (415) 552-5580.