San Diego International Film Festival
{{Short description|Film festival}}
{{Infobox Film Festival
| name = San Diego International Film Festival
| image = 250px
| caption = Festival co-hosts Jeffrey Lyons, Ben Lyons and Scott Mantz at a Critics Panel in 2016.
| founders = Karl Kozak, Robin Laatz
| location = San Diego and La Jolla
| artistic_director = Tonya Mantooth
| website = {{URL|sdfilmfest.com}}
| awards = Golden Eagle, Kumeyaay Eagle, Gregory Peck Award, Chris Brinker Award
| |producer=|established=2001}}
The San Diego International Film Festival is an independent film festival held in San Diego, California, produced by the nonprofit San Diego Film Foundation. The main event has traditionally been held annually in autumn at venues in the Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, and Balboa Park.
The festival hosts celebrity awards banquets, panel discussions, retrospectives, parties, premieres, and contemporary independent narrative, documentary and short film screenings. Competitive juried categories vary year to year and have included foreign language, animated, Native American, military, social justice, equestrian, thrillers, and local films made in San Diego.
Special advanced screenings for VIP members{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/film-insider-series/|title=Film Insider Series {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}} and educational programs{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/focus-on-impact-film-tour/|title=Focus on Impact Film Tour |website=San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}} for San Diego area high schools are held year round in addition to an annual formal "Oscar watch party" in the winter.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/awards-viewing-party/|title=Awards Viewing Party {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}}
History
The San Diego International Film Festival (originally just "The San Diego Film Festival") and its non-profit foundation were founded in 2001 by event planner Robin Laatz and her filmmaker husband Karl Kozak.{{Cite web|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/questions-for-robin-laatz/|title=Questions for Robin Laatz|date=2006-09-23|website=Voice of San Diego|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-18}} File:2016 San Diego Int'l Film Fest - Opening Night.jpg.|alt=|left]]
In its first decade, films premiering at the festival included Roger Dodger, The Blair Witch Project, Fahrenheit 9/11, An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman, Napoleon Dynamite, Primer, The Machinist, and Born Into Brothels.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
The festival has been designated "Best Party Fest" and "Best Beach Fest" by the "Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide".{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-no-hitch-is-their-niche-2011sep23-htmlstory.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417105355/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-no-hitch-is-their-niche-2011sep23-htmlstory.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-04-17|title=At San Diego Film Festival, no hitch is their niche - The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=2018-04-17|access-date=2020-01-16}} It has also been criticized along the same lines for being "more intent on throwing parties than putting quality films on the screen."{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-film-fests-new-chair-plans-to-shift-focus-2012apr13-story.html|title=San Diego Film Festival has a new chair, a new board, a new focus|date=2012-04-13|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002222633/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-film-fests-new-chair-plans-to-shift-focus-2012apr13-story.html|archive-date=2019-10-02|access-date=2019-10-02}}
= New Leadership/Native Direction =
In 2012, leadership passed to husband and wife producers Dale Strack and Tonya Mantooth.{{cite web|title=The Mantooth-Strack Family Works to Produce the San Diego Film Festival|url=http://92067magazine.com/2015/10/05/the-mantooth-strack-family-works-to-produce-the-san-diego-film-festival/|website=92067magazine.com/}} According to Strack, they were modeling it after Napa Valley Film Festival, with a "longer term goal" of rivaling Sundance or TriBeCa.
The festival expanded to a second location in La Jolla the same year.
Another new change was the establishment of a "Native American Advisory Board", whose name was changed in 2017 to "American Indian Advisory Board".{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/movies/sd-me-arts-0711-story.html|title=San Diego International Film Festival names American Indian Advisory Board|date=2017-07-13|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801203019/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/movies/sd-me-arts-0711-story.html|archive-date=2019-08-01|access-date=2019-08-01}} Tribes represented on the AIA board include Sac and Fox, Luiseño, Kumeyaay, Seminole, Lipan/Mescalero Apache, and the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Notable members of the board include character actor Saginaw Grant (The Lone Ranger, Breaking Bad), Randolph Mantooth (Emergency!, Sons of Anarchy, brother of Tonya Mantooth) and Erica Pinto, the Chairwoman of Jamul Indian Village.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/american-indian-advisory-board/|title=American Indian Advisory Board|date=2018-04-19|website=San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04}}
= 2012-2019 =
Notable films premiering at the festival during this time include Silver Linings Playbook, 12 Years a Slave, He Named Me Malala, Goosebumps, The Imitation Game, Wild, Lion, Tiger, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Call Me By Your Name, Marshall, The Favourite, Widows, Boy Erased, Jojo Rabbit, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Marriage Story, The Irishman, and Parasite.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
In 2013, New York area film critic Jeffrey Lyons was added as festival host and made honorary jury chairman. He acted as host or as co-host along with his with son Ben Lyons or with Access Hollywood film critic Scott Mantz, up until 2018, when Mantz hosted solo.
The festival added "International" to its name in 2016, having previously been known only as the San Diego Film Festival.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/san-diego-film-festival-sets-its-aim-for-a-global-reach-1201872075/|title=San Diego Film Festival Sets Its Aim for a Global Reach|last=Blair|first=Iain|date=2016-09-29|work=Variety|access-date=2017-08-05|language=en-US}}
In 2016, the festival established a Film Insider Series for VIP members to watch featured official selections and festival winners, premieres and special advanced screenings throughout the year.{{Citation|last1=Kühne|first1=Olaf|title=Die mediale Erzeugung gesellschaftlicher Landschaft: San Diego im Film und in Internetvideos|date=2014-10-16|work=San Diego|pages=175–201|publisher=Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden|isbn=9783658017194|last2=Schönwald|first2=Antje|doi=10.1007/978-3-658-01720-0_5}}
In September 2019, the festival began hosting free screenings of popular movies on Mission Beach.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/movies-on-the-bay-2/|title=Movies On The Bay {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|date=2019-08-21|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}}
In 2019, the festival expanded to six days and hosted a second opening night film (The Irishman) at the La Jolla Village.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/arclight-cinemas/|title=ArcLight Cinemas {{!}} Oct 17-20 {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|date=2019-09-19|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://vanguardculture.com/the-buzz-the-san-diego-international-film-festival-is-near/|title=THE BUZZ: The San Diego International Film Festival is Near|date=2019-10-04|website=Vanguard Culture|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-07}}
= 2020-present =
Notable films premiering at the festival during this time include Nomadland, The French Dispatch, Spencer, The Power of the Dog, The Lost Daughter, The Banshees of Inisherin, and The Inspection.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was reduced to four days and presented 114 films both virtually and on drive-thru screens.{{Cite web|title=The Re-Imagined 2020 San Diego International Film Festival|url=https://www.sandiegomagazine.com/partner-content/the-re-imagined-2020-san-diego-international-film-festival/article_c8bc888c-01e5-11eb-839e-1b0023f6c5a4.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=San Diego Magazine|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-09-23|title=The Re-Imagined 2020 San Diego International Film Festival Announces Festival to Feature Virtual Village & Drive-In Movies! {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/2020-festival-slate-announced-nomadland-opening-the-san-diego-international-film-festival/|access-date=2020-09-25|language=en-US}}
As of 2020, the San Diego International Film Festival is a qualifying festival for the Canadian Screen Awards.{{Cite web |title=Canadian Screen Awards 2020 - Eligible Festivals |url=https://www.academy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2020-Canadian-Screen-Awards-Eligible-Festivals-List.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108053452/https://www.academy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2020-Canadian-Screen-Awards-Eligible-Festivals-List.pdf |archive-date=2020-11-08 |website=Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television - Academy.ca}}
In 2021, limited in-person screenings resumed at new venues including the Museum of Photographic Arts and The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, as well as the Catamaran Resort in Mission Bay.{{Cite web|title=In-Person Screenings|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/filmprograms/inpersonscreenings/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US}} A special screening was held on the deck on a historic aircraft carrier at the USS Midway Museum.{{Cite web|title=The San Diego International Film Festival's 20th Anniversary season will be celebrated throughout San Diego|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/community/the-san-diego-international-film-festivals-20th-anniversary-season-will-be-celebrated-throughout-san-diego/2723464/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=NBC 7 San Diego|language=en-US}}
In 2022, after organizers at the Women's Museum of California's had ended their Women's Film Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they joined forces with the San Diego Festival to present a women's series of films.{{Cite web |last=Sitton |first=Kendra |date=2022-10-07 |title=San Diego International Film Festival debuts new Women's Series |url=https://sandiegodowntownnews.com/san-diego-international-film-festival-debuts-new-womens-series/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=San Diego Downtown News |language=en-GB}}
In 2023, the film festival's opening night was held at Westfield UTC AMC on October 8. For the festival's 22nd year, they will have a showing of the Oscar winning film, The Holdovers.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-09-13 |title=San Diego Film Festival to Open with Oscar Contender 'The Holdovers' |url=http://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2023/09/12/san-diego-film-festival-to-open-with-oscar-contender-the-holdovers/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Times of San Diego |language=en-US}} The festival was on October 18–22, at Balboa Park's Museum of Photographic Arts. During those 5 days there were showings of 91 films of the 3,200 films that were submitted. The theme of the festival was "Celebrating the power of film", meaning films will be outlining the importance of film and its impact on our society and community.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-09-19 |title=San Diego International Film Festival returns for 22nd year |url=https://www.delmartimes.net/lifestyle/events/story/2023-09-19/san-diego-international-film-festival-returns-for-22nd-year |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Del Mar Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=San Diego International Film Festival |url=https://www.sandiego.org/members/corporate-hq/san-diego-intl-film-festival/events/san-diego-international-film-festival.aspx |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.sandiego.org |language=en-US}}
Awards
{{Main|List of San Diego International Film Festival award winners}}
File:Alan Arkin - 1975.jpg was the first recipient of the Gregory Peck Award at the San Diego Film Festival in 2014]]
= Gregory Peck Award =
The Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence has been presented by the family of San Diego native Gregory Peck at the festival since 2014. Recipients at the San Diego festival include Andy Garcia,{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2022-10-12 |title=Andy Garcia, Regina Hall, Lisa Ann Walter and More Added to Honorees at San Diego International Film Festival |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/andy-garcia-regina-hall-san-diego-festival-1235400987/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Laurence Fishburne,{{Cite web |last1=Nissen |first1=Dano |date=2019-09-05 |title=Laurence Fishburne, Jared Harris & Jillian Bell to be Feted at San Diego Intl. Film Festival |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/laurence-fishburne-jared-harris-jillian-bell-sdiff-1203324067/ |access-date=2019-09-06 |website=Variety |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-20 |title=Chatting with Laurence Fishburne as he heads back to town for San Diego Film Festival honor - The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2019-09-20/laurence-fishburne-heading-back-to-town-as-the-san-diego-film-festival-honors-actor-with-gregory-peck-award |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920183154/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2019-09-20/laurence-fishburne-heading-back-to-town-as-the-san-diego-film-festival-honors-actor-with-gregory-peck-award |archive-date=2019-09-20 |access-date=2019-09-23}} Keith Carradine, Patrick Stewart,{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/san-diego-international-film-festival-award-heather-graham-kumail-nanjiani-1202554477/|title=Kumail Nanjiani, Heather Graham to Be Saluted at San Diego Film Festival|last=Fernandez|first=Matt|date=September 11, 2017|work=Variety}} Annette Bening,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/sd-et-annette-20160919-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208062524/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/sd-et-annette-20160919-story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-12-08|title=Annette Bening back home for San Diego Film Festival award - The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=2018-12-08|access-date=2019-10-04}} and Alan Arkin.{{Cite news|url=http://sdfilmfest.com/sdiff-announces-annette-bening-as-the-gregory-peck-award-recipient/|title=SDiFF Announces Annette Bening as the Gregory Peck Award Recipient|work=San Diego International Film Festival SDiFF|access-date=2018-04-07|language=en-US}} The family originally presented the award at the Dingle International Film Festival in Ireland. Previous recipients include Gabriel Byrne, Jim Sheridan, Jean-Jacques Beineix, and Laura Dern.{{Cite web|date=2016-02-25|title=The Gregory Peck Award: For Excellence in the Art of Film. {{!}} Dingle International Film Festival|url=https://www.dinglefilmfestival.com/gregory_peck/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225202444/https://www.dinglefilmfestival.com/gregory_peck/|archive-date=2016-02-25|access-date=2020-02-10}}
= Chris Brinker Award =
The Chris Brinker Award was created by the family of Chris Brinker, a San Diego area producer best known for The Boondock Saints movies, who died of an aortic aneurysm{{cite web |title='Boondock Saints' producer Chris Brinker dies suddenly from aortic aneurysm |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/02/08/chris-brinker-dies-boondock-saints-producer/ |website=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=18 April 2025 |date=February 8, 2013}} at the age of 42.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdnews.com/view/full_story/27290908/article-Legacy-of-Point-Loma-producer-lives-on-with-Chris-Brinker-award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402015511/http://www.sdnews.com/view/full_story/27290908/article-Legacy-of-Point-Loma-producer-lives-on-with-Chris-Brinker-award|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-04-02|title=San Diego Community News Group - Legacy of Point Loma producer lives on with Chris Brinker award|date=2019-04-02|access-date=2019-09-27}} The award is given every year to the best first time director in competition at the festival.
= Golden Eagle =
Since 2014, honored celebrities and winning filmmakers have been presented with a "Golden Eagle" themed statuette, sculpted by Apache artist Ruben Chato.{{Cite news|url=https://www.finehomesandliving.com/New-Golden-Eagle-Award-Unveiled/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015003007/https://www.finehomesandliving.com/New-Golden-Eagle-Award-Unveiled/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-10-15|title=New 2017 Golden Eagle Award Unveiled|access-date=2018-04-08|language=en}}
= Kumeyaay Eagle Award =
An annual award presented to the best film competing in the American Indian track.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/film-tracks-and-panels/american-indian/|title=American Indian {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-02}}
=Night of the Stars Awards=
{{Further|List of San Diego International Film Festival award winners#Night of the Stars Honorees}}
The festival offers other awards - Auteur, Vanguard, Humanitarian, Rising Star, etc. - that vary year to year. Honorees include:
- 2024: Penelope Ann Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Lhakpa Sherpa, Amanda Righetti
- 2022: Regina Hall, Tony Hale, Lisa Ann Walker, Colson Baker.{{Cite web |last=Milkowski |first=Jenny |date=2022-10-07 |title=The San Diego International Film Festival Oct. 19-23 - |url=https://www.kusi.com/the-san-diego-international-film-festival-oct-19-23/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=KUSI News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2022-09-07 |title=San Diego International Film Festival Reveals 2022 Lineup, Colson Baker to Receive Spotlight Award (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/san-diego-international-film-festival-2022-lineup-colson-baker-spotlight-award-exclusive-1235361957/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
- 2019: Lindsay Wagner, Jared Harris, Pitbull, Jillian Bell, Camilla Morrone.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/night-of-the-stars-tribute/|title=Night Of The Stars Tribute|date=2018-04-19|website=San Diego International Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-18}}
- 2018: Kenny Loggins, Kathryn Hahn, John Cho, Topher Grace, Zachary Levi, Alex Wolff, Christian Navarro.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/alex-wolff-dominique-fishback-san-diego-festival-1202919523/|title=Alex Wolff, Dominique Fishback to Receive San Diego Festival Honors|last=Gray|first=Tim|date=2018-08-29|work=Variety|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Topher-Grace-and-Kenny-Loggins-Honored-at-San-Diego-International-Film-Festival-20180924|title=Topher Grace and Kenny Loggins Honored at San Diego International Film Festival|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/markets-festivals/javier-bardem-1202976320-1202976320/|title=San Diego International Film Festival Offers Diverse Slate of Features, Shorts and Documentaries|last1=Blair|first1=Iain|date=2018-10-10|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-09-27}}
- 2017: Kumail Nanjiani, Heather Graham, Taran Killam, and Blake Jenner.
- 2017: Kate Beckinsale, Simon Helberg, and Jason Mitchell{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/san-diego-international-film-festival-honors-annette-bening-004331663.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004180536/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/san-diego-international-film-festival-honors-annette-bening-004331663.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-10-04|title=San Diego Film Fest Honors Annette Bening, Jason Mitchell, Simon Helberg, and Kate Beckinsale|date=2019-10-04|access-date=2019-10-04}}
- 2016: Adrien Brody, Geena Davis, Brit Marling, and John Boyega{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/john-boyega-san-diego-festival-honor-1201596431/|title='Star Wars' Star John Boyega Tapped for San Diego Festival Honor|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2015-09-18|work=Variety|access-date=2018-04-07|language=en-US}}
- 2015: Beau Bridges, Michelle Monaghan, Eli Roth, Allison Pill, Tom Berenger{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2014/09/equatorial-guinea-set-where-the-road-runs-out-dominates-san-diego-film-festival-awards-157962/|title=Equatorial Guinea-Set 'Where The Road Runs Out' Dominates San Diego Film Festival Awards|date=2014-09-29|work=IndieWire|access-date=2018-04-07|language=en-US}}
- 2014: Judd Apatow, Michael B. Jordan, and Mariel Hemingway{{Cite news |last=Accomando |first=Beth |author-link=Beth Accomando |title=Preview: San Diego Film Festival |language=en |work=KPBS Public Media |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/oct/02/preview-san-diego-film-festival/ |access-date=2018-04-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gentlemannorman.com/2013-san-diego-film-festival/|title=2013 San Diego Film Festival {{!}} Gentleman Norman|last=Martella|first=Laura|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-18}}
- 2013: Gus Van Sant, Diane Ladd, Anne Heche, Penny Lane, Stephen Gyllenhaal, and Martin McDonagh.{{Cite web|url=http://sdcitybeat.com/p50.us/sp0/|title=CityBeat's guide to the 2010 San Diego Film Festival|last=Wright|first=Anders|date=2010-09-22|website=San Diego CityBeat|language=en-us|access-date=2019-09-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/gus-van-sant-san-diego-film-festival-retrospective-335946|title=Gus Van Sant to Attend Retrospective at San Diego Film Fest (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-09-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/movies/sdut-san-diego-film-festival-to-honor-gus-van-sant-2012jun14-htmlstory.html|title=San Diego Film Festival to honor Gus Van Sant|date=2012-06-14|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}}
Gala Event Films
Partnerships
Films from San Diego that win or are nominated in the 48 Hour Film Project are screened during the festival every year.
The San Diego International Film Festival has partnered with the San Diego County Office of Education and San Diego Unified School District to bring films about social issues like homelessness, water pollution and refugees to area high schools.
The festival - along with the GI Film Festival, FilmOut San Diego, San Diego Asian Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Horrible Imaginings Film Festival - submits films to San Diego Film Week, a city-wide spring showcase produced by Film Consortium San Diego. Submitted films are eligible to win San Diego Film Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmweek.com/2019/|title=San Diego Film Week 2019|website=San Diego Film Week 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-30}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.sdfilmfest.com/ Official Site]
- [https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000581/overview/?ref_=ev_sa_1 Imdb Page]
- [https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoFilmFestival Facebook] / [https://twitter.com/SDFilmFestival Twitter] / [https://www.instagram.com/sdfilmfestival/ Instagram]
- [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9ohWcn1fPVOO95ceJRAfQ YouTube] / [https://vimeo.com/user20784468 Vimeo]
{{San Diego}}
{{California}}
{{Gregory Peck Award}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Film festivals in San Diego