I’m going to start by setting a scene. The head of the Moving Image Section at the Library of Congress, Mike Mashon, takes the stage at the Castro Theater to introduce a screening of Erich Von Stroheim’s ambitious debut Blind Husbands (1919) at the 25th San Francisco Silent Film Festival. It’s a full house and that’s certainly not unusual for this event. “Recently, I was watching a conversation on the Criterion Channel,” Mashon tells the crowd. “Critic/curator Dave Kehr and historian Farran Smith Nehme were discussing Raoul Walsh and one of them said that Walsh was one of the least intellectual directors. He didn’t have a pretentious bone in his body; he was just a straight-ahead guy.” Mashon pauses, timing the silence for comic impact. “So… Erich Von Stroheim.” He need say nothing more. The entire audience erupts in laughter. Mashon smiles, saying, “You know,...
- 5/18/2022
- by Daniel Kremer
- Trailers from Hell
The top stories of the week from Toh! Awards: Digging Into New Academy Invites Why Academy Governors Changed Music Campaign Rules Box Office: Arthouse Audit: Polanski's Provocative "Venus in Fur" Tops Tepid Specialized Openings Box Office Top Ten: "Think Like a Man Too" Takes Number One, "Jersey Boys" Draws Seniors on Soft Summer Weekend Features: Emmanuelle Seigner Delivers for Husband Roman Polanski in Two-Hander "Venus in Fur" How Indie Producer Jon Kilik Works with Mavericks, from Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" to Gary Ross's "Hunger Games" & Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" How Must-See "Case Against 8" Took Five Years to Make, from HBO Docs Czar Nevins to Its "Fairytale Ending" Richard Lester Talks The Beatles in Newly Restored Mod Classic "A Hard Day's Night" Festivals: Sf Silent Film Festival Director Anita Monga Talks the Highlights of...
- 6/28/2014
- by TOH!
- Thompson on Hollywood
Rare films from around the globe, featuring everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Walt Disney’s earliest animated characters, marked the 16th annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival this past weekend…along with the announcement of the Festival’s plans to screen Abel Gance’s Napoleon with a live orchestra next spring. (see separate story Here). Executive director Stacey Wisnia, Artistic director Anita Monga, their dedicated staff and board of directors put on another great, wide-ranging show featuring films from Sweden, Japan, Germany, Italy, England, and Russia. It’s a far cry from the early years of the festival when founders Melissa Chittick and Stephen Salmons…...
- 7/20/2011
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
San Francisco, CA -- Roger Ebert will receive the Mel Novikoff Award at the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 22 - May 6). The award, named for the pioneering San Francisco art and repertory film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922-87), acknowledges an individual or institution whose work has enhanced the filmgoing public's knowledge and appreciation of world cinema. The Novikoff Award will be presented at An Evening with Roger Ebert and Friends, Saturday, May 1 at 5:30 pm at the Castro Theatre. Confirmed guests to date include directors Jason Reitman and Terry Zwigoff, with others to be announced soon.
The program will close with a screening of Julia, touted by Ebert as one of the finest films released in 2009. Erick Zonca's character-driven thriller, starring the fearless Tilda Swinton, barrels straight into the sleazy wasteland of an abrasive alcoholic kidnapper who is in way over her head.
"It's an honor to pay...
The program will close with a screening of Julia, touted by Ebert as one of the finest films released in 2009. Erick Zonca's character-driven thriller, starring the fearless Tilda Swinton, barrels straight into the sleazy wasteland of an abrasive alcoholic kidnapper who is in way over her head.
"It's an honor to pay...
- 3/30/2010
- Makingof.com
Like a veritable phoenix from the ashes, Ingrid Eggers has recovered from being summarily dismissed by Rudolf de Baey, Director of the Goethe Institute, where she was let go as the programmer for the Institute's annual Berlin & Beyond Film Festival. Her unexpected dismissal sent shock waves through the Bay Area film community--much like the graceless dismissal of Anita Monga from the Castro Theatre some years back--and brought to the surface the abiding respect and affection festival audiences have for the keen spirit Eggers has contributed to San Francisco's festival landscape. Whereas Monga's dismissal inspired an entrenched boycott of the Castro Theatre for several months, Ingrid's situation reflects the inverse: the rallying cry has been to show up at the Castro Theatre this Sunday, February 28, 2010 to support German Gems, Ingrid's one-day six-hour celebration of German and Austrian cinema. Three of the films will screen at Point Arena on March 6, 2010.
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- 2/25/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Bruce Goldstein, repertory program director of New York's Film Forum and founder of Rialto Pictures, will receive the Mel Novikoff Award at the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival, which runs April 23 to May 7.
Named for the late San Francisco art and repertory film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922-1987), the award acknowledges an individual or institution whose work has enhanced the filmgoing public's knowledge and appreciation of world cinema.
The award will be presented on May 3 at 5 pm at the Castro Theatre, which will include an an onstage interview with Goldstein by Anita Monga, a 20-minute reel of Rialto Pictures trailers, and the screening of a 35mm print of Federico Fellini's "Nights of Cabiria," one of many films to benefit from Goldstein's dedication to restoring and revitalizing classics.
"We knew we had the right guy for this year's award when Bruce started recalling having dinner with Mel Novikoff in...
Named for the late San Francisco art and repertory film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922-1987), the award acknowledges an individual or institution whose work has enhanced the filmgoing public's knowledge and appreciation of world cinema.
The award will be presented on May 3 at 5 pm at the Castro Theatre, which will include an an onstage interview with Goldstein by Anita Monga, a 20-minute reel of Rialto Pictures trailers, and the screening of a 35mm print of Federico Fellini's "Nights of Cabiria," one of many films to benefit from Goldstein's dedication to restoring and revitalizing classics.
"We knew we had the right guy for this year's award when Bruce started recalling having dinner with Mel Novikoff in...
- 3/17/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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