SF IndieFest is proud to announce the complete lineup for the 21st annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (SF IndieFest) which takes place January 30th through February 14th, 2019.  For the 21st year, IndieFest continues its tradition of presenting the freshest new independent films and special programs from around the world to San Francisco audiences.

21 years ago, SF IndieFest founder Jeff Ross launched the festival when he noticed there was no venue in San Francisco presenting new independent films from adventurous filmmakers. From an attendance of 3,000 in the first year to over 11,000 in 2018, the festival has stayed true to its original goal of providing viewers a chance to discover a new filmmaker, share experiences with fellow filmgoers and hear from filmmakers in Q and As.

In 2019, the festival will present 45 new feature films and 8 shorts programs, and include popular events: the 16th annual Big Lebowski Party, the 10th annual Anti-Valentine’s Day 80s Power Ballad Sing-Along, the 9th Super Bowl: Men in Tights live comedy show, Beetlejuice Bingo and season 7 of the Bad Art Gallery Show.

More information is available at www.sfindie.com or by contacting IndieFest at 415-662-3378 or info@sfindie.com.

Festival Opening Night Film – THE UNICORN

SF IndieFest begins the 21st edition of the festival on Wednesday, January 30 at 7:00 PM at the Victoria Theater. Director Robert Schwartzman’s comedy focuses on a couple facing the fourth year of their engagement. Indecisive couple Caleb and Malory (SNL alum Lauren Lapkus) are forced to go to Palm Springs for a weekend to celebrate Malory’s parents’ 25th wedding vow renewal where they discover the secret to their happy marriage—threesomes. The film is followed by a screening of FANTASIA with a live Re-Score by electronica duo The Firmament.

Roxie Opening Night – THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT

On Thursday, January 31, at 7:00 PM, the festival moves to the Roxie Theater with the showing of Robert Krzykowski’s story about a legendary American war veteran named Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott / Aidan Turner) who, decades after serving in WWII and assassinating Adolf Hitler, must now hunt down the fabled Bigfoot. This film is followed by an After Party at Gestalt.

Festival Centerpiece Film- LITTLE WOODS

LITTLE WOODS, is the centerpiece film for the 21st IndieFest. Playing on Friday, February 8 at 7:00 PM at the Victoria Theater, and directed by Nia DaCosta, the film, Starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James, is set in a fracking boomtown in North Dakota, and draws on crime movie tropes to tell an important story: that of the female rural poor.

Festival Closing Night Film- WATERLILY JAGUAR

The 21st edition of IndieFest closes with WATERLILY JAGUAR, directed by Melora Walters on Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 PM at the Roxie Theater. Bob Price (James LeGros) is a famous novelist known for his “airport” best-sellers. When he seeks to write something more meaningful, his quest to pen a magnum opus sends him tumbling down a spiral of obsession that may leave his relationships in shambles.

Festival Screenplay Award Winners
SF IndieFest is pleased to award DEVIL’S PUNCH by Noah Weisel (feature) and NORTH STAR by P.J. Palmer (short) as the Screenplay Award Winners. On Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 PM at 518 Valencia, the festival will host a=[ live reading of scenes from each film and a panel discussion with the writers. A reception will follow.

Additional Highlights for IndieFest 2019

Premieres

SF IndieFest presents a number of World and US Premieres in this year’s edition of the festival.  World premieres include:

BILLBOARD – World Premiere

Director Zeke Zelker visits a failing radio station where the manager stages a wacky contest involving a billboard sitting contest, where four lucky contestants have the opportunity to win big bucks and a mobile home!

DONOVAN REID – World Premiere

In Austin Smagalski’s film, a young man escapes his lifelong captor and poses as a long-missing child. But as doubts arise about his identity, he must hurry to discover his new family’s darkest secret.

IRIS – World Premiere

Ryan Turri’s film concerns a well-known celebrity, Iris, who fears becoming irrelevant. When she tries to reinvent herself strange things happen,  sending her into a dark decline.

MERMAIDS AND MANATEES – World Premiere

Local filmmaker Adam Zbar’s premiere has Benji, an actor visiting Silicon Valley entrepreneur Rich. A last-minute conflict leaves the brilliant but unstable Benji in charge of Rich’s baby, with terrifying results that might be the breakthrough Rich needs in his life.

OVERWHELM THE SKY – World Premiere

In this film, directed by Local Filmmaker Daniel Kremer, Radio DJ Eddie tries to solve the murder of a sleepwalking drifter. The film is loosely based on one of the first American Gothic novels: Charles Brockden Brown’s 1799 novel Edgar Huntly, Or, Memoirs of a Sleepwalker.

The US Premieres include:

CENTERLINE – US Premiere

Japanese filmmaker Takumi Shimomkai sets his film in 2027 Japan, where self-driving cars are the norm and cause very few accidents. When one crashes, however, newly appointed Prosecutor Amane Yonago decides to put the AI of the self-driving car on trial.

GUARDIAN – US Premiere

Instituted in the early 1900s, the Canadian government’s “Guardian” program established a network of maritime patrolmen tasked with the ecological protection of coastal waterways. Dedicated to lives of science and solitude, Local filmmaker Courtney Quirin explores the Guardians who live on boats full-time, monitoring the salmon populations that are a crucial element of both ecosystems and economy

IS THAT YOU – US Premiere

Director Rudy Riverón Sánchez’s film concerns 13-year-old Lili.  When her father goes missing, Lili uses a spiritual ritual to find him, but she gets it wrong and her life turns into a nightmare in the first psychological horror film to be made in Cuba.

MY FRIEND THE POLISH GIRL – US Premiere

Polish directors E. Bamaszkiewicz and Mateusz Dymek follow amateur filmmaker Katie,  an American rich kid living in London filming Alicja, an erratic unemployed Polish actress, an act that mirrors the treatment of migrants in the UK.

SF IndieFest Parties and Special Events
Once again, SF IndieFest will present several parties and events to compliment the film programming. Many of these signature events have taken place every year and have become must attend events during the festival. They include:

Wednesday, January 30: FANTASIA Live Re-Score, Victoria Theater with local electronica duo The Firmament at 9:00 PM

Thursday, January 31: THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN BIGFOOT after party at Gestalt at 9:00 PM

Friday, February 1: Dalva Happy Hour at 6:00 PM

Saturday, February 2: Bad Art Gallery Show/Party, 518 Valencia Gallery at 8:00 PM

Sunday, February 3: Super Bowl 53: Men in Tights Live Comedy Show, Roxie Theater, 3:00 PM

Saturday, February 9: Screenplay Panel / Live Readings / reception at 518 Valencia Gallery at 7:00 PM

Saturday, February 9: BEETLEJUICE BINGO at 518 Valencia Gallery at 9:00 PM

Friday, February 9: Big Lebowski Shadow Cast, Victoria Theater with costume contest, mini bowling, White Russians, and live performance while film plays on screen at 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 14: Anti-Valentine’s Day 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long, Roxie Theater at 9:15 PM

FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS

Saturday,  February 2: Bad Art Gallery S07E01: Bad art, hilarious catalog notes, groovy tunes, tasty beverages. 21 up. 518 Valencia at 8:00 PM

Saturday,  February 9: Screenplay competition reception/panel discussion/live script readings. 518 Valencia at 7:00 PM

Sunday,  February 10: IndieFest short films presented live at Sansar’s virtual reality movie theater at 1:00 PM

General Information about SF IndieFest

The AllFestPass, good for all screenings and parties at SF IndieFest, is $250. The RoxiePass, good for all screenings at The Roxie, is $220. Passholders jump to the front of the line at all screenings! One Day Binge passes are $45 and good for any and all space-available screenings that day. 5Film vouchers are $62, 10Film vouchers are $120. These discount vouchers are only available and only redeemable at sfindie.com and may not be redeemed for Fantasia or Lebowski.

Regular film tickets are $13/advance, $15/door. The Opening Night Film+Party is $15/advance, $18/door. FANTASIA live Re-Score by The Firmament is $18/advance, $20/door. Opening Night Film+FANTASIA, $28/advance, $30/door. 9th Annual Super Bowl: Men in Tights is $13/advance, $15/door. The Power Ballad Sing A Long is $13/advance, $15/door. The Big Lebowski Shadow Cast is $18/advance, $20/door and Big Lebowski Party is 21up event. BEETLEJUICE Bingo is $8/advance, $10/door and includes bingo card and screening. Screenplay Live Reading and Mission Bad Art Gallery, and Live-in-VR screening at Sansar are free with Mission Bad Art Gallery 21up event.

Advance tickets are available now at sfindie.com and at 415.552.5580. The box office opens
30 minutes before the first show of the day. For all screenings please arrive at least 15
minutes before show time to assure seating.

Full festival information, complete with additional ticket information, trailers and more details are available at sfindie.com.