San Francisco Independent Film Festival 2019 (Forum)

[Chris Knipp]

CAROL BRANDT: PET NAMES (2018)

Big contrast. No pretension here, only a precise ear, wit, and emotional honesty. A young couple through high school and most of college, now estranged, reunite for a short camping trip in a Wisconsin park in the summertime. In claustrophobic intimate 4:3 aspect ratio. This quietly devastating little film is the absolute gem of the festival. it's Carol Brandt's third feature and Meredith Johnston's impressive debut as writer and lead actress. It's shown at SXSW, Mill Valley, and Rotterdam, and gotten raves. I wish you could see it tonight at nine at the Roxie (Tues. 5 Feb. 2019) but I have good news: it's now available in VOD on Amazon Prime.

SF INDIEFEST showtime: Tue, Feb 5 9:15 PM Roxie Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

WILDLAND (Alex Jablonski, Khalil Hudson 2018)

A small documentary about a crew of men who come to southern Oregon to fight forest fires. Timely and authentic, it sticks close to the men, explores who they are, and follows the crew as it's sent to California to fight the big one. Boredom, exhaustion, frustration, excitement, fear, and a sense of redemption and self-worth are some of the feelings explored as the men, mostly young, some out of jail, some out of bible school, take on the toughest job they'll ever love and give it their all in 12- or 16-hour days or worse, over two seasons.

Showtimes:

Fri, Feb 8 - 5:01 PM Roxie Theatre
Sat, Feb 9 12:30 PM Roxie Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

SF INDIEFEST 2019 - Links to Filmleaf Reviews:

#Like (Sarah Pirozek)
Area, The (David Shalliol)
Centerline (Takumi Shimumkai)
Cruel Hearts (Paul Osbourne)
Degenerates (Callum Crawford)
Desolation Center (Stewart Swezey) (Hold Review)
Little Woods (Nina LaCosta)(Hold Review)
Man Who Killed Hitler and then the Bigfoot, The (Robert D. Krzykowski)
Mermaids and Manatees (Adam Sbar)
Permanent Green Light (Dennis Cooper, Zac Farley)
Pet Names (Carol Brandt)
Waterlily Jaguar (Melora Walters 2018)
Wildland (Alex Jablonski, Kahlil Hudson)

[Chris Knipp]

WILDLAND (Alex Jablonski, Khalil Hudson 2019)

Showing today at 12:30

This documentary about the lives and work of forest fire fighters in south Oregon who wind up fighting the big one in California is is timely and essential, especially for California residents.

Showtimes:

Fri, Feb 8 - 5:01 PM Roxie Theatre
Sat, Feb 9 12:30 PM Roxie Theatre


THE FILMMAKERS

[Chris Knipp]

SF Indiefest 2019: Awards.

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: COLLISIONS
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: DESOLATION CENTER
Audience Award for Best Narrative Short: BUMPER
Audience Award for Best Documentary Short: MADE IN CHINA: REFORMING CHINA'S SUPPLY CHAIN
Audience Award for Best Animated Short: MUSIC & CLOWNS

Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature: SEVEN STAGES TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL BLISS BY PASSING THROUGH THE GATEWAY CHOSEN BY THE HOLY STORSH
Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature: GUARDIAN
Jury Prize for Best Foreign Feature: CENTERLINE
Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short: IRIS
Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short: INTRODUCING THE SUPER STOKED MAMAS OF PLEASURE POINT
Jury Prize for Best Animation: THE CHRISTMAS RABBIT