San Diego Intl. The film festival will begin on October 15th with Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebili and Andrew Garfield. Running until October 19th, the festival features films from 29 countries and 24 world premieres, featuring films from a record-breaking 3,500 submissions.
Strategically placed to innovate award seasons in mid-October, the festival will include Chloe Zao’s “Hamnet” in a gala and story competition. Lila Genneau and Gregoire Collin, Max Walker Silverman’s “Reconstruction,” Josh O’Connor and Matthew Shear’s “Fantasy Life,” starring Amanda Pete and Arena Oxman’s “Outerland,” Asia Kate Dillon and Dean Imperial’s “Kaykeling Dean Kiln Kiln Kevin” (SXSW) and Amy Landucker’s “Worse” Landecker and Bradley Whitford.
SDIFF’s foreign film tracks recognize the best in international films, and this year the fest is partnering with Pacific-related homes, a cottage landmark that celebrates 35 cultures at Balboa Park in San Diego, celebrating this year’s 90th birthday. The cooking cinema will be held on October 19th. Sean Style, CBS8’s “Cooking With Styles,” will host a gourmet buffet at Capital One Cafe, followed by the culinary theme films “Mads K. Baekkevold” and “The Chef & the Daruma.”
“Chef and Dharma” / Photo courtesy of SDIFF
This year, Variety took part in the festival as the official media partner of The Stars Of the Stars tribute, and was awarded the Gregory Peck Award for Outstanding Cinemas.
“The San Diego International Film Festival is more than just a film festival, it’s a cultural experience. From global dialogue to local stories that reflect the heart of our community, the festival is pleased to present the best of film storytelling, creativity and human connections in beautiful San Diego. “They can see international standouts, traits, thought-provoking documentaries, award-winning shorts and the high-profile studio premiere.
The festival’s robust lineup includes documentaries, shorts and animations.
Other standouts in the Gala and the narrative competition are Tem Nikki’s “100 Liters of Gold”, “Case 137”, Dominique Mol’s “Case 137”, “Hello Mother”, by ambasuren Gambat, “Lost Intellilies of the Territories”, Nadabushlomogiladi, “Magic Time”, Jaqueline Christ Vivar-Vervuuuu” and “Obras” from Dave Byrne of Antony Cordier.
Screenings for the documents include Garry Keene’s “Quiet Love,” “Friendship of Lights, Cameras, Spectrum – Amelia Island,” Joey Travolta and “Ugo: The Artist of War,” and Steve Nemsic’s “Amelie.”
Sidebars of the San Diego scene include “Code Red” from Jessica McGaw, “Cruhovia” by Christopher White, “Crane” by Aiden Keltner, “Crane” by Will Jones, “Cuttered”, “One Handed Fighter”, “Matthew Meredith’s “One Hand Fighter”, “The Last Open”, “The Truth in the The This” tradition: A short history of San Diego commercial fishing from Lindsay Bauman.
For more information on all festival titles, screening venues, tickets and more, visit sdfilmfest.com.
