San Luis Obispo International Film Festival 2019 Announces Slate

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Saturday, 23 February 2019 10:37

GEORGE SIDNEY INDEPENDENT FILM COMPETITION
NARRATIVE FILM COMPETITION
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Director: Leon Chambers
Country: UK, Running Time: 87 min
When headstrong Charlie discovers a biological father she didn't know she had, she does what any 18-year old would do – she recruits a drifter to be her "responsible adult" and sets off for Scotland (with a learner's permit) to try to find him. Gorgeous scenery and cinematography, wonderful writing and stellar acting make this a fun and unusual coming-of-age story.
 
COLLISIONS
Director: Richard Levien
Country: USA, Running Time: 82 min
When 12-year-old Itan Bautista's mother is taken by ICE, she and her younger brother reluctantly lean on their unreliable uncle – a big-rig truck driver – as they embark on a cross-country journey to find her. This important timely story, told with heart, takes us behind the headlines and heated political debate. It's well-paced, gritty and gut-wrenching, helping viewers better understand the angst of deportation and the impact the forced separations have on the entire family.
 
GUEST ARTIST
Director: Timothy Busfield
Country: USA, Running Time: 74 min
Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom, DUMB AND DUMBER) wrote, produced and starred in this film based on his play about a legendary but troubled playwright who arrives in a small Michigan town at Christmastime to mount his latest play. His jaded cynicism is challenged by the wide-eyed enthusiasm of the young writer who meets him at the train station. Great writing and first-class performances – a must-see for theatre buffs.
 
HALF WIDOW
Director: Danish Renzu
Country: India, Running Time: 91 min
Amid the backdrop of the Kashmiri conflict, a young woman must come to grips with the disappearance of her doting husband and embarks on a harrowing journey of self-discovery. UCLA-educated Kashmiri native, Danish Renzu, directed the film with passion, portraying the Kashmir culture, and instilling in the viewer the hope he has for justice and peace in the region.
 
HAWAII
Director: Jesus del Cerro
Country: Germany, Running Time: 116 min
The name of this film might evoke images of gorgeous beaches and luaus, but think again. This is the story of Andrei and his father Vasile, who live in communist Romania and can only dream of those images when they find out about an inheritance in Hawaii that they can't accept since the concept of private property does not exist in communist Romania. But that doesn't mean they are going to give up.
 
MAYBE A LOVE STORY                                                       U.S. PREMIERE
Director: Rodrigo Bernardo
Country: Brazil , Running Time: 100 min
Virgilio lives a controlled and organized routine until one day when he listens to a disturbing message on his answering machine. It's Clara and she's breaking up with him. But the problem is not the message so much as the fact that he has no idea who Clara is, or what happened! His friends call to try to cheer him up, his co-workers are worked up about him – oddly everyone seems to know about his relationship with Clara – except him.
 
NO ALTERNATIVE
Director: William Dickerson
Country: USA, Running Time: 97 min
William Dickerson offers up a personal coming-of-age drama based on his novel of the same name. He directed and co-wrote the screenplay based in the world of grunge-era teens in the early 1990s. Thomas Harrison (Conor Proft) is determined to start his own alternative band after the suicide of Kurt Cobain. It's an obsession that blinds him to his sister's worrisome, but exciting development as she takes on the persona of a 'gangsta' rapper. Their self-absorbed middle-class parents are equally blind to what's really going on. Features music by Grunge-era standouts like Mudhoney, Failure, and Superdrag.
 
WOMAN AT WAR
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
Country: Iceland, Running Time: 100 min
"Is there anything rarer than an intelligent feel-good film that knows how to tackle urgent global issues with humor as well as a satisfying sense of justice? Look no further than Iceland filmmaker Benedikt Erlingsson's gloriously Icelandic (for lack of a better adjective), near-perfect follow-up to OF HORSES AND MEN, featuring an environmental activist modestly taking on the world, one electric pylon at a time." (The Hollywood Reporter, 5/13/18) Three musicians and Ukrainian singers whimsically accompany the action, and lead Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir's performance is pitch perfect in this memorable adventure/comedy.
 
DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER
Director: Steven Oritt
Countries: USA/Nepal, Running Time: 64 min
A retired forest ranger from Sacramento embarks on a quest intended to take him from weekend hiker to world class, record-breaking mountaineer. Follow Jim Geiger from California to Nepal's Himalayas as he pursues the ultimate physical and mental test of his life. Driven by a desire to prove that age is just a number, Jim pushes his body to the limit in the quest to summit the world's tallest mountain. What follows is an engaging story of self-discovery and the challenges he never expected to encounter.
 
AFGHAN CYCLES
Director: Sarah Menzies
Countries: USA/Afghanistan, Running Time: 90 min
From rural cycling clubs to a new National Cycling Team, a handful of women in Afghanistan are ushering in an exciting new era for a country slowly awakening to global influence and inevitable cultural change. Bravely challenging all the norms, these young women are breaking deep-seated gender taboos simply by learning to ride bicycles, to say nothing of the competitive world they are also entering. Sarah Menzie's eye-opening and inspiring film beautifully documents the indomitable spirit of a small but powerful group of athletes who hope to make the journey easier for future generations.
 
AGAVE: SPIRIT OF A NATION
Directors: Nick Kovacic, Matt Riggieri
Countries: USA/Mexico, Running Time: 78 min
Exploring the phenomenon of the fastest trending alcohol spirit in the world, this documentary takes us on a journey to discover the roots of Tequila and Mezcal, in the world's most bio-diverse landscape. In Mexico, families have been passing down the tradition of distilling agave for generations, at times, even clandestinely. From the alluring red highlands of Jalisco to the rugged mountains of Oaxaca, the film follows three producers – Carlos, Graciela, and Aquilino – in this burgeoning renaissance. Discover how one delicate plant can carry the weight of a nation and the people trying to protect it for the future.
 
A GIRL NAMED C
Director: Emily Kassie
Countries: USA/Canada, Running Time: 70 min
Bravely addressing one of the most pervasive and taboo subjects in this country, A GIRL NAMED C tackles child sexual assault head-on in this sensitive and touching documentary. C was raped in her New Jersey elementary school by another 11-year old student. After being denied justice and resolution and dealing with extreme PTSD, with the help of her very supportive family, C is determined to share her story. Her drawings and poetry beautifully illustrate and animate her inner life and what it means for a child to live through trauma.
 
BIAS
Director: Robin Hauser
Country: USA, Running Time: 88 min
SLO Film Fest alum and professional speaker, Robin Hauser (CODE: DEBUGGING THE GENDER GAP) is back with another thought-provoking documentary, and this one even features local resident Blake Irving. As humans we are biased, yet few of us are willing to acknowledge it. We confidently make snap judgments, but are shockingly unaware of the impact of our assumptions. This fascinating film takes us on a journey to uncover hidden biases and explore how unconscious bias affects relationships, workplaces, our justice system and technology. "Bias" contemplates whether it's possible to de-bias our brains?
 
CAMPESINO
Director: Mia Tate
Countries: USA/Cuba, Running Time: 90 min
Two hours west of Havana, in the rust colored fields of Vinales, famous for growing the best tobacco in the world, Salt Lake City resident and amateur photographer Carl Oelerich introduces us to the Campesino life. For 15 years, sneaking into Cuba and photographing this culture has been his passion, returning to the same people year after year. Through his relationships and striking black and white images, we meet a cast of characters whose candid conversations overflow with insight, hardship, humor and gratitude.
 
CHINA LOVE
Director: Oliva Martin-McGuire
Country: Australia, Running Time: 86 min
Just over 40 years ago, marriage in China was arranged by the state. Romantic love was seen as a capitalist concept and was simply not allowed. Wedding photography (if there was any) consisted of one black and white passport photo of the couple (dressed in Mao-style outfits) as proof of the marriage. Now, China has fallen in love with love and its exploding wedding industry is worth $80 billion! Pre-wedding photography is one of the most significant and curious new fads. From underwater shoots to international backdrops, the possibilities are unlimited for soon-to-be, and long-wed couples.
 
THE CREEPY LINE
Director: M.A. Taylor
Country: USA, Running Time: 80 min
THE CREEPY LINE reveals the stunning degree to which society is manipulated by Google and Facebook, and blows the lid off the remarkably subtle – and powerful – manner in which they do it. The links you click, the websites you visit, the searches you've done for cars, vacations, clothing, and maybe most disconcerting, the Gmail address you use on a daily basis. All of this is recorded and stored by Google. Facebook? That's a whole other matter!
 
DELICATE BALANCE                                                           NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Director: Guillermo García López
Country: Spain, Running Time: 83 min
Set on three continents, this thought-provoking movie explores several issues that threaten humanity. African residents risk their lives trying to cross the Melilla border to freedom in Europe. Japanese executives are caught in a vicious cycle of corporate jobs and consumerism, without time to enjoy life. Families in Spain live on the streets, due to their nation's economic downturn. The stories are engagingly woven together by José Mujica, former president of Uruguay. He poses profound questions for all of us yet offers hope for those who never give up.
 
FINE LINES
Director: Dina Khreino
Country: United Emirates, Running Time: 96 min
What could compel us to abandon our most basic instinct for self-preservation? It's not about adrenaline or thrill-seeking. There is something far deeper that drives the world's most elite group of mountain adventurers to take life threatening risks. For nearly three years, filmmaker Dina Khreino followed 20 world-class athletes to learn what compels them to leave behind families, friends and every day comforts to risk everything for a fleeting glimpse into the unknown.
 
GENERAL MAGIC
Directors: Sarah Kerruish and Matt Maude
Country: USA, Running Time: 93 min
Before the Web, before Google, before 3G, General Magic shipped the first handheld wireless personal communicator in 1994. Spun out from Apple in 1990 to create the "next big thing," its employees gave birth to ideas that now dominate the tech industry and our daily lives – from that first smartphone to social media, e-commerce and emoji. Although the company didn't survive – right idea, wrong time – it's one of the legends that define Silicon Valley. This entertaining documentary combines rare archive footage with employees' contemporary stories. It's an inspiring reminder on why failure isn't the end, but actually the beginning.
 
HARVEST SEASON
Director: Bernardo Ruiz
Country: USA, Running Time: 100 min
This behind-the-scenes documentary chronicles the lives of Mexican-American wine producers and migrant workers in California – their hard work, artistry and the struggles they face both economically and politically to survive. Their poignant stories are intimate and emotional, heightened by unpredictable weather, labor shortages, immigration crackdowns and the devastating 2017 wildfires in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys that ravaged vineyards and killed 43. The film opens your eyes to the lives behind the bottles of wine we enjoy – and sets the stage for much larger stories about migration, politics and the American Dream.
 
LEFT ON PEARL
Director: Susan Rivo
Country: USA, Running Time: 55 min
In 1971, we were a long way from gender equality! Abortion was illegal, women's shelters did not exist and married women couldn't open a bank account without their husbands' permission. This documentary is about the movement that changed all that. Focusing on a highly significant but little-known event in the history of women's liberation, this is about the takeover and occupation of a Harvard University-owned building by hundreds of Boston area women. For 10 days, the women demanded a Women's Center and low-income housing; their passionate stand brought about important and lasting change.
 
LIGHT IN THE WATER
Director: Lis Bartlett
Country: USA, Running Time: 75 min
In 1982, the inaugural Gay Games made headlines and became the inspiration for a small group of gay men in Hollywood to create the first openly gay masters swim team in the world. Lis Bartlett's exceptional film documents this lesser known slice of history, from the founding of the West Hollywood Aquatics, through the AIDS epidemic, to the wedding of two members soon after marriage equality became legal. LIGHT IN THE WATER profiles the athletic powerhouse that fought injustice in the world of competitive sports and ultimately became a family, as they set new records in more ways than one.
 
LIVE THE STREAM: THE STORY OF JOE HUMPHREYS
Directors: Meigan and Lucas Bell
Country: USA, Running Time: 92 min
The film follows 86-year-old Joe Humphreys, the charming teacher, author, mentor, athlete and environmental activist for one year both on and off the water as Joe shares the sport he loves – fly fishing - with others. From teaching youth to helping veterans, going after personal records, and spearheading a conservation dream – this character story will have the audience in laughter and tears. Far more than a fly fishing film, it's an emotional and powerful narrative about aging, family, friendships and the power of positive influence, told by a man who has followed his calling for an entire lifetime.
 
MODIFIED
Director: Aube Giroux
Country: Canada, Running Time: 87 min
An official selection at over 60 international film festivals, and the winner of 13 awards to date, Canadian Aube Giroux's first-person documentary takes us on a quest to find out what's in the food we eat. Why are genetically modified organisms (GMO's) still not labelled on food products in North America, even though it's the norm in 64 countries? Anchored in Giroux's loving relationship with her mother, a passionate gardener and food activist, the filmmaker weaves together a touching, entertaining, artistic, and well-researched investigation that reveals a strong case for a more transparent and sustainable food system.
 
SATAN AND ADAM
Director: Delila Vallot
Country: USA, Running Time: 79 min
In 1986, when harmonica player Adam Gussow asked if he could jam with one-man band Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee, it was the beginning of an unforgettable collaboration – dubbed Satan & Adam. Amidst the racial tension in New York City, this Jewish Ivy League grad and black Mississippi blues man made an unlikely pair, but their musical stylings perfectly aligned. The result is an odyssey 23 years in the making that captures a miraculous journey of friendship, heartbreak and the transformative power of music.  Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
 
SHARKWATER EXTINCTION
Director: Rob Stewart
Country: Canada, Running Time: 87 min
In this thrilling and action-packed journey from West Africa, to Spain, Panama, Costa Rica, France and back to California, filmmaker Rob Stewart exposes the massive illegal shark fin industry and political corruption that is leading to the extinction of sharks. Stewart's gripping third film dives into the often violent underworld of the pirate fishing trade to expose a multi-billion-dollar industry. Thanks to his passion for conservation, more than 90 countries have banned shark finning but the battle is far from over.
 
THE SOCIAL SHIFT                                                              U.S. PREMIERE
Directors: Meaghan and Marie Wright
Country: Canada, Running Time: 75 min
Twin sisters and first-time filmmakers Meaghan and Marie Wright, join forces with indigenous social activist Joseph Huyer and set out in a motor home on a journey across Canada to capture the stories of changemakers who use business as a tool for social good. As they drive from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, they interview 50 people in 14 cities and nine provinces in six weeks, in their newly purchased 1991 Chevy RV. Hilarious, informative, engaging and heartfelt, their energetic journey will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful as you meet a lot of forward-thinking business owners who are not just in it for the money, but for the common good.
 
TIN CITY                                                                                 WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Dina Mande
Country: USA, Running Time: 80 min
In the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country there is a concentrated village – a wine region within a wine region – populated by rebellious, creative winemakers, brew and cider masters and distillers working at the razor's edge of their craft. Upstarts and industry veterans work side by side to thrive together and make history. Welcome to Tin City, an industrial epicurean playground that has grown into a mecca for food and wine travelers from around the world. Paso Robles filmmaker Dina Mande profiles the creative souls who introduce us to their unique world of boutique wine, cider and craft beer.
 
THE TROUBLE WITH WOLVES
Director: Collin Monda
Country: USA, Running Tine: 56 min
Death threats, court battles and an iconic endangered species future balancing precariously on the tightrope of humans vs. nature. Collin Monda's informative, well researched and beautifully filmed documentary takes an up-close look at the most heated and controversial wildlife conservation debate of our time. We hear from both sides – those passionate and mindful of the wolves and their natural habitat, and those equally passionate about their livelihoods challenged by the wolves' predator instincts.
 
UNCRUSHABLE
Director: Tyler Florence
Country: USA, Running Time: 70 min
Late in the evening of Sunday, Oct. 8th, 2017, a series of wildfires ignited Northern California's beloved wine country. Shocked residents who lost homes and businesses, first responders, chefs and winemakers share their harrowing accounts while the fallen community begins to rebuild. On Nov. 21, one very long table was set in a vineyard, on the Napa-Sonoma border, to bring together 500 community members, first responders and fire victims for a harvest lunch and fundraiser, spearheaded by UNCRUSHABLE director, Chef Tyler Florence, event coordinators and caterers. The spirit of community and healing is palpable in this inspiring story of loss and recovery.
 
WHAT SHE SAID: THE ART OF PAULINE KAEL              
Director: Rob Garver
Country: USA, Running Time: 95 min
Pauline Kael (1919-2001) was likely the most powerful, and persona, movie critic of the 20th century. Writing for The New Yorker and publishing a dozen best-selling books, she ruthlessly pursued what made a movie or an actor's performance work, or not, and why. She was both admired and despised amongst her readers. Her career began as the Hollywood studio system ended, and finished just as the digital age was born. The movies of the 1960s and '70s are the focus of this film that asks the question: What made Pauline Kael's work so individual, so influential – and so damned good?
 
WHO KILLED LT. VAN DORN?
Director: Zachary Stauffer
Country: USA, Running Time: 80 min
This is the fascinating inside story of Lt. Wes Van Dorn, a 29-year old U.S. Naval Academy graduate who died when the helicopter he was piloting crashed off the coast of Virginia during a 2014 training exercise. Motivated by grief, his wife Nicole sought an explanation for the cause of the crash and in doing so, began to uncover the murky inner-workings of the American defense establishment. Through incisive reporting and interviews with Van Dorn's colleagues and family, this is at once a poignant picture of one family's tragedy, as well as a frightening expose of negligence and denial.
 
ABOUT SAN LUIS OBISPO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo's laid-back vibe and serene natural beauty is the perfect setting for this highly regarded annual film celebration. Filmmakers rave about the warmth and attentiveness that is so much a part of the SLO Film fest experience, as does the swelling tide of industry pros and film critics who are fast discovering the film festival's thoughtful audiences and unique programming sensibility. At the SLO Film Fest, "Movies Matter!"