San Francisco International Film Festival

By Sara Schieron

The line is long in front of the entrance to San Francisco’s Historic Castro Theater. The publicists are waiting and the eclectically clad guests gather in casual cliques that line the sidewalk for blocks. This night, like many other of the Festival’s Opening Nights swims in an air of inaccessibility. You know the sort - that vibe that tends to emerge whenever velvet ropes miter lines and you might not get in? Though the traditionally cosmopolitan fest would never employ anything as crass as bouncers (though they have loads of volunteers), full houses are commonplace in this city that’s famous for cinephilia, and in response to the threat of lost seats I can hear the rush line avidly discussing their “Plan Bs.”

I easily assimilated to the liberties afforded by a press pass. You’re waved in, men open doors, eyelash batting not required. Tonight, however, I was told I wouldn’t get everything I was out for. Alongside the Red Carpet (which in the contrarians nature of Fog City is actually green), I am told “There’s no way to get into see Black Francis.” Formerly of the Pixies, Black Francis recently came out with an album (Bluefinger) and an EP, and in this stint of productivity the Fest asked him to provide an original score for Paul Wegener’s 1920 classic Der Golem, which he’ll perform to capacity crowds on Friday Night.

Publicists seldom lie and generally don’t tell you “no.” It’s their job to manifest minor miracles so “no” is a confusing answer.

I say, “Is there anything I can do to change the verdict?” She hardly needs to answer. As a concession she offers me 3 minutes with Catherine Breillat, director of the opening night film The Last Mistress. Beyond being one of the world’s (too) few women directors, Breillat’s body of work revolves around the complicated subject of female sexuality. Casting Asia Argento as the Mistress in this period drama is a revelation. One wonders if Breillat’s waited these many decades to work with her. Argento is the film.

Film Society Director Graham Leggat gave us three Red Carpet minutes on the subject of distribution (see that in our video coverage below), before heading off to prep for his opening remarks. Leggat came to the fest in time for SFIFF 49, and wasn’t managing the fest for a month before the press corps reported his charm as a new asset to the film society. This won’t be the last time in the next two weeks we have an on-air chat. The man is ubiquitous and always ready to offer comments.

The next two weeks will host many guests. If my publicists requests are any indication, we’ll have Rose McGowan and Jason Lee (who are receiving Midnight Awards Saturday Night), J. Hoberman senior critic of the Village Voice and author of Midnight Movies and Vulgar Modernism (to name but two), Kanbar Award Winner Robert Towne (as in Chinatown) and - because I don’t take “no” well - Black Francis. Wish us luck on this one.

More blog postings and vlogs can be found here through the duration of the festival, which runs until May 8th.

Until then, keep your eyes fixed on the City By the Bay, where the parties won’t end til morning.