San Antonio Film Festival Has Grown up
By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor –
The cinematic showcase that film enthusiast and teacher, Adam Rocha, singlehandedly started twenty-five years ago is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, much bigger and better, with Hollywood celebrities attending, but still friendly and accessible to all, as the founder wanted it to be. It opens July 31 and runs through Aug. 4, with most screenings taking place at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
The big news this year is the world premiere of Network Entertainment’s “I Am Patrick Swayze,” directed by Adrian Buitenhuis and starring Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Sam Elliott, C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Grey. Swayze’s wife, Lisa Niemi, his brother and fellow actor Don Swayze, director Buitenhuis, and members of the cast are expected to attend the screening and take part in the post-show discussion (Aug.2). The film is a documentary featuring interviews with Swayze’s family, friends and co-stars. (Also screened Aug. 4.)
Other invited movies include:
“Being Rose” starring Cybill Shepherd, who will receive the 2019 Marcia Nasatir Award and will attend the screening. Written and directed by Rod McCall, the film follows Rose Jones, a former cop, who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, as she travels the backroads of New Mexico in a wheelchair in search of her son. (Aug. 3)
“The Peanutt Butter Falcon,” starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes and Thomas Haden Church. It’s the story of a young man with Down Syndrome who runs away from the group home he lives in to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. (Aug. 4)
“Little Children,” a “retrospective screening” of the 2006 film that featured Kate Winslett, Jennifer Connolly and Jackie Earle Haley. The latter will receive the Legacy Award at the fest. (Aug.1)
“Stuntwomen: the Hollywood Untold Story,” is another world premiere directed by April Wright and produced by Marion Rosenberg, both of whom will be in attendance. It should be interesting to learn how these capable and brave women develop their skills and about the challenges they face. (Aug. 2)
“Teenage Girl: Valerie’s Holiday,” yet another premiere featuring San Antonio natives Valeria Jauregui (“Deputy”TV series) and Paulina Chavez (Netflix Series “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia”). (Aug. 2)
Errnie & Joe,” is a documentary by Jennifer McShane, which follows two San Antonio police officers who are trying to change how police respond to mental health crises. The two are part of the 10-member Mental Health Unit. The film won a number of festival awards. (Aug.4)
Altogether, some 200 movies will be screened, including 38 feature films. The rest are documentaries and a variety of short works from local, national and international filmmakers.
Festivities kick off with Little Bites: SAFILM Food Film Festival at The Culinary Institute of America at the Pearl on July 30. Official opening night July 31 will feature the U.S. premiere of actor Alex Wolff’s directorial debut, “The Cat and the Moon,” and Daniel Ramos’ “The Margarita Man,” starring Jesse Borrego. The same night, Cheech Marin of the famed comedy duo Cheech & Chong will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him by Garry Gibbs, the executive director of the Texas Commission on the Arts.
In addition to screenings and post show events, the fest also offers the free Hollywood Insider Series that allows up-and-coming filmmakers to hear from experienced cinema professionals such as former studio executive and Hollywood producer Marcia Nasatir (“The Big Chill,” “Rocky,” “Apocalypse Now”); Davy Liu, the animator of Disney’s “The Lion King”; director and editor Anne Goursaud, and UCLA film professor A.P. Gonzalez, who wrote and directed several movies.
The festival will close with the screening of “Peanut Butter Falcon,” mentioned above.
For tickets go to www.tobincenter.org; See complete schedule at www.safilm.com
For our interview with Adam Rocha, see Interview Express on this site.