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Open Screening is where we invite local filmmakers to show their short subject films (under 15 mins.). It is a free event and you can either screen a film or just be a member of the audience. Either way it is FREE. It is a great place to network, if you are a filmmaker, crew member, actor or a fan of local films. Please let us know if you would like to screen something. We love films and would love to see yours.

Submissions: Label all tapes w/ name, contact, title and length. Mail to: Open Screening, 992 Valencia, SF, 94110.  1-2 weeks advance submissions strongly recommended. If not, just walk in before the show. Maximum length: 15 min. Formats: Digital File (PC or Mac),  DVD, miniDV/DV-cam, VHS, beta, 8mm and 16mm. For 8mm and 16mm films give us advance notice.

Door opens at 7

CROSSBREEDS is a presentation of thesis films from SFAI’s Personal Cinema course taught by Orit Ben-Shitrit. The films presented cover a wide range of cinematic vocabulary and techniques—from hand manipulated 16mm film to narrative and dance. Please join us for the final result of the cross pollination of our experimentation.

Presenting artists: Shaikha Al Salman, Danette Bouzanquet, Anika Chasuk, Hongzhu Chen, Alex Dai, Olivia E. Dorrance, Amber K. Fenton, Hannah M. Modesitt, Jonathan Naisteter, Kaycee K. Phillips, Michael Sarago, Abigail L. Soule, Caitlin I. Stone-Collonge, Sameer Thapa, Avery D. van der Steur, Vivian Vivas, Weihao Wang.

Are you thinking about submitting a film to a local festival? Do you ever wonder how festival programmers choose which films to screen? How do they decide which films should be shown together? How do they even begin sorting through that huge volume of submissions?

Hear directly from a panel of programmers who curate festivals all over the Bay Area and get your questions answered! Programmers from a wide array of festivals will discuss the inner working of the process from gathering submissions to assessing the merits of a film to putting together thematic programs. You’ll get insight into the types of films each festival is looking for and what makes a film stand out above the rest.

Our panel will include…

• Arlin Golden, Festival Director, Drunken Film Fest Oakland
• Jeff Ross, Founder/Director, SF IndieFest
• Joshua Moore, Programmer, Jewish Film Institute, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
• Masashi Niwano, Festival and Exhibitions Director, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)
• Omeed Manocheri, Program Producer, SF Urban Film Fest
• Steve Polta, Artistic Director/Archivist, San Francisco Cinematheque (home of Crossroads Festival)
• Susie Smith, Program Producer, SF Urban Film Fest
• and more!

In addition to the Q&A panel, there will be time to meet and talk with other local filmmakers and festival enthusiasts in attendance. Grab a free snack and get a drink with a small donation.