Noah Cowan is stepping down as Executive Director of Sffilm, the non-profit entity behind San Francisco’s biggest film festival, after the 2019 edition. Cowan, who joined the organization after leaving his role as the founding artistic director of Tiff Bell Lightbox in 2014, oversaw some of the most dramatic changes in the San Francisco organization’s six-decade existence. Under Cowan’s tenure, the San Francisco Film Society became Sffilm, an institution responsible for the sprawling 10-day April festival as well as numerous filmmaking grants, an artists’ residency, and year-round programming.
“I spent some time recently thinking about my personal life needs and goals and this just felt like the right time to seek out new challenges and opportunities,” Cowan said in a Facebook post over the weekend. “I also cannot imagine a better Festival to use as a farewell moment – I am so proud of the selection that the programmers here...
“I spent some time recently thinking about my personal life needs and goals and this just felt like the right time to seek out new challenges and opportunities,” Cowan said in a Facebook post over the weekend. “I also cannot imagine a better Festival to use as a farewell moment – I am so proud of the selection that the programmers here...
- 4/1/2019
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Noah Cowan trekked in a driving rain storm to his first San Francisco International Film Festival (April 24 to May 8) press conference at the Fairmont Hotel as head of the San Francisco Film Society. He recently moved to the Bay Area from his home in Toronto, where he ran The Tiff Bell Lightbox after years programming for the Toronto International Film Festival. Cowan is the third Sffs Executive Director since Graham Leggat's death in August 2011. Bingham Ray served for only ten weeks before his sudden death in January 2012, and Ray was succeeded by Ted Hope, who left after a year, and is now the CEO of Fandor. So it was no wonder that a number of the questions in the Q & A session after the presentation of the festival lineup were directed at Cowan, in-between the usual tedious ones asking how many Chinese or Middle Eastern films are in the lineup.
- 4/2/2014
- by Meredith Brody
- Thompson on Hollywood
The new executive director becomes the fourth person in less than three years to lead the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) and arrives after five years at the head of Tiff Bell Lightbox in Toronto.
Cowan’s appointment becomes effective on March 3 and follows the decision by producer Ted Hope to step down in October 2013 after 14 months in the role.
Cowan will oversee the Film Society’s expanding programmes in exhibition, education and filmmaker services.
Prior to Hope, Bingham Ray occupied the role all-too-briefly until his untimely death from stroke in January 2012 during the Sundance Film Festival.
Ray had served 10 weeks in the role after succeeding Graham Leggat, who died in August 2011 at the age of 51 after an 18-month battle with cancer following a six-year tenure at the Society.
“I am grateful to the board of directors of the Film Society for providing this remarkable opportunity,” said Cowan. “The Bay Area has a storied relationship to cinema...
Cowan’s appointment becomes effective on March 3 and follows the decision by producer Ted Hope to step down in October 2013 after 14 months in the role.
Cowan will oversee the Film Society’s expanding programmes in exhibition, education and filmmaker services.
Prior to Hope, Bingham Ray occupied the role all-too-briefly until his untimely death from stroke in January 2012 during the Sundance Film Festival.
Ray had served 10 weeks in the role after succeeding Graham Leggat, who died in August 2011 at the age of 51 after an 18-month battle with cancer following a six-year tenure at the Society.
“I am grateful to the board of directors of the Film Society for providing this remarkable opportunity,” said Cowan. “The Bay Area has a storied relationship to cinema...
- 2/19/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Ted Hope is stepping down after 14 months as executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) in the latest personnel blow to befall the organisation after announcing that his passion is “more entrepreneurial.”
Hope, the co-founder of This Is That whose producer credits include American Splendor, Happiness and The Ice Storm, had been a busy advocate for the Society since he relocated from New York 14 months ago.
He assumed the role in August 2012 as successor to Bingham Ray, whose short-lived tenure as executive director ended when he died from stroke in January 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival. Prior to Ray, Graham Leggat had held the post for five-and-a-half years until his death from cancer in August 2011.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (October 9) Hope said: “When I came to San Francisco after producing so many films, it surprised some that I wanted to lead a non-profit organisation.
“Over the past 14 months I’ve come to realise...
Hope, the co-founder of This Is That whose producer credits include American Splendor, Happiness and The Ice Storm, had been a busy advocate for the Society since he relocated from New York 14 months ago.
He assumed the role in August 2012 as successor to Bingham Ray, whose short-lived tenure as executive director ended when he died from stroke in January 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival. Prior to Ray, Graham Leggat had held the post for five-and-a-half years until his death from cancer in August 2011.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (October 9) Hope said: “When I came to San Francisco after producing so many films, it surprised some that I wanted to lead a non-profit organisation.
“Over the past 14 months I’ve come to realise...
- 10/9/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Ted Hope, the indie film vet who was named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society last September, is stepping down at the end of the year and plans to get back into producing. The position had been left vacant in January 2012 when Bingham Ray died suddenly at the Sundance Film Festival. Ray himself was only in the job for a short time; he succeeded longtime director Graham Leggat, who died of cancer in August 2011. The San Francisco Film Society produces the annual San Francisco Film Festival, but has also grown into a year-round organization programming and promoting...
- 10/9/2013
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
What a year it's been for Benh Zeitlin's "Beasts of the Southern Wild." The indie has received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress and Addapted Screenplay. I grabbed director Benh Zeitlin back where it all started, at Sundance last January. We talk about his runaway festival hit "Beasts of the Southern Wild," picked up by Fox Searchlight and winner of the fest's Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. The film also played in Un Certain Regard at Cannes (where it won the Fipresci Prize and Golden Camera) and getting Laff's Audience Award and Seattle's Best Director and Graham Leggat Awards. The film played well in theaters beginning last June after receiving a slew of rave reviews. In case there was any doubt, Zeitlin is smart as a tack. In the video interview below, he explains how this New Orleans dystopian adventure came to be.
- 1/10/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Big news: New York independent film producing veteran Ted Hope has been hired as the San Francisco Film Society’s new Executive Director. Co-founder, with James Schamus, of the seminal Gotham indie production company Good Machine, producer of dozens of films, including Dark Horse, Adventureland, In the Bedroom, The Savages and American Splendor, and, in recent years, a prolific blogger and industry critic, Hope will take the reins of a 55-year-old organization that not only mounts a large and respected annual festival but also engages in outreach, education and funding programs for filmmakers.
From the press release:
“Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on the San Francisco Film Society’s already strong reputation for supporting filmmakers and its established excellence in exhibition and education.” said Pat McBaine, Sffs board president. “His absolute grasp of the current state of film culture, his innovative approach to each of his projects,...
From the press release:
“Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on the San Francisco Film Society’s already strong reputation for supporting filmmakers and its established excellence in exhibition and education.” said Pat McBaine, Sffs board president. “His absolute grasp of the current state of film culture, his innovative approach to each of his projects,...
- 8/9/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Ted Hope, one of the film industry.s most respected and prolific figures, has been named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs), effective September 1, 2012. In a surprise move, the veteran film producer and one of the most influential individuals in independent film will embark upon a new chapter in his professional life, leaving New York City, where he produced independent films through his companies Good Machine, This is that corporation and Double Hope Films, to lead the Film Society into the future.
.Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on the San Francisco Film Society.s already strong reputation for supporting filmmakers and its established excellence in exhibition and education.. said Pat McBaine, Sffs board president. .His absolute grasp of the current state of film culture, his innovative approach to each of his projects, his dedication to bringing artists. visions to the screen and his bold...
.Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on the San Francisco Film Society.s already strong reputation for supporting filmmakers and its established excellence in exhibition and education.. said Pat McBaine, Sffs board president. .His absolute grasp of the current state of film culture, his innovative approach to each of his projects, his dedication to bringing artists. visions to the screen and his bold...
- 8/9/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Independent film veteran Ted Hope has been named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, moving into a position left vacant in January by the sudden death of Bingham Ray. Ray himself was only in the job for a short time; he succeeded longtime director Graham Leggat, who died of cancer in August 2011. The 55-year-old San Francisco Film Society produces the annual San Francisco Film Festival, but has also grown into a year-round organization programming and promoting film through exhibitions, educational programs and the Filmmaker360 grant program, which distributes close...
- 8/8/2012
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The San Francisco Film Society has lucked out. After a long and sad process--having suffered the too-early losses of both directors Graham Leggat and his replacement, Bingham Ray--the Sfss has hired one of the best and brightest producers in the independent community as its new executive director. Ted Hope starts September 1. But what's good for San Francisco is a loss for the indie film world at large, because while Hope will do many good things to advance film culture via Sfss and its sprawling international film festival, we are losing him as a producer. And the reason he's leaving producing: it's gotten too bloody difficult. He starts fresh in the Bay Area, leaving New York City, where he produced indie films via his companies Good Machine, This is that corporation and Double Hope Films. Said Pat McBaine, Sffs board president: "Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on...
- 8/8/2012
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Breaking: Veteran indie film producer Ted Hope has been named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. He will start the job September 1. It is a surprise move. But Hope will leave New York City, where he was a pillar of the indie film movement through Good Machine, This Is That and Double Hope Films, to lead the Film Society into the future. Hope succeeds Bingham Ray, who spent 10 months as the San Francisco Film Society’s executive director for only ten weeks before his untimely death during the Sundance Film Festival last January. Ray had just started the effort to reinvigorate the Film Society, bolstering its theatrical programming at Sf Film Society Cinema, streamlining its communications and exploring dynamic digital initiatives intended to expand the reach of its film festival programs and educational efforts. Ray in turn succeeded Graham Leggat, who served as the San Francisco Film Society...
- 8/8/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Ted Hope has been named executive director San Francisco Film Society (Sffs), effective September 1, 2012. Hope -- who has a blog on the Indiewire network -- has worked on nearly 70 films, includes many highlights and breakthroughs of the last two decades, including the first films by Alan Ball, Todd Field, Michel Gondry, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener and Ang Lee. Hope succeeds Bingham Ray, who served as the San Francisco Film Society’s executive director for only ten weeks before his untimely death in January. Ray in turn succeeded Graham Leggat, who served as the San Francisco Film Society’s executive director from October 2005 to June 2011 before his death from cancer in August 2011. Full press release below, more information to come. San Francisco, CA – Ted Hope, one of the film industry’s most respected and prolific figures, has been named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs), effective September 1, 2012. In a.
- 8/8/2012
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
The San Francisco Film Society announced that they will be honoring "Beasts of the Southern Wild' director Benh Zeitlin at the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival with their inaugural Graham Leggat Award. The award is named after Graham Leggat, the former executive of the San Franciso Film Society who passed away last year. Leggat was part of the granting panel which initially awarded Zeitlin funds for "Beasts of the Southern Wild," which went on to win the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Full release below: The Film Society and its highly regarded Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the star-studded fundraiser honoring Zeitlin; Kenneth Branagh, recipient of the Founder's Directing Award, given to a master of world cinema; Judy Davis, recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award which honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence.
- 4/19/2012
- by Aaron Bogert
- Indiewire
The 55th San Francisco International Film Festival (site), opening tomorrow and running through May 3, "will seem comfortingly the same" to many in the Bay Area, writes G Allen Johnson in the Chronicle:
[A] lavish opening-night film and party, a rocking closing-night film and, in the two weeks between, 172 more films from 45 countries and tributes to distinguished celebrities... But behind the scenes, it's been the most challenging year in the festival's history. Two executive directors of the San Francisco Film Society have died — Graham Leggat, who lost a battle to cancer in August at 51; and his replacement, independent film maestro Bingham Ray, who had two strokes and died at 57 while attending the Sundance Film Festival in January. He had been on the job only 10 weeks.
"It sounds like a line, but it's actually true that for me personally it was a relief that I had something I could throw myself into that...
[A] lavish opening-night film and party, a rocking closing-night film and, in the two weeks between, 172 more films from 45 countries and tributes to distinguished celebrities... But behind the scenes, it's been the most challenging year in the festival's history. Two executive directors of the San Francisco Film Society have died — Graham Leggat, who lost a battle to cancer in August at 51; and his replacement, independent film maestro Bingham Ray, who had two strokes and died at 57 while attending the Sundance Film Festival in January. He had been on the job only 10 weeks.
"It sounds like a line, but it's actually true that for me personally it was a relief that I had something I could throw myself into that...
- 4/18/2012
- MUBI
Melanie Blum has been announced as the interim executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, replacing the late Bingham Ray, the San Francisco Chronicle reported earlier today. Blum, a former board president, is the third person to hold the Sffs directorship in the last six months. Ray stepped into the position after Graham Leggat passed away last August. The search for a permanent director will likely not be given the maximum attention until after the San Francisco International Film Festival, which ends May 3. In the meantime, the festival prepares to release its programming lineup and Blum will assume duties previously held by Ray, who died January 23 during the Sundance Film Festival. A commissioner for the San Francisco Film Commission, Blum acts as a film industry consultant who has marketed products licensed by franchises that include "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Snoopy, the...
- 2/8/2012
- Indiewire
This is not in the nature of news but of ruminations. I am still thinking of Bingham, and others who have died too soon in our world of independent film...We all are aware of Donald Krim and of Wouter Barendrecht.
Recently our friend and the director of the documentary To Be Heard -- a wonderful testimonial to the winning spirit of disenfranchised youth in Brooklyn -- Deborah Shaffer also lost her wonderful husband, Larry Bogdanow, a New York architect of restaurant interiors. One of his most enticing and intimate restaurants, Wild Blue, opened on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center in 1999 and was destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. Deborah continued on, finished the film, got it out into the festivals and short listed for an Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary this year.
There were also the buyers reps, Richard Glasser and Steve Hirsch who passed from this scene much too early in their lives.
At the risk of becoming morbid, I am using this blog as an open forum, a place to ruminate, not on death, but to take a little more time to remember Bingham whose closeness is affecting me deeply still.
I know people live in circumstances where death and even violent death is all around them (Haiti, Rwanda, Colombia, etc.). I cannot imagine their grief and horror, and I know I am blessed as are all my friends and colleagues to be living in such peaceful circumstances. Still losing friends and family is a painful, if inevitable, process.
Sundance seemed to stop this year with the news of Bingham's death. Anne Thompson also remarked on it; time just took on a whole different aspect. It was difficult sticking to the program though we did the best we could. It seemed to end before it became a festival for me.
My most recent memory and my earliest memory of Bingham are condensed into this moment when I wrote this In Memoriam at Sundance:
Most recently, as I was checking out of my hotel the last day of the Art House Convergence, it was early and most of the participants were going to the panel: Art House Lessons for Today from the Halcyon Days: History Repeats Itself, subtitled Nostalgia for the Bad Old Days, a panel with Jeff Lipsky: October Films co-founder with Bingham, founder and president of the recently established Adopt Films, Art Takes Over, 30-year veteran in the independent film world, internationally known for his expertise in independent film marketing, acquisition and distribution, Richard Abramowitz: President of Abramorama; co-founder of Stratosphere Entertainment; Ira Deutchman of Emerging Pictures and Chair of Columbia University’s Film Program; a founder of Cinecom (and the seed planter of my own Film Finders at that time) who later created Fine Line Features; filmmaker, marketer and distributor of over 150 films since 1975 and Gary Palmucci (whose wife if Nancy Gerstman of Zeitgeist): Vice President of Theatrical Distribution for Kino Lorber, long time Kino regular on the festival circuit with Don Krim who also has passed on much too early.
My roommate at the Convergence, Bernice Baeza of the Lark Theater in Larkspur California, was leaving early and so we were almost alone in the hotel lobby, though Carl Spence of Seattle and Palm Springs Film Festivals was about to go into breakfast, and Richard Abramowitz and someone were in a corner by themselves.
We saw an ambulance draw up and it alarmed us. I realized that whoever had been in the corner was now being strapped to a gurney. I began to run to the ambulance to ask what had happened as I saw Bingham laying there with his feet crossed and a serene smile on his face as if he was saying I'm just going to rest for a while. Richard was by his side and as he saw me become alarmed, he asked me to please be very discrete and not to mention this to anyone. He said Bingham had just fallen and Richard called the ambulance to be sure he was not hurt. I agreed and returned to the lobby and said to Carl, Just forget you saw anything; do not mention this to anyone. He agreed and Bernice and I continued to check out. The woman behind the desk said that he had come to the desk and had forgotten his room number, and then could also not recall his name and his speech was slurred. She said he must have suffered a stroke.
Later Richard kept in touch with me as he stayed on watch. He told me getting Bingham to accept an ambulance had been a typical "Bingham" struggle as Bingham had felt it was unnecessary.
When I first met Bingham he was known as the former manager of the Bleeker Street Theater, a legend to me, a non native New Yorker. I had moved from L.A. to New York and was managing Films Inc/ Pmi's Social Issue Documentary Division, founded by Marge Benton who was also Chairman of the Sundance Institute at the time and active with the Democratic campaign to elect Carter. She felt that such a documentary division would help further the causes she loved and election time was an important time to do so.
All the "guys" in the business were very intimidating at the time: Bingham, John Pierson, Douglas Green, Tom Bernard...and I was struggling to hold my own. Last Berlin, as Bingham and I were talking, he admitted to knowing how intimidating he was and we laughed as I admitted to always wanting to cry after having "conversations" with these guys.
Bingham had grown, he had already had two near-death experiences - one during the London Screenings, when stepping off a curb in London, he was pulled back by Mark Ordesky (my former assistant before going to New Line!) as a car rushed forward towards him (from the "wrong direction"), and the other in an auto acccident in Connecticut. I had written him then about my thoughts in the face of his terrible accident and we became more than mere acquaintances when he thanked me for the note.
Bingham knew the value of life and he lived it fully. His much too early death should remind us all to be mindful of how we are living. I myself almost did not want to take the time to write this; the pressure of working at Sundance was very strong and it would have been easier to work through, but the thoughts of Bingham and our common histories would not let go of me.
He himself was about to start a whole new chapter in his life at the San Francisco Film Society, already marred by the premature death of its beloved director Graham Leggat. This alone should be a reminder to us all that no matter what our age, there is always a new chapter to begin if we live creatively.
We need to take the time to consider how we live in this world we all share, how we treat others, how we build our lives around what are truly the important issues....family, friends, our community, our city, our nation and our planet...and cinema which we all believe can truly change the world.
Bingham is out there now and he will always be a part of our world in whatever form we human beings take after shuffling off our mortal coil.
Recently our friend and the director of the documentary To Be Heard -- a wonderful testimonial to the winning spirit of disenfranchised youth in Brooklyn -- Deborah Shaffer also lost her wonderful husband, Larry Bogdanow, a New York architect of restaurant interiors. One of his most enticing and intimate restaurants, Wild Blue, opened on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center in 1999 and was destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. Deborah continued on, finished the film, got it out into the festivals and short listed for an Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary this year.
There were also the buyers reps, Richard Glasser and Steve Hirsch who passed from this scene much too early in their lives.
At the risk of becoming morbid, I am using this blog as an open forum, a place to ruminate, not on death, but to take a little more time to remember Bingham whose closeness is affecting me deeply still.
I know people live in circumstances where death and even violent death is all around them (Haiti, Rwanda, Colombia, etc.). I cannot imagine their grief and horror, and I know I am blessed as are all my friends and colleagues to be living in such peaceful circumstances. Still losing friends and family is a painful, if inevitable, process.
Sundance seemed to stop this year with the news of Bingham's death. Anne Thompson also remarked on it; time just took on a whole different aspect. It was difficult sticking to the program though we did the best we could. It seemed to end before it became a festival for me.
My most recent memory and my earliest memory of Bingham are condensed into this moment when I wrote this In Memoriam at Sundance:
Most recently, as I was checking out of my hotel the last day of the Art House Convergence, it was early and most of the participants were going to the panel: Art House Lessons for Today from the Halcyon Days: History Repeats Itself, subtitled Nostalgia for the Bad Old Days, a panel with Jeff Lipsky: October Films co-founder with Bingham, founder and president of the recently established Adopt Films, Art Takes Over, 30-year veteran in the independent film world, internationally known for his expertise in independent film marketing, acquisition and distribution, Richard Abramowitz: President of Abramorama; co-founder of Stratosphere Entertainment; Ira Deutchman of Emerging Pictures and Chair of Columbia University’s Film Program; a founder of Cinecom (and the seed planter of my own Film Finders at that time) who later created Fine Line Features; filmmaker, marketer and distributor of over 150 films since 1975 and Gary Palmucci (whose wife if Nancy Gerstman of Zeitgeist): Vice President of Theatrical Distribution for Kino Lorber, long time Kino regular on the festival circuit with Don Krim who also has passed on much too early.
My roommate at the Convergence, Bernice Baeza of the Lark Theater in Larkspur California, was leaving early and so we were almost alone in the hotel lobby, though Carl Spence of Seattle and Palm Springs Film Festivals was about to go into breakfast, and Richard Abramowitz and someone were in a corner by themselves.
We saw an ambulance draw up and it alarmed us. I realized that whoever had been in the corner was now being strapped to a gurney. I began to run to the ambulance to ask what had happened as I saw Bingham laying there with his feet crossed and a serene smile on his face as if he was saying I'm just going to rest for a while. Richard was by his side and as he saw me become alarmed, he asked me to please be very discrete and not to mention this to anyone. He said Bingham had just fallen and Richard called the ambulance to be sure he was not hurt. I agreed and returned to the lobby and said to Carl, Just forget you saw anything; do not mention this to anyone. He agreed and Bernice and I continued to check out. The woman behind the desk said that he had come to the desk and had forgotten his room number, and then could also not recall his name and his speech was slurred. She said he must have suffered a stroke.
Later Richard kept in touch with me as he stayed on watch. He told me getting Bingham to accept an ambulance had been a typical "Bingham" struggle as Bingham had felt it was unnecessary.
When I first met Bingham he was known as the former manager of the Bleeker Street Theater, a legend to me, a non native New Yorker. I had moved from L.A. to New York and was managing Films Inc/ Pmi's Social Issue Documentary Division, founded by Marge Benton who was also Chairman of the Sundance Institute at the time and active with the Democratic campaign to elect Carter. She felt that such a documentary division would help further the causes she loved and election time was an important time to do so.
All the "guys" in the business were very intimidating at the time: Bingham, John Pierson, Douglas Green, Tom Bernard...and I was struggling to hold my own. Last Berlin, as Bingham and I were talking, he admitted to knowing how intimidating he was and we laughed as I admitted to always wanting to cry after having "conversations" with these guys.
Bingham had grown, he had already had two near-death experiences - one during the London Screenings, when stepping off a curb in London, he was pulled back by Mark Ordesky (my former assistant before going to New Line!) as a car rushed forward towards him (from the "wrong direction"), and the other in an auto acccident in Connecticut. I had written him then about my thoughts in the face of his terrible accident and we became more than mere acquaintances when he thanked me for the note.
Bingham knew the value of life and he lived it fully. His much too early death should remind us all to be mindful of how we are living. I myself almost did not want to take the time to write this; the pressure of working at Sundance was very strong and it would have been easier to work through, but the thoughts of Bingham and our common histories would not let go of me.
He himself was about to start a whole new chapter in his life at the San Francisco Film Society, already marred by the premature death of its beloved director Graham Leggat. This alone should be a reminder to us all that no matter what our age, there is always a new chapter to begin if we live creatively.
We need to take the time to consider how we live in this world we all share, how we treat others, how we build our lives around what are truly the important issues....family, friends, our community, our city, our nation and our planet...and cinema which we all believe can truly change the world.
Bingham is out there now and he will always be a part of our world in whatever form we human beings take after shuffling off our mortal coil.
- 1/29/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Stunning and deeply saddening news: "The San Francisco Film Society regrets to announce that Executive Director Bingham Ray passed away on January 23 while attending the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah." He'd taken over the position after Graham Leggat passed away in August. Further into today's statement:
Ray came to the San Francisco Film Society from New York City, where he recently served as the first run programming consultant to the Film Society of Lincoln Center, executive consultant to the digital distribution company SnagFilms and adjunct professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Ray cofounded October Films in 1991 and served as its copresident until its sale to USA Networks in 1999. October was one of the foremost independent film companies of the 1990s, winning two Oscars and garnering 13 Oscar nominations and top prizes at the Cannes Film Festival on three occasions. Some of October Films' credits include the internationally acclaimed Secrets & Lies,...
Ray came to the San Francisco Film Society from New York City, where he recently served as the first run programming consultant to the Film Society of Lincoln Center, executive consultant to the digital distribution company SnagFilms and adjunct professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Ray cofounded October Films in 1991 and served as its copresident until its sale to USA Networks in 1999. October was one of the foremost independent film companies of the 1990s, winning two Oscars and garnering 13 Oscar nominations and top prizes at the Cannes Film Festival on three occasions. Some of October Films' credits include the internationally acclaimed Secrets & Lies,...
- 1/25/2012
- MUBI
Indie film veteran Bingham Ray, 57, has died. He suffered two strokes late last week after arriving early to attend the festival; he passed away on Monday morning, surrounded by family members. He co-founded October Films, which released many key indie titles throughout the 90s, and served in a variety of positions in the independent film world. Most recently he took up a position as executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, replacing the late Graham Leggat, who also died tragically young. Ray is survived by his wife, three children, and two siblings. (Thompson on Hollywood) Actor Tracy Morgan, who collapsed on Sunday after attending an event where he received an award, is recovering and expects to be back to work on his TV series 30 Rock today. The actor says...
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- 1/24/2012
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
October Films co-founder and San Francisco Film Society executive director died near the Sundance Film Festival.
By Josh Wigler
Bingham Ray
Photo: Arun Nevader/WireImage
Park City, Utah — Bingham Ray, a champion of independent filmmaking, died on Monday (January 23) near Park City, Utah, the Sundance Institute has announced.
Ray, 57, was the co-founder of October Films and the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. He suffered a stroke during the Sundance Film Festival last week and was initially hospitalized in Park City. Following a second stroke, Ray was transferred to Provo, where he later died.
"It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society," reads a statement posted on Deadline. "On behalf of the independent film community in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we...
By Josh Wigler
Bingham Ray
Photo: Arun Nevader/WireImage
Park City, Utah — Bingham Ray, a champion of independent filmmaking, died on Monday (January 23) near Park City, Utah, the Sundance Institute has announced.
Ray, 57, was the co-founder of October Films and the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. He suffered a stroke during the Sundance Film Festival last week and was initially hospitalized in Park City. Following a second stroke, Ray was transferred to Provo, where he later died.
"It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society," reads a statement posted on Deadline. "On behalf of the independent film community in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we...
- 1/23/2012
- MTV Movie News
October Films co-founder and San Francisco Film Society executive director died near the Sundance Film Festival.
By Josh Wigler
Bingham Ray
Photo: Arun Nevader/WireImage
Park City, Utah — Bingham Ray, a champion of independent filmmaking, died on Monday (January 23) near Park City, Utah, the Sundance Institute has announced.
Ray, 57, was the co-founder of October Films and the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. He suffered a stroke during the Sundance Film Festival last week and was initially hospitalized in Park City. Following a second stroke, Ray was transferred to Provo, where he later died.
"It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society," reads a statement posted on Deadline. "On behalf of the independent film community in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we...
By Josh Wigler
Bingham Ray
Photo: Arun Nevader/WireImage
Park City, Utah — Bingham Ray, a champion of independent filmmaking, died on Monday (January 23) near Park City, Utah, the Sundance Institute has announced.
Ray, 57, was the co-founder of October Films and the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. He suffered a stroke during the Sundance Film Festival last week and was initially hospitalized in Park City. Following a second stroke, Ray was transferred to Provo, where he later died.
"It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society," reads a statement posted on Deadline. "On behalf of the independent film community in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we...
- 1/23/2012
- MTV Music News
On Wednesday, the San Francisco Film Society announced that indie film veteran Bingham Ray will be joining the society as executive director on November 7.
Ray, a well-loved member of the independent film industry, cofounded October Films and worked on the release of films including Lars and the Real Girl, Death at a Funeral, Bowling for Columbine and Hotel Rwanda. Ray will replace previous director Graham Leggat who died from cancer in August.
"Stepping in behind Graham Leggat is truly a daunting task," said Ray in a press release. "He elevated the San Francisco Film Society and its great Festival to world-class levels and assembled an incredibly talented staff. [...] I'm thrilled to be in such great company and welcome the challenges to come."
Throughout his 30-year career that started at New York's Bleecker Street Cinema, Ray has worked with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Film Society of Lincoln Center, SnagFilms and New York...
Ray, a well-loved member of the independent film industry, cofounded October Films and worked on the release of films including Lars and the Real Girl, Death at a Funeral, Bowling for Columbine and Hotel Rwanda. Ray will replace previous director Graham Leggat who died from cancer in August.
"Stepping in behind Graham Leggat is truly a daunting task," said Ray in a press release. "He elevated the San Francisco Film Society and its great Festival to world-class levels and assembled an incredibly talented staff. [...] I'm thrilled to be in such great company and welcome the challenges to come."
Throughout his 30-year career that started at New York's Bleecker Street Cinema, Ray has worked with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Film Society of Lincoln Center, SnagFilms and New York...
- 10/20/2011
- by Robin Wilkey
- Huffington Post
Bingham Ray is back on the festival acquisition beat. But this time, after decades in indie distribution and a recent stint consulting at SnagFilms and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Ray will be making a move to the Bay Area as executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, which runs year-round programs including the annual San Francisco International Film Festival. He will be filling the role left vacant by Graham Leggat, who served the Sfss for seven years; he died of cancer in late August. Ray's Westchester home is on the market; he'll drive West to San Francisco the first week of November, he told me, to start his new duties November 7, and looks forward to joining the team at the venerable ...
- 10/20/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Specialty film veteran Bingham Ray has been named the new executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, effective November 7, the organization announced Wednesday. The news comes over three months after the organization's former leader, Graham Leggat, resigned in July for health reasons. He died in late August after a long battle with cancer. Ray most recently served as the first-run programming consultant to the Film Society of Lincoln ...
- 10/19/2011
- Indiewire
Film website SF360, a five-year-old online publication devoted to covering the San Francisco Bay Area's film community, will cease operations next month. Launched in March 2006, the site was one of the first initiatives of the late Graham Leggat following his appointment of the San Francisco Film Society. The site initially launched as a cooperative venture with indieWIRE and later spearheaded entirely by Sffs. The demise of SF360 comes at ...
- 10/19/2011
- Indiewire
The Bay Area and the larger independent film community lost a champion for the art form in August with the passing of Graham Leggat who served as the head of the San Francisco Film Society until he stepped down in July. indieWIRE first met Leggat in New York where he served as Director of Communications at the Film Society of Lincoln Center before being appointed Executive Director at Sffs in ...
- 10/6/2011
- Indiewire
Photo by Tommy Lau
Sad news this morning from the San Francisco Film Society. Graham Leggat, who stepped down as Sffs executive director just last month, died yesterday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51.
Announcing his resignation in July, the Sffs noted: "During the period of Leggat's leadership, the Film Society has grown from the producer of the annual 15-day San Francisco International Film Festival into a year-round cultural institution celebrating film culture in all its forms, with its staff and annual operating budget each increasing threefold from 2005 to 2011." In a farewell message, Leggat wrote, "The recent announcement of the September launch of the San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema marks a huge milestone in our 54-year history: for the first time we have a year-round home in which to present an increasingly diverse and vital range of programs. With this crucial addition, the Film Society rightfully...
Sad news this morning from the San Francisco Film Society. Graham Leggat, who stepped down as Sffs executive director just last month, died yesterday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51.
Announcing his resignation in July, the Sffs noted: "During the period of Leggat's leadership, the Film Society has grown from the producer of the annual 15-day San Francisco International Film Festival into a year-round cultural institution celebrating film culture in all its forms, with its staff and annual operating budget each increasing threefold from 2005 to 2011." In a farewell message, Leggat wrote, "The recent announcement of the September launch of the San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema marks a huge milestone in our 54-year history: for the first time we have a year-round home in which to present an increasingly diverse and vital range of programs. With this crucial addition, the Film Society rightfully...
- 8/27/2011
- MUBI
This week on indieWIRE, "Circumstance" won over our critics, we told you what films are sure to offend you this fall, the latest Julia Roberts film got a release date and much more. News Graham Leggat, Executive Director of San Francisco Film Society, Dies at 51 Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, died yesterday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51. Focus Features Launches ...
- 8/26/2011
- Indiewire
The executive director of the San Francisco Film Society and a leading presence in exhibition, education, and filmmaker services as well as presenter of the San Francisco International Film Festival, died at his San Francisco home on Thursday. His death followed an an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51. “For nearly six exciting and transformative years, Graham Leggat led the San Francisco Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design,” said Pat McBaine, president of the Film Society’s board of directors. “His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring along with his colorful language and wicked Scottish sense of humor have indelibly marked our organization with a valuable legacy and left it in the best shape — artistically, organizationally and financially — in its 54-year history. Graham was fiercely proud and appreciative of his years at the Film Society and frequently referred to them as the best years of his life.
- 8/26/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Graham Leggat, the executive director of the San Francisco Film Society and a former Contributing Editor of Filmmaker, died yesterday at his Bay Area home from cancer. Always erudite and elegant, Leggat brought intelligence and real creativity to the worlds of film festivals, exhibition and journalism.
From his obituary in Variety:
For nearly six exciting and transformative years, Graham Leggat led the San Francisco Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design,” said Pat McBaine, president of the Film Society’s board of directors. “His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring along with his colorful language and wicked Scottish sense of humor have indelibly marked our organization with a valuable legacy and left it in the best shape — artistically, organizationally and financially — in its 54-year history.”
Leggat was appointed executive director of the Film Society in 2005. During his five years, the staff grew from 11 to 35 and the...
From his obituary in Variety:
For nearly six exciting and transformative years, Graham Leggat led the San Francisco Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design,” said Pat McBaine, president of the Film Society’s board of directors. “His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring along with his colorful language and wicked Scottish sense of humor have indelibly marked our organization with a valuable legacy and left it in the best shape — artistically, organizationally and financially — in its 54-year history.”
Leggat was appointed executive director of the Film Society in 2005. During his five years, the staff grew from 11 to 35 and the...
- 8/26/2011
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, died yesterday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51. He was an extraordinarily effective leader. Under his nearly six-year watch at the Sffs, the operating budget expanded from $2 million to $6 million and was balanced each year; membership rose 98 percent; ticket sales rose 62 percent; and the board of directors nearly doubled, from 12 to 22. ...
- 8/26/2011
- Indiewire
San Francisco, CA — Graham Leggat (b. March 12, 1960), executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, a national leader in exhibition, education and filmmaker services and presenter of the San Francisco International Film Festival, died at his San Francisco home on August 25, 2011, after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 51.
“For nearly six exciting and transformative years, Graham Leggat led the San Francisco Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design,” said Pat McBaine, president of the Film Society’s board of directors. “His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring along with his colorful language and wicked Scottish sense of humor have indelibly marked our organization with a valuable legacy and left it in the best shape — artistically, organizationally and financially — in its 54-year history. Graham was fiercely proud and appreciative of his years at the Film Society and frequently referred to them as the best years of his life.
“For nearly six exciting and transformative years, Graham Leggat led the San Francisco Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design,” said Pat McBaine, president of the Film Society’s board of directors. “His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring along with his colorful language and wicked Scottish sense of humor have indelibly marked our organization with a valuable legacy and left it in the best shape — artistically, organizationally and financially — in its 54-year history. Graham was fiercely proud and appreciative of his years at the Film Society and frequently referred to them as the best years of his life.
- 8/26/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Graham Leggat's legacy to the San Francisco Film Society is indelible and will long outlive his illness. In his time on the job, the work of the society, once focused on the festival (the oldest in the Americas), has broadened to include forums and screenings, educational programs for young people in the schools and support for emerging filmmakers. Society membership increased 98 percent; festival ticket sales increased 62 percent. Staff grew from 11 to 35; the operating budget from $2 million to $6 million; and contributions from $1 million to $3 million. The society publishes a regional daily film magazine,…...
- 7/5/2011
- Sydney's Buzz
Graham Leggat's legacy to the San Francisco Film Society is indelible and will long outlive his illness. Today's Sf Chronicle published an elaboration on his illness. In his time on the job, the work of the society, once focused on the festival (the oldest in the Americas), has broadened to include forums and screenings, educational programs for young people in the schools and support for emerging filmmakers. Society membership increased 98 percent; festival ticket sales increased 62 percent. Staff grew from 11 to 35; the operating budget from $2 million to $6 million; and contributions from $1 million to $3…...
- 7/5/2011
- Sydney's Buzz
Graham Leggat has stepped down as executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, effectively immediately. In a letter circled to colleagues Monday, Leggat cited health issues for his departure, saying, "As you know, I have relished my leadership role in this dynamic, beloved organization. Unfortunately, health issues make it impossible for me to continue to serve effectively." Leggat said that leadership will transfer to the Sffs staff lead by ...
- 7/4/2011
- Indiewire
A plush Bimbo’s 365 Club packed with San Francisco Film Society supporters played host to the 2011 Film Society Awards Night. On the menu: the inauguration of an award named for Film Society patron saint George Gund, a tribute to the inspired achievements of Sffs Executive Director Graham Leggat and the delivery of prizes for directing, acting and screenwriting to (respectively) Oliver Stone, Terence Stamp and Frank Pierson. A benefit ...
- 5/2/2011
- Indiewire
As a follow up to our post regarding opening night of the San Francisco Film Festival we’ve been given a couple of videos from the even to share with you.
The first is taken from the red carpet and speaks with Sffs Executive Director Graham Leggat and Programming Director Rachel Rosen as well as Mike Mills, the director of the opening night film Beginners.
The second video was taken at the after party and speaks with the film’s star, Ewan McGregor as well as Mike Mills.
We’ll also have some details on the Q & A session that took place after the screening as well as a review of the film so keep your eyes here.
Iframe Embed for Youtube Iframe Embed for Youtube
*Videos provided by Grolsch Film Works...
The first is taken from the red carpet and speaks with Sffs Executive Director Graham Leggat and Programming Director Rachel Rosen as well as Mike Mills, the director of the opening night film Beginners.
The second video was taken at the after party and speaks with the film’s star, Ewan McGregor as well as Mike Mills.
We’ll also have some details on the Q & A session that took place after the screening as well as a review of the film so keep your eyes here.
Iframe Embed for Youtube Iframe Embed for Youtube
*Videos provided by Grolsch Film Works...
- 4/26/2011
- by Tracy Ladd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
April 21, 2011 was a special date for two reasons. Firstly, that date marked the opening night of the 54th annual San Francisco International Film Festival. Secondly, it marked the first appearance for HeyUGuys at this particular festival. We were lucky enough to be invited to this prestigious event and jumped at the chance to experience it firsthand.
Grolsch Film Works is a division of the Grolsch lager and beer company and were the sponsors of the opening night festivities. Grolsch Film Works’ mission is to celebrate the world of independent film making by hosting screenings around the world, giving film makers the opportunity to give their pitch for the potential of funding and helping the future film makers of the world realize their creative visions. Grolsch were very generous hosts, setting up a bevy of events for the attendees to experience and partake in.
The evening started out at San Francisco...
Grolsch Film Works is a division of the Grolsch lager and beer company and were the sponsors of the opening night festivities. Grolsch Film Works’ mission is to celebrate the world of independent film making by hosting screenings around the world, giving film makers the opportunity to give their pitch for the potential of funding and helping the future film makers of the world realize their creative visions. Grolsch were very generous hosts, setting up a bevy of events for the attendees to experience and partake in.
The evening started out at San Francisco...
- 4/24/2011
- by Tracy Ladd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Actor Will Receive Honor at Film Society Awards Night at Bimbo’s 365 Club
and Onstage Tribute at Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Film Society has announced that Terence Stamp will be the recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 – May 5). The Owens Award, named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations and Film Society board member, honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity. The award will be presented to Stamp at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club.
The Film Society’s highly regarded Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the glamorous fundraiser honoring Stamp. Oliver Stone, recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award and Frank Pierson, recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting will also be honored at the star-studded event. Melanie and...
and Onstage Tribute at Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Film Society has announced that Terence Stamp will be the recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 – May 5). The Owens Award, named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations and Film Society board member, honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity. The award will be presented to Stamp at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club.
The Film Society’s highly regarded Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the glamorous fundraiser honoring Stamp. Oliver Stone, recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award and Frank Pierson, recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting will also be honored at the star-studded event. Melanie and...
- 4/22/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Director Will Receive Honor at Film Society Awards Night at Bimbo’s 365 Club and Onstage Tribute at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Film Society has announced that Oliver Stone will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 – May 5). The Fda will be presented to Stone at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club.
The Film Society’s highly regarded Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the glamorous fundraiser honoring Stone. The soon-to-be-announced recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting and Frank Pierson, recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting will also be honored at the star-studded event. Melanie and Lawrence Blum are chairs of this year’s Film Society Awards Night, and Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein are the honorary chairs.
“We are thrilled...
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Film Society has announced that Oliver Stone will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 – May 5). The Fda will be presented to Stone at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club.
The Film Society’s highly regarded Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the glamorous fundraiser honoring Stone. The soon-to-be-announced recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting and Frank Pierson, recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting will also be honored at the star-studded event. Melanie and Lawrence Blum are chairs of this year’s Film Society Awards Night, and Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein are the honorary chairs.
“We are thrilled...
- 4/12/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
[Out thanks to Michael Hawley for offering these highlights.] An invigorated Executive Director Graham Leggat welcomed the crowd to the Opening Press Conference for the 54th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF54), then proceeded to justifiably boast about the expansion of San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) programming activities since 2005. "We now provide dynamic, daily year-round programming in the core areas of education, exhibition and filmmaker services. And in so doing we've created an organization unparalleled in scope and vision, by any in the country except those in the much larger markets of New York and Los Angeles." Calling the Bay Area a "great region of film culture and cinematic activity," Leggat placed the Sffs squarely alongside such organizations as the...
- 4/8/2011
- Screen Anarchy
An invigorated Executive Director Graham Leggat welcomed the crowd to the Opening Press Conference for the 54th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF54), then proceeded to justifiably boast about the expansion of San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) programming activities since 2005. "We now provide dynamic, daily year-round programming in the core areas of education, exhibition and filmmaker services. And in so doing we've created an organization unparalleled in scope and vision, by any in the country except those in the much larger markets of New York and Los Angeles." Calling the Bay Area a "great region of film culture and cinematic activity," Leggat placed the Sffs squarely alongside such organizations as the Tribeca Film Institute, Sundance Institute, American Film Institute (AFI)...
- 4/8/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Meredith Brody will be covering the upcoming San Francisco International Film Fest from April 21 to May 5. Here's a preview of things to come: What wasn’t announced at the Sfiff 54 press conference – the names of the tributees for the Founder’s Directing Award and the Peter J. Owens award, aka the acting award – was almost as newsworthy as the many other highlights of the 15-day, 189-films-from-over-40 countries program, taking place April 21 – May 5 2011. Executive Director Graham Leggat took the bullet for this one, apologizing for what he characterized as a couple of late cancellations: “Breaking a little with tradition, we can’t announce all [the tributees]. Wrangling talent is my brief.” Rumor has it that an acceptance by a director ...
- 4/4/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
San Francisco's film snobs and film sluts have been abuzz all weekend privy to the advance announcement offered San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) members of this year's lineup for the 54th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF54). It's been hard to keep quiet about this year's offerings but--with yesterday's official press conference, held in the spectacular Alexandra Room on the 32nd floor of the Westin St. Francis overlooking Union Square--the embargo has been lifted, though unfortunately there remain glaring omissions with regard to some of the festival's key events, namely who will be the recipient of the Founder's Directing Award, the Peter J. Owens Acting Award, and the Midnight Awards? Securing talent is specifically the issue here, Executive Director Graham Leggat...
- 3/31/2011
- Screen Anarchy
[Our thanks to Michael Hawley's continuing contributions to the Twitch readership.]
The full line-up for the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival (Sfiff) was announced at an unusually subdued press conference last week. With Executive Director Graham Leggat taking an uncustomary silent role in the proceedings, it was left for new Director of Programming Rachel Rosen and her staff to guide attendant journalists and Bay Area film community members through this year's impressive roster of 177 films from 46 countries. Rosen admitted that while the festival doesn't program according to "themes", certain ones inevitably emerge. 2010's program is characterized by "a return to basics and beauty in filmmaking," films that could be deemed "unclassifiable," films with an "intense interest in the creative process" and the beginnings of an "era of co-auteur theory" (15 of this year's selections have two or more directors). Rosen also joked that she has indulged her taste for "nuns, old men and farm animals."
...
The full line-up for the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival (Sfiff) was announced at an unusually subdued press conference last week. With Executive Director Graham Leggat taking an uncustomary silent role in the proceedings, it was left for new Director of Programming Rachel Rosen and her staff to guide attendant journalists and Bay Area film community members through this year's impressive roster of 177 films from 46 countries. Rosen admitted that while the festival doesn't program according to "themes", certain ones inevitably emerge. 2010's program is characterized by "a return to basics and beauty in filmmaking," films that could be deemed "unclassifiable," films with an "intense interest in the creative process" and the beginnings of an "era of co-auteur theory" (15 of this year's selections have two or more directors). Rosen also joked that she has indulged her taste for "nuns, old men and farm animals."
...
- 4/6/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Film editor and sound designer Walter Murch will deliver the annual State of Cinema Address at the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival on April 25 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco.
His speech, titled "Three Fathers of Cinema: Beethoven, Flaubert, Edison," will ask would have happened if motion pictures had been invented in 1789 and will present various theories on the evolution of filmmaking.
"We are thrilled to have Walter Murch deliver our State of Cinema Address at the Festival this year," Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, said. "His extensive contributions to filmmaking and the pioneering steps he has taken in the field provide him with a unique take on cinema today and what it will become in the future. His presentation promises to be enlightening and thought-provoking."
The festival runs from April 22 to May 6.
His speech, titled "Three Fathers of Cinema: Beethoven, Flaubert, Edison," will ask would have happened if motion pictures had been invented in 1789 and will present various theories on the evolution of filmmaking.
"We are thrilled to have Walter Murch deliver our State of Cinema Address at the Festival this year," Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, said. "His extensive contributions to filmmaking and the pioneering steps he has taken in the field provide him with a unique take on cinema today and what it will become in the future. His presentation promises to be enlightening and thought-provoking."
The festival runs from April 22 to May 6.
- 3/22/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
San Francisco, CA -- The San Francisco Film Society announced today that acclaimed film editor and sound designer Walter Murch will deliver the annual State of Cinema Address at the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 22 - May 6) at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas Sunday, April 25 at 4:00 pm.
Murch's address, "Three Fathers of Cinema: Beethoven, Flaubert, Edison," will contemplate what would have happened if motion pictures had been invented in 1789. He will present various theories on the evolution of filmmaking, investigating the cultural origins of cinema in the 19th century and the implications for the future of cinema in the 21st century.
"We are thrilled to have Walter Murch deliver our State of Cinema Address at the Festival this year," said Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. "His extensive contributions to filmmaking and the pioneering steps he has taken in the field provide him with...
Murch's address, "Three Fathers of Cinema: Beethoven, Flaubert, Edison," will contemplate what would have happened if motion pictures had been invented in 1789. He will present various theories on the evolution of filmmaking, investigating the cultural origins of cinema in the 19th century and the implications for the future of cinema in the 21st century.
"We are thrilled to have Walter Murch deliver our State of Cinema Address at the Festival this year," said Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. "His extensive contributions to filmmaking and the pioneering steps he has taken in the field provide him with...
- 3/22/2010
- Makingof.com
My thanks to Executive Director Graham Leggat and Creative Director Miguel Pendás of the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) for reminding me just how valuable a resource the Sffs History Project can be. Still keyed into the centennial celebration of Akira Kurosawa's birthday, Sffs forwarded an article by Miguel Pendás recounting Kurosawa's October 1980 appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival for the screening of his Palme d'Or winning film Kagemusha. "Eight taiko drummers pounded out a welcome," Pendás recalled, "and Akira Kurosawa stepped up on the stage, tall, slim, elegant and, as always, hidden behind dark glasses. Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas, who had helped him finance his latest film, Kagemusha, joined him on stage. A full house at the Palace of Fine Arts theater rose to its feet and gave the threesome a lengthy standing ovation."
...
...
- 3/4/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Rachel Rosen is returning to the San Francisco Film Society as director of programming. She will replace Linda Blackaby, who stepped down from the organization Friday.
Rosen held various programming roles at Sffs from 1994 until 2001, when she joined Film Independent and the Los Angeles Film Festival, where she spent the past eight years.
"We're thrilled to welcome Rachel back to a leadership role in the organization after her extraordinarily successful tenure in Los Angeles," said Graham Leggat, Sffs executive director.
"Rachel's discerning eye, dazzling knowledge of film and support of independent filmmakers have been essential to the festival's success during her years at Film Independent," added Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson.
Rosen began her career in New York where she worked as a publicist in the film industry for five years. In 1988, she enrolled in Stanford University's documentary film program in the department of communication. While completing her thesis film,...
Rosen held various programming roles at Sffs from 1994 until 2001, when she joined Film Independent and the Los Angeles Film Festival, where she spent the past eight years.
"We're thrilled to welcome Rachel back to a leadership role in the organization after her extraordinarily successful tenure in Los Angeles," said Graham Leggat, Sffs executive director.
"Rachel's discerning eye, dazzling knowledge of film and support of independent filmmakers have been essential to the festival's success during her years at Film Independent," added Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson.
Rosen began her career in New York where she worked as a publicist in the film industry for five years. In 1988, she enrolled in Stanford University's documentary film program in the department of communication. While completing her thesis film,...
- 8/10/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Peter J. Owens Award—named after longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936-1991)—honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity. This year’s recipient Robert Redford joins such previous honorees as Angelica Houston, Geena Davis, Danny Glover, Gérard Depardieu, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Annette Benning, Nicholas Cage, Sean Penn, Wynona Ryder, Stockard Channing, Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman, Chris Cooper, Joan Allen, Ed Harris, Robin Williams and Maria Bello.
The onstage tribute to Redford included a clip reel, an onstage conversation with Phil Bronstein, and a spanking new print of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Graham Leggat introduced Phil Bronstein as Vice President and Editor-at-Large of the San Francisco Chronicle. Phil began his career as film reviewer and Leggat mentioned that he once wrote a very long review in which he completely forgot to mention the title of the film.
The onstage tribute to Redford included a clip reel, an onstage conversation with Phil Bronstein, and a spanking new print of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Graham Leggat introduced Phil Bronstein as Vice President and Editor-at-Large of the San Francisco Chronicle. Phil began his career as film reviewer and Leggat mentioned that he once wrote a very long review in which he completely forgot to mention the title of the film.
- 5/8/2009
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
“The world’s insane / the paper’s gone mad / but our love is a peace vibe, yes.”—Laura Nyro
Introducing New Directors Prize contender Don’t Let Me Drown [site], Sffs Executive Director Graham Leggat specified that the New Directors Prize—which carries a cash award of $15,000—is singular in a number of ways. “First of all,” he enumerated, “it’s for debut feature narrative films. It’s not for documentaries or second or third time filmmakers. It’s for the freshest new talent. The competition features 11 films but each one is from a different country so—in effect—Don’t Let Me Drown is the American entry.”
Leggat first saw and was moved by Don’t Let Me Drown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “It has a particular resonance for me,” Leggat offered, “as it does for many people of New York City [who]—at 9:00 on September 11—[were] on...
Introducing New Directors Prize contender Don’t Let Me Drown [site], Sffs Executive Director Graham Leggat specified that the New Directors Prize—which carries a cash award of $15,000—is singular in a number of ways. “First of all,” he enumerated, “it’s for debut feature narrative films. It’s not for documentaries or second or third time filmmakers. It’s for the freshest new talent. The competition features 11 films but each one is from a different country so—in effect—Don’t Let Me Drown is the American entry.”
Leggat first saw and was moved by Don’t Let Me Drown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “It has a particular resonance for me,” Leggat offered, “as it does for many people of New York City [who]—at 9:00 on September 11—[were] on...
- 4/26/2009
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
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