April 2023 Newsletter

CINEMATOGRAPHY MASTER CLASS SERIES SPRING 2023

We successfully held the first session and second of the Cinematography Masterclasses in the past two weeks! Our guest cinematographers, Dave Perkal, ASC, and George Mooradian, ASC demonstrated their professional expertise and led our student filmmakers for the two invaluable hands-on experiences.  Please feel free to check our behind-the-scenes pictures here: 

First session: a horror film scene with Dave Perkal, ASC

Second Session: a multi-camera scene with George Mooradian, ASC

Please note, the third session of the Cinematography masterclass with Nancy Schreiber, ASC has been rescheduled to April 28 and April 29 (originally April 7 & 8) due to Nancy's time schedule for her film shoot. 

Cinematography Masterclass Session III (Cine650.3)

April 28 – 29 Guest instructor: Nancy Schreiber, ASC.

Seminar (open to the public): Friday, April 28 / 6:30 - 8 p.m. / FA448 (Studio B)
Screening of selected film scenes and clips, analyses of visual storytelling techniques, and a Q&A with the guest speakers.

Workshop (enrolled students): Saturday, April 29 / 9:30 - 5 p.m. / Soundstage
Will include live demonstrations of lighting and multi-camera filming techniques, as well as instruction in current workflow practices.

Nancy Schreiber, ASC is an award-winning cinematographer based in both New York and Los Angeles. She came up through the ranks as an electrician and gaffer, working in commercials features and documentaries for such directors and producers as Martha Coolidge, Michael Hausman, and Richard Pearce.

Nancy Schreiber was voted into membership into the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers over a decade ago, the fourth female in the organization's history. Well regarded in the industry, Schreiber was chosen as the director of photography on Visions Of Light, a stunning documentary on the art of cinematography, an early Hi-Definition Film.

Additional reference: IMDB and Nancy Schreiber's website

 

APPLY TO THE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY ANIMATION MINOR

SF State students of all majors are invited to apply to the cross-disciplinary animation minor in the School of Cinema. Application deadline is April 20.

Scan the QR code for more information on how to submit an application and portfolio or go to our B.A. page for more information.

 

Animation Minor

MORE LUBITSCH COMMENTARIES FROM PROFESSOR McBRIDE

Professor Joseph McBride, in his ongoing series of audio commentaries for movies by the German American director Ernst Lubitsch, recorded commentaries for the June release by Kino Lorber of The Oyster Princess and Meyer from Berlin, two 1919 silent comedies made in Germany. The Oyster Princess, starring Ossi Oswalda, is the film in which Lubitsch felt he discovered his style, and Meyer from Berlin is his second-to-last acting role. McBride wrote the 2018 critical study How Did Lubitsch Do It? for Columbia University Press. He also recently did a commentary for Lubitsch’s When I Was Dead (1916).

 

Director Ernst Lubitsch in his 1919 film Meyer from Berlin

CAPTION: Director Ernst Lubitsch in his 1919 film Meyer from Berlin

 

GET YOUR 10s SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR DOCPITCH

Get Your 10s, a work-in-progress feature documentary by Associate Professor and MFA Coordinator Johnny Symons and artist Rashaad Newsome, has been selected as a finalist for DocPitch. $100k will be awarded through an online voting and juried process during the DocLands Documentary Film Festival in May in San Rafael. Please check out the project and VOTE to help finish this film! Voting opens April 27th and closes May 11th. Several SFSU students and alums are working on the project, including Ash Verwiel, Ray de Mesa, Annie Pancak, Maleah Welsh, Peter Macedo and Victoria Wilson. 

 

Docpitch at Doclands

 

MATTER OF MIND: MY ALS AIRING ON INDEPENDENT LENS | PBS

On May 1, a new documentary directed by Assistant Professor Laura Green called Matter of Mind: My ALS is airing on Independent Lens | PBS. The film follows three people as they confront what it means to live with the fatal illness ALS: Michelle Stellato, a communications director diagnosed at only 32-years-old, renowned African-American architect Phil Freelon, and heavy-duty mechanic Charlie Wren. As their stories collide, a picture emerges of the complex choices that people face and the different paths they choose as they live with this disease. Green is honored to share the film with the public as part of Independent Lens’ powerful spring lineup.

 

Matter of Mind film poster

 

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MIHAELA MIHAILOVA PUBLISHES NEW ARTICLE IN FILM QUARTERLY

Assistant Professor Mihaela Mihailova has published a piece on AI's potential impact on animation and vfx labor in Film Quarterly's public-facing online column Quorum. Read the article.

 

AI animation of man yelling

ANNUAL MARCUS LECTURE - “VULNERABLE MEDIA & LIVING ARCHIVES: DECOLONIAL PRACTICES, KNOWLEDGE SOVEREIGNTY, AND THE POLITICS OF NEGLECT”

The School of Cinema and the DocFilm Institute invite you to the Annual Marcus Lecture, to be given on Thursday, April 20 by Professor Susan Lord, Vulnerable Media Lab Director from Queens University, Canada.

Her talk, “Vulnerable Media & Living Archives: decolonial practices, knowledge sovereignty, and the politics of neglect,” will take place between 4 - 6 p.m.

The day before, Professor Lord will also introduce restorations of Sara Gómez films between 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Both events will be held in room 448 of the Fine Arts building.

Registration (for the screening, contact eramirezsoto@sfsu.edu).

VULNERABLE MEDIA & LIVING ARCHIVES

 

PROF. EMERITUS STEVEN KOVACS TO PROGRAM A SERIES OF SCREENINGS - ROMANIAN FILM FESTIVAL

Although he retired in 2021, Professor Emeritus Steven Kovacs continues to bring quality programming to the School of Cinema. This spring he will be hosting a Romanian Film Festival with Dr. Florentina Mocanu, M.A. in Theater, SFSU. The festival will take place April 21-22 in Coppola Theatre, showcasing some of the outstanding films of the last few years from Romania.

All screenings are FREE.  Students, faculty, members of the university and the general public are all invited.

FRIDAY, April 21, 2023, 5 to 9:30 p.m.

5 - 6 p.m.

Potemkinistii, directed by Radu Jude 2022, 18 min

In 1905, the sailors on the battleship Potemkin are given political asylum in Romania—an act of defiance against Russia. In 2021, a sculptor (Alexandru Dabija) wants to create an artwork inspired by the event. A comedy about art, history, memory and cinema, which film critic Andrei Gorzo describes as "a cross between a Caragiale sketch and a Mark Rappaport video essay."

Potemkinistii,

 

Student Short Film—My sister and I, directed by Theodor Ionita, 2022, 17 min (in-person).

Suddenly, she gets a call from her sister asking for bandages. Luana hurries to her house, where she finds Ana troubled, with her husband Dan injured in the hand. Although he has lost a lot of blood, Dan does not want to call an ambulance and Ana complies. Luana begins to suspect what happened and insists on calling for help, but Dan gets angrier and angrier, until things get out of hand.

My Sister and I film poster

 

6 - 7 p.m. Opening Reception

7 - 9:30 p.m.

Miracle / Miracol, directed by Bogdan George Apetrei, 2021, 118 min (in-person) (Drama)

Screenplay: Bogdan George Apetri, Cinematography Oleg Mutu
Cast: Ioana Bugarin, Emanuel Parvu, Cezar Antal, Ovidiu Crisan, Valeriu Andriuta Valentin Popescu, Marian Râlea

A young nun sneaks out of her monastery to attend an urgent matter but never makes it back and a police detective's investigation into her fate uncovers clues and revelations that lead not only to the truth but a miracle as well.

Best Film, Tertio Millenio Film Fest 2021

Best Film, Warsaw International Film Festival 2021

Best Feature Film, Transylvania International Film Festival 2022

Watch the trailer

Miracol filmposter with man and woman back to back

 

SATURDAY, April 22, 2023, 2 - 9:30 p.m.

2 - 4 p.m.

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, directed by Radu Jude, 2021, 106 min (Comedy)

Screenplay: Radu Jude, Cinematography Marius Panduru
Cast: Katia Pascariu, Claudia Ieremia, Vasile Nicodim Ungureanu

Emi, a school teacher, finds her career and reputation under threat after a personal sex tape is leaked on the Internet. Forced to meet the parents demanding her dismissal, Emi refuses to surrender to their pressure.

Best Film, Berlin International Film Festival 2021

Best Feature Film, East-West: Golden Arch International Film Awards 2021

Watch the trailer

 

4 - 6 p.m.

Men of Deeds, directed by Paul Negoescu, 2022, 105 min (Comedy)

Cinematography: Ana Draghici

Screenplay: Radu Romaniuc, Ana

Cast: Iulian Postelnicu, Anghel Damian, Vasile Muraru

Ilie (late 30s) enjoys the easy life of a village policeman. His passivity during a series of violent events soon turns him into an accomplice to murder. Tension accumulates in the village, forcing Ilie to make a final decision.

Best Film, Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film 2022

Best Film, Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival 2022

Award for Outstanding Individual Performance for Iulian Postelnicu, Film Festival Cottbus - Festival of East European Cinema 2022

Watch the trailer

 

6 - 7 p.m. DINNER

 

7 - 9:30 p.m.

R.M.N., directed by Cristian Mungiu, 2022, 125 min (Drama)

Screenplay: Cristian Mungiu, Camera: Tudor Vladimir Panduru. Cast: Marin Grigore, Judith State, Macrina Bârlădeanu, Andrei Finti.

"The Romanian director delivers a highly charged, deeply pessimistic allegory of intolerance in [a] small-town, multi-ethnic Transylvania." Jessica Kiang, Variety

Best Screenplay, Dublin International Film Festival 2023

Best Narrative Feature, Crested Butte Film Festival 2022

R.M.N. Film Poster

 

SECRETS OF THE SURFACE

THURSDAY, May 4 at 3:30 p.m.

On the afternoon of May 4, beginning at 3:30, in Coppola Theater, Professor Kovacs will host a screening of the documentary SECRETS OF THE SURFACE, about the life and scientific contributions of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first and only woman to be honored by the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award for mathematicians under 40.  The screening will be followed by a discussion with SF State Cinema alumnus and director George Csicsery who traveled to Iran to shoot the film, Mitra Ara, Professor in Persian Studies, and Emily Clader, Professor of Mathematics.

Secrets of the Surface

 

CANCELLED - AN EVENING WITH OSCAR NOMINATED JAY ROSENBLATT

This event has been cancelled.

Join us for an evening with Jay Rosenblatt, the Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker. We will be presenting a short program of films (75 min.), followed by a Q&A.

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 6  – 9 p.m.

Location: Coppola Theater

Reception: 6 p.m.

Program: 7 - 9 p.m.

[Film Poster Photo of a toddler smiling with open hands framing face with text: How Do You Measure a Year? Nominated for the 2023 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.]

Jay Rosenblatt's How do you Measure a Year?

 

FILM FINALS ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Film Finals is accepting submissions. This event is a great opportunity for Cinema students to showcase their work! We accept short films of all genres and formats (narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, etc.).

Selected films will be screened at the Roxie Theater on Tuesday, May 16th

The full list of requirements is available on our FilmFreeway

All of our links are available through this LinkTree

Deadline to Submit: April 30

If you have any questions or inquiries, please reach out to us through this email or any of our socials (submit4filmfinals@gmail.com)! We look forward to seeing amazing short films produced by the Cinema department. We're hoping to see you all at the Roxie Theatre on May 16th!

 

QUEER FILM FINALS PRESENTED AT THE ROXIE THEATER

We are excited to announce that the 4th Annual Queer Film Finals will be held at the Roxie Theater (3117 16th St. San Francisco, CA 94103).

Please join us on Monday, May 15, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. for a screening of works from the 2022-23 Queer Cinema Project Fellows and CINE 494: Queer Cinema Production.

Admission is free and all are welcome. Seating will be on a first come first serve basis. We hope to see you there!

4th annual Queer Film Finals

FEMINIST FILMMAKER FELLOWSHIP (F3)

The Feminist Filmmaker Fellowship (F3) aims to provide an open and safe space, virtual or in-person, advocating for womxn and non-binary filmmakers. Our events allow leadership development to flourish by listening to members to help bring their ideas to life. We are close to starting production on our first live-action short film.

Follow us on Instagram @feministfilmmakerfellowship for all our updates and to help us make some films.

Feminist Filmmaker Fellowship

 

JOIN QUEER CINEMA COALITION

Queer Cinema Coalition ensures a safe and creative space for LGBTQ+ filmmakers on campus to learn how to make our mark in an industry that doesn’t prioritize our voices. Through guest speakers, screenings/discussions, and community organizing, we build life-long connections to help us survive and thrive as filmmakers at SFSU and beyond.

Follow us on Instagram @queercinemacoalition.

Queer Cinema Coaltion logo

 

JOIN THE ANIMATION SOCIETY

The Animation Society strives to educate and provide an inclusive space for creative SFSU students to learn about and discover a love for animation.

Email: animationsocietyatsfsuofficial@gmail.com

Website

Instagram: @animationsocietysfsu

Animation Society logo

To the School of Cinema,

The School of Cinema has hosted webinars on a myriad of subjects related to our diverse curriculum. All of these webinars are available for viewing on our Vimeo website at the Showcase:

SF State Cinema School Events

Password: SFSUCinemaEvents

There is something for everyone and we hope you will avail yourselves to these recordings in the coming months.

Drew Luis
SFSU School of Cinema, Tech

SCHOOL OF CINEMA TOUR WITH CINEMA TECHNICAL STAFF

Dear Prospective Students:

The School of Cinema offers in-person tours of our facilities. Please make an appointment by contacting the Cinema Office at cinema@sfsu.edu.

Drew Lewis: SFSU School of Cinema, Tech

Pablo Riquelme: Production Coordinator

April 19

Screening of Restorations of Sara Gómez films
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
FA 448
Register for April 19

 

April 20

Annual Marcus Lecture
4 –  6 p.m.
FA 448
Register for April 20

 

April 21

Day 1 - Romanian Film Festival
5 - 9:30 p.m.

  • Potemkinistii Screening
  • My sister and I Screening
  • Opening Reception
  • Miracle / Miracol Screening
    Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

 

April 22

Day 2 - Romanian Film Festival
2 - 9:30 p.m.

  • Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn Screening
  • Men of Deeds Screening
  • Dinner
  • R.M.N. Screening
    Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

 

April 26

CANCELLED - An Evening with Oscar Nominated Jay Rosenblatt
6 - 9 p.m.
Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

 

April 30

Deadline for Film Finals Submission
Submit Your Films Here

 

May 4

Secrets of the Surface Screening
3:30 p.m.
Coppola Theatre (FA 101)

 

May 15

Queer Film Finals
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Roxie Theater
3117 16th St. San Francisco, CA 94103

 

May 16

Film Finals
Roxie Theater
3117 16th St. San Francisco, CA 94103