1. San Francisco International Film Festival
#1 Film & Media Event
It’s the longest-running film festival in the Americas, but the SFFILM Festival has mellowed over the last 61 years from a white-tie-and-tails event to a modern gathering that reflects the region’s culture and values. This year, that meant more movies by filmmakers from the Bay Area (like Sorry to Bother You by Oakland-based director Boots Riley), about local figures (like the Robin Williams documentary, Come Inside My Mind), or promoting progressive ideas. All together, the festival hosted 242 screenings of 186 films from 45 countries. Next: April 10–23, 2019
It’s the longest-running film festival in the Americas, but the SFFILM Festival has mellowed over the last 61 years from a white-tie-and-tails event to a modern gathering that reflects the region’s culture and values. This year, that meant more movies by filmmakers from the Bay Area (like Sorry to Bother You by Oakland-based director Boots Riley), about local figures (like the Robin Williams documentary, Come Inside My Mind), or promoting progressive ideas. All together, the festival hosted 242 screenings of 186 films from 45 countries. Next: April 10–23, 2019
Photo: Tommy Lau
2. Mill Valley International Film Festival
#2 Film & Media Event
Since its founding in 1977, the Mill Valley International Film Festival has grown from a three-day showcase into an 11-day, internationally acclaimed event presenting new films from around the world. In 2017, the festival screened 120 feature films and 95 short films, including 43 premieres. (Greta Gerwig and Aaron Sorkin both brought their directorial debuts here.) Year after year, the festival welcomes hundreds of filmmakers and more than 60,000 audience members. Next: October 4-14, 2018
Since its founding in 1977, the Mill Valley International Film Festival has grown from a three-day showcase into an 11-day, internationally acclaimed event presenting new films from around the world. In 2017, the festival screened 120 feature films and 95 short films, including 43 premieres. (Greta Gerwig and Aaron Sorkin both brought their directorial debuts here.) Year after year, the festival welcomes hundreds of filmmakers and more than 60,000 audience members. Next: October 4-14, 2018
Photo: Tommy Lau
3. Center for Asian American Media's CAMMFest
#3 Film & Media Event
CAAMFest, formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, is the world’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian film. The 11-day event screens more than 100 works each year and hosts more than 30,000 viewers at 17 venues across San Francisco. In 2018 (the festival’s 36th year), CAAM pushed the festival from March to May to align with Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Next: May 2019
CAAMFest, formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, is the world’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian film. The 11-day event screens more than 100 works each year and hosts more than 30,000 viewers at 17 venues across San Francisco. In 2018 (the festival’s 36th year), CAAM pushed the festival from March to May to align with Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Next: May 2019
Photo: Tommy Lau
4. San Francisco Independent Film Festival
#4 Film & Media Event
Jeff Ross bootstrapped the first IndieFest in 1998—actually charging $3,000 in venue and supply expenses to his credit card—to give a friend the chance to screen a film in San Francisco. Twenty years later, more than 20,000 film fans buy tickets for his festival each year. The festival is known for screening edgier works that are less likely to score distribution deals, but gutsy mainstream-adjacent directors like David Lynch and Gus Van Sant occasionally make their way in as well. Next: February 2019
Jeff Ross bootstrapped the first IndieFest in 1998—actually charging $3,000 in venue and supply expenses to his credit card—to give a friend the chance to screen a film in San Francisco. Twenty years later, more than 20,000 film fans buy tickets for his festival each year. The festival is known for screening edgier works that are less likely to score distribution deals, but gutsy mainstream-adjacent directors like David Lynch and Gus Van Sant occasionally make their way in as well. Next: February 2019
Photo: Courtesy of San Francisco Independent Film Festival
5. San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
#5 Film & Media Event
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is the first and largest film festival of its kind: It has screened 1,800 films over the past 38 years. In 2018, organizers showed 67 films from 22 countries during a nearly three-week run in the Bay Area, and welcomed some 35 filmmakers. More than 40,000 filmgoers and industry professionals attended, and 19 of the screenings sold out. Next: July 18-August 4, 2019
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is the first and largest film festival of its kind: It has screened 1,800 films over the past 38 years. In 2018, organizers showed 67 films from 22 countries during a nearly three-week run in the Bay Area, and welcomed some 35 filmmakers. More than 40,000 filmgoers and industry professionals attended, and 19 of the screenings sold out. Next: July 18-August 4, 2019
Photo: Pat Mazzera
6. SF Sketchfest
#6 Film & Media Event
David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney started SF Sketchfest in 2001 as a way to showcase the talents of Bay Area sketch comedy groups. The event debuted in 2002 and has grown into a nationally recognized comedy festival, mixing household names and up-and-comers. Featuring stand-up, improv/sketch groups, solo shows, and musical acts, Sketchfest gives audiences the chance to see performers like Jane Lynch, Rachel Bloom, and Ricky Gervais in intimate settings and discussions. Next: January 2019
David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney started SF Sketchfest in 2001 as a way to showcase the talents of Bay Area sketch comedy groups. The event debuted in 2002 and has grown into a nationally recognized comedy festival, mixing household names and up-and-comers. Featuring stand-up, improv/sketch groups, solo shows, and musical acts, Sketchfest gives audiences the chance to see performers like Jane Lynch, Rachel Bloom, and Ricky Gervais in intimate settings and discussions. Next: January 2019
Photo: Tommy Lau
7. Litquake
#7 Film & Media Event (up from #8)
A 10-day literary celebration for book-lovers, Litquake is the largest independent literary festival on the West Coast. The event was originally conceived as a one-day reading series in Golden Gate Park and morphed three years later to include more elements of the Bay Area literary scene. The festival ends each year with a pub crawl of authors and literary fans through San Francisco’s Mission District. Featured authors in 2018 include Tales of the City scribe Armistead Maupin, 826 Valencia founder Dave Eggers, Joy Luck Club writer Amy Tan, and Berkeley alum Rachel Kushner. Next: October 11-20, 2018
A 10-day literary celebration for book-lovers, Litquake is the largest independent literary festival on the West Coast. The event was originally conceived as a one-day reading series in Golden Gate Park and morphed three years later to include more elements of the Bay Area literary scene. The festival ends each year with a pub crawl of authors and literary fans through San Francisco’s Mission District. Featured authors in 2018 include Tales of the City scribe Armistead Maupin, 826 Valencia founder Dave Eggers, Joy Luck Club writer Amy Tan, and Berkeley alum Rachel Kushner. Next: October 11-20, 2018
Photo: Courtesy of Litquake
8. Frameline
#8 Film & Media Event (new to the list)
Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International L.G.B.T.Q. Film Festival is the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized L.G.B.T.Q. film exhibition event in the world. As a community event with more than 62,000 attendees, it is also the most prominent and well-attended L.G.B.T.Q. arts program in the Bay Area. The 2018 lineup featured 153 narratives, documentaries, episodics, and short films, including 25 world premieres. Next: June 20-30, 2019
Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International L.G.B.T.Q. Film Festival is the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized L.G.B.T.Q. film exhibition event in the world. As a community event with more than 62,000 attendees, it is also the most prominent and well-attended L.G.B.T.Q. arts program in the Bay Area. The 2018 lineup featured 153 narratives, documentaries, episodics, and short films, including 25 world premieres. Next: June 20-30, 2019
Photo: Barak Shrama
9. Silent Film Festival
#9 Film & Media Event
Sometimes you need a break from all the chatter in the world, and silent film can provide that relief. Over the last 23 years, the Silent Film Festival has screened hundreds of rare and classic silent films, all with live music performances. The event is held at the grand Castro Theatre, which feels appropriately ornate for the genre. In addition to screenings, the festival brings authors, archivists, and filmmakers to offer context to these early works of cinema art. Next: May 1-5, 2019
Sometimes you need a break from all the chatter in the world, and silent film can provide that relief. Over the last 23 years, the Silent Film Festival has screened hundreds of rare and classic silent films, all with live music performances. The event is held at the grand Castro Theatre, which feels appropriately ornate for the genre. In addition to screenings, the festival brings authors, archivists, and filmmakers to offer context to these early works of cinema art. Next: May 1-5, 2019
Photo: Pamela Gentile
10. San Francisco DocFest
#10 Film & Media Event (up from #11)
An offshoot of the SF Indie Fest, DocFest is a two-week program bringing “the most weird and wonderful aspects of real life to the big screen.” (In 2018, the weird and wonderful options included a Bill Murray documentary and Samantha’s Amazing Acrocats, which tells the story of a self-trained cat circus ringleader.) Over the last 17 years, DocFest has expanded to include 56 films and events at three theaters. Next: Spring 2019
An offshoot of the SF Indie Fest, DocFest is a two-week program bringing “the most weird and wonderful aspects of real life to the big screen.” (In 2018, the weird and wonderful options included a Bill Murray documentary and Samantha’s Amazing Acrocats, which tells the story of a self-trained cat circus ringleader.) Over the last 17 years, DocFest has expanded to include 56 films and events at three theaters. Next: Spring 2019
Photo: Gary Bridges
