The 6th annual San Francisco International Animation Festival, returns Thursday, November 10 through Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema.
The San Francisco International Animation Festival includes an ‘enticing mix of the latest anime, family-friendly fare, documentaries, wonderfully unclassifiable shorts from around the world and a fabulous Opening Night party.’
This year’s festival includes Cannes entry and multiaward-winning Tatsumi by Eric Khoo, the Bay Area-produced Annecy competitor Glitch in the Grid, the long-awaited feature-length film by Keita Kurosaka, Midori-ko and several shorts programs, including the always popular Best of Annecy compilation.
Complete lineup and program information:
Thursday, November 10 Opening Night
7:00 pm Glitch in the Grid
Eric Leiser
A reclusive, talented artist, Jay, seldom leaves his small town home. Hoping to cheer him up, his cousins invite him to live with them in Hollywood, but the glitz and partying cannot satisfy his longing for spiritual renewal. Director Eric Leiser uses a hybrid live action/stop motion approach to reveal Jay’s inner life, pushing the boundaries of what we think of as animation. USA/England 2011, 83 min. Written by Eric Leiser, Photographed by Rory Owen Delaney, Marco Menestrina. With Jay Masonek, Jeffrey Leiser, Eric Leiser, Linda Darnall.
8:30 pm Opening Night Party at Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore Street (Ellis/Eddy) featuring modern Japanese cuisine inspired hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
9:30 pm Glitch in the Grid
Friday, November 11
5:00 pm Top Drawers
Is there anything more beautiful than the romance left in the trace of an artist’s absent hand? Animation sometimes leaves the impression that we come into direct contact with an artist’s personal vision, that we can experience their talent through their recorded gestures. This shorts program explores wondrous artistic effects produced through drawing, puppetry and even computing. Total running time 73 min.
7:00 pm The Best of Annecy
The Annecy International Animated Film Festival is widely regarded as the most important festival for animation in Europe. SFIAF is pleased to once again present a selection of the best shorts to have appeared in Annecy this year. An annual highlight of SFIAF, this year’s edition will again include a dynamic and entertaining range of styles, techniques and genres. Total running time 81 min.
9:00 pm Tatsumi
Eric Khoo
Alternating between a memoir-like, first-person recounting of Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s life and presentations of his manga works as animation, Tatsumi celebrates the life and work of the legendary Japanese comics artist. Realistic and disquieting, Tatsumi’s work redefined the manga landscape and elevated the genre to a whole new level of creative expression influenced by adult themes. Singapore 2011, 96 min. Written by Eric Khoo. With Tetsuya Bessho, Motoko Gollent, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Mike Wiluan. In Japanese with subtitles, not recommended for children.
Saturday, November 12
3:00 pm Nocturna
Adrià García, Víctor Maldonado
Nocturna reveals a child’s vision of the night sky as a wondrous landscape. Young orphan Tim is afraid of the dark, so when the stars start disappearing, he teams up with a cat named Tobermory to bring them back. The two become immersed in a world of strange powers, where their ultimate destination is as surprising as the journey itself. Spain/France 2007, 80 min. Written by Adrià García, Víctor Maldonado, Teresa Vilardell, With Imanol Arias, Natalia Rodríguez, Carlos Sobera. In Spanish with subtitles, recommended for ages eight and up.
5:30 pm Ball of Confusion
What if the world were constructed of impossible amusement park rides that appear to grow and breathe? What if tiny Lego-like creatures populated all of Paris? What if two chicken-ish things sang opera? These questions and many more await to be answered in this program of counterfactuals and a few music videos. Total running time 80 min.
7:30 pm Midori-ko
Keita Kurosaka
Beloved artist Keita Kurosaka has fashioned an exquisitely dark sci-fi tale. Scientists work to develop a “dream food” that is both meat and vegetable to prevent an impending famine. One day, a magical light produces what they’ve been seeking: an animal/vegetable hybrid named Midori-ko, who promptly flies away. The culmination of a ten-year labor of love, Midori-ko is a spectacular achievement. Japan 2010, 55 min. Written by Keita Kurosaka. Photographed by Keita Kurosaka. With Sayaka Suzuki, Rina Yûki, Chicapan, Miwako Mishima. In Japanese with subtitles.
9:00 pm Anthropomorphlolz
Welcome to the strange and charmed world of guest programmer Jay Wertzler. In it you’ll find LCD Soundsystem, Tiny Fuppets and an array of current and potential cultural memes. During this shorts program, Wertzler will guide us through his animated universe, one that is as sweet and dangerous as a gingerbread house located deep in the forest of your hipster-critical mind. Total running time 77 min.
Sunday, November 13
2:00 pm The Best of Annecy see 11/11
4:00 pm Top Drawers see 11/11
6:00 pm Tatsumi see 11/11
8:30 pm Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos
Kazuya Murata
One of the most highly anticipated anime releases slated for 2012, this anime epic features a fugitive alchemist with mysterious abilities who leads the Elric brothers to a distant valley inhabited by the Milos, a proud people struggling against oppression. Director Murata creates an alternate reality in which alchemy is the most advanced form of science. Hagane no renkinjutsushi: Mirosu no seinaru hoshi, Japan 2011, 110 min. Written by Yuichi Shinpo. Photographed by Yoshiyuki Takei. With Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Maaya Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Morikawa. In Japanese with subtitles.