5th Annual
San Pedro International Film Festival
October 6 — 16, 2016
Celebrating 5 years with 10 days of film, art, music & virtual reality technology
October 6 – 5:30p First Thursday Artwalk Kick-Off with Gallery Exhibition of The Noir Series, 446 W. 6th
October 15 – 6p Dark Progressivism Screening
SPIFFest kicks off on First Thursday Artwalk October 6, featuring an art exhibition in conjunction with the documentary Dark Progressivism, directed by Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre and the book, The Federal Informant, written by d’Ebre who is a well known art historian and writer. The exhibition features the Noir series, with works by fine artists Jim McHugh, Roberto Gutierrez & Jose “Prime” Reza.
The film covers LA’s history of murals, tagging and street art born during the urban upheaval of the 80s and 90s, showcasing some of the most renowned artists today – Chaz Bojorquez, Defer, Prime, Saber, Big Sleeps, Cryptic, Germs, Gajin Fujita, UGLAR, Skill, Roberto Gutierrez, Juan Carlos Munoz Hernandez. The film screens October 15 in the historical elegance of the Warner Grand Theatre
*The Warner Grand Theatre is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs*
October 15 – Playing Lecuona 8p Screening and VIP Party
Following Dark Progressivism is the screening of Playing Lecuona the stunning documentary film that explores Cuban pianist & composer Ernesto Lecuona’s influence through the lense of three of the maestro’s most well-known jazz pianist descendants: Chucho Valdés, son of renowned bandleader and composer Bebo Valdés; Gonzalo Rubalcaba, a Cuban from the generation after Chucho; and the Dominican Michel Camilo. Says Linda Grimes, Managing Director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, “We are thrilled to partner with SPIFFest in sponsoring these two films celebrating LA art and Cuban music.” The evening concludes with a party at the penthouse loft residence in the Deco Art Deco building at 8th & Pacific, home to galleries, movie theater and cabaret space.
SPIFFest 2016 FESTIVAL PASS
One pass gets you 10 days of events and a cool piece of swag
SPIFFEST 2016 PANELS & DISCUSSIONS
October 9 – Virtual Reality: Applications in Cinema & Entertainment, panel and demo
2p-5p at The Space on Pacific
Featuring a panel and demo latest works and panel by some of today’s top VR innovators; covering multimedia spectrum of Film, TV, Music, Art, Film, Games, Educational Initiatives.
Panel:
Kevin Mack – Visual Effects Artist, Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects What Dreams May Come (1999)
Brett Leonard – Director, VR Film Development , Lawnmower Man first VR in feature film in 1992
Robert LaFond – Senior Interactive Producer, KCRW
Tom Walsh – TW3 Entertainment
Tim Hicks – Vortex Immersion Media
Eric Hanson – Visual Effects Designer
Mary Duda – Virtue Play Inc. games and software
October 16 – A Gathering of San Pedro’s Creative Tribe
Panel Discussion at the San Pedro International Film Festival
4p-6p at The Space on Pacific
Please join our panel of professionals from film, technology, industrial design, music, theater, education, and art for a town hall conversation on how we can both cultivate our town’s youth and attract innovative professionals to San Pedro, with the goal of developing our downtown into one of the great creative corridors of Los Angeles. All current and future leaders, innovators, and big thinkers are encouraged to attend.
The Panel:
Jack Baric, Film and TV director/producer
Matt Misetich, General Manager/Director of Development, Script Pipeline
Joshua Stecker, Co-owner, Modjeksa Playhouse/Publisher San Pedro Today
Leo Rossi, Rock and Roll Tour Manager
Todd Congelliere, Owner, Recess Records
Patrick Muldoon, Actor
Ann Lee Carpenter, CEO, Braid Theory, tech entrepreneur connector
Steve Fuchs, Design Professor, Orange Coast College
Linda Grimes, Managing Director, San Pedro Waterfront Arts District
Mike Lansing, Exec Director Boys & Girls Club LA Harbor
October 14 – John Heussenstamm Showcase – Alva’s Music Store
6p Book Signing Greet 7:30p John Heussenstamm Blues Fusion Trio
The innovative master of styles, John Heussenstamm (Surf Punks, Deniece Williams) starts off with a meet ‘n greet book signing for his widely respected books Guitar Workout, 100 Jazz Lessons and 100 Blues Lessons, published by Hal Leonard; live music follows with his Blues Fusion Trio, featuring special guest jazz pianist Ron Kobayashi (Mel Tormé, Peter Frampton, Tom Scott), Baba Elefante and Kris Grayson Berry.
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Special offer for ticket buyers * Day of Show* Your ticket also gets you 10% BELOW INTERNET! pricing for John’s books and all items at Alvas Music store.
October 7 – Kick Out the Jams: An Evening of Discussion & Music with MC5 legend Wayne Kramer & Margaret Saadi Kramer
6:30 The Space on Pacific
Join us for an intimate evening with Wayne Kramer, founding member of the legendary MC5, guitarist and proto-punk icon. Kramer partnered with Billy Bragg to found Jail Guitar Doors USA (launched by Bragg in the UK), an initiative that provides musical instruments and equipment for the rehabilitation of inmates. San Pedro is part of the USA program. Wife Margaret Saadi Kramer owns the a highly successful music publishing company Post Haste and is international distributor for Brand X, composers who pioneered the feature film trailer music genre. This dynamic music duo will talk about their work & juggling family life as parents of a 3 year old; and Wayne finishes the evening with a live performance.
LUNAFEST: SHORT FILMS BY, FOR, ABOUT WOMEN
SPIFFest proudly welcomes the return of Lunafest.
Another Kind of Girl
A 17-year-old girl meditates on how her refugee camp has opened up new horizons and given her a sense of courage that she lacked in Syria.
Filmmaker: KHALDIYA JIBAWI
Family Tale
Through love, loss, and determination, the definition of family is rewritten.
Filmmaker: DR. PATRICIA BECKMANN-WELLS
Free to Laugh
A documentary that explores the power of comedy after prison.
Filmmaker: LARA EVERLY
Join the Club
A writer’s dilemma of whether or not to join a networking club unfolds during one therapy session.
Filmmaker: EVA VIVES
Ninera
A story that looks at the bitter irony many nannies face: raising the children of strangers for a living while their own children are virtually left to raise themselves.
Filmmaker: DIANE WEIPERT
Nkosi Coiffure
After a fight with her boyfriend in the street, a woman escapes into a hair salon in Brussels. Filmmaker: FREDERIKE MIGOM
Partners
Professional and life partners must confront how intertwined their lives have become. Filmmaker: JOEY ALLY
The Honeys and the Bears
Members of a synchronized swim team for seniors describe the freedom of the water. Filmmaker: VEENA RAO
The Third Dad
Ten years after breaking all ties with her father, a daughter sets out to find his grave – and redemption. Filmmaker: THERESA MOERMAN IB
SPIFFEST SPOTLIGHT: ABOUT CHARLES BUKOWSKI
Photo Mark Hanauer
CHARLES BUKOWSKI
Beloved, prolific author & icon; San Pedro Resident
Penning thousands of poems, hundreds of stories and six novels, Charles Bukowski eventually published over forty-five books and various collections of his work chronicling his own personal experiences reflecting the gritty glamour of Los Angeles and society in general. The universal accessibility of his poetry and modern works resonate within the hearts of readers worldwide. In 1978, Charles Bukowski moved to San Pedro with his wife to be, Linda Lee Bukowski, where he continued to write prolifically, until his death in 1994.
His years working as a mail carrier and clerk at the US Post Office, Terminal Annex in downtown LA inspired his acclaimed debut novel, Post Office. His works address the full spectrum of the human condition, from his own tangled youth and the wretchedness of the world in general, to more uplifting works that have heartfelt expressions of love and joy highlighting the good things that come our way in life. Through his unbridled passion for writing, Bukowski became a philosopher in his own right, and is more popular today than during his lifetime.
SPIFF celebrates the work of Bukowski with a dedicated film category; and in 2015, hosted a tribute to the legendary writer – The Laughing Heart: 95th Birthday Celebration – in Old San Pedro, which included a screening of Bent Hamer’s feature, Factotum, a film based on one of his novels; readings of selected Bukowski works and Q&A; and a curated exhibition of images taken by several leading professional photographers.