Smith Rafael April-June

MOVIES.MAGIC.MARIN.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CINEMA

STATE-OF-THE-ART SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

INDEPENDENT & WORLD CINEMA

FILMMAKER CONVERSATIONS

SPECIAL EVENTS

FREE COMMUNITY SCREENINGS

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MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL

DOCLANDS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH FORUM

FREE FILM SCREENINGS FOR SCHOOLS

FILMMAKER SCHOOL VISITS

FILM WORKSHOPS & SUMMER CAMPS

NATIONAL TEEN FILM CLUB

TEEN WELLNESS FILM SERIES

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On the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, the High Commissioner of the Republic and French government official De Roller (Benoît Magimel) is a calculating man with flawless manners. His somewhat broad perception of his role brings him to navigate the high end ’establishment’ as well as shady venues where he mingles with the locals. Especially since a persistent rumor has been going around: the sighting of a submarine whose ghostly presence could herald the return of French nuclear testing. In French with English subtitles. Director: Albert Serra (France 2022) 162 min.

OPENS APRIL 14

Pierfrancesco is a 65 year old doctor working as a night-shift medical guard. He’s grumpy, full of aches and pains, and rough with his patients. Then he’s involved in a road collision with Mario, a thirty-year-old rider for a food delivery service. Mario is uninjured, but his bicycle is destroyed. Pierfrancesco's sciatica flares up, making it impossible for him to drive. Both of their jobs are in jeopardy, but the doctor has an idea that could work: “remotely guided” by Pierfrancesco via wireless headset, Mario visits his patients, and they carry out Mario’s delivery in Pierfrancesco’s car. What could go wrong?. In Italian with English subtitles. Director: Guido Chiesa (Italy 2021) 92 min.

Co-presented by the ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL

APRIL 14-16

Following the record-breaking success of Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres Live Broadcast from Argentina last October, the band return to the big screen in this brand new, definitive director’s cut of the show. Filmed during Coldplay’s sold out, ten night run at Buenos Aires’ River Plate stadium, this spectacular concert film features remixed / remastered sound and stunning visuals captured by BAFTA-winning and Grammy-nominated director Paul Dugdale, including a host of previously-unseen footage. The Times heralded as “the greatest live music show ever”. Don’t miss your chance to share this joyful, life-affirming experience with Coldplay fans all over the world. Director: Paul Dugdale (UK 2022) 138 min.

From Oscar-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Wild Life follows conservationist Kris Tompkins on an epic, decades-spanning love story as wild as the landscapes she dedicated her life to protecting. After falling in love in mid-life, Kris and the outdoorsman and entrepreneur Doug Tompkins left behind the world of the massively successful outdoor brands they’d helped pioneer — Patagonia, The North Face, and Esprit — and turned their attention to a visionary effort to create National Parks throughout Chile and Argentina. Wild Life chronicles the highs and lows of their journey to effect the largest private land donation in history. Directors: Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin (US 2023) 93 min.

FILMMAKERS IN PERSON APRIL 18, 7:00

OPENS APRIL 19

A sculptor preparing to open a new show must balance her creative life with the daily dramas of family and friends, in Kelly Reichardt’s vibrant and captivatingly funny portrait of art & craft. Director: Kelly Reichardt (US 2023) 108 min.

“A hand-crafted wonder… a beautifully acted, expertly modulated film.”

– The Hollywood Reporter

“Finds piercing drama and wry comedy in the struggle to do anything at all.”

– The New York Times

OPENS APRIL 21

Lasse Hallström brings to the big screen the life story of a woman who defied conventions and revolutionized the art world when her work was exhibited in 2019 at the Guggenheim in NYC. Hilma died in 1944, unknown and unrecognized as the woman who invented abstract painting, displacing Kandinsky, Malevich, and Mondrian as the initiators of abstract painting and Modernism. A nuanced portrait of a woman who chose to remain true to her vision as an artist, despite working in a hostile, misogynistic world. The allstar cast includes Tora Hallström and Oscar nominee Lena Olin, who play Hilma at different ages, Tom Wlaschiha, Catherine Chalk and Lily Cole. Director: Lasse Hallström. Sweden, 2022, 115 min. (Filmed in English on Swedish locations.)

OPENS APRIL 21

SATURDAY APRIL 22 7:00

Lady in Ermine portrays the moment Sofi realizes her calling for portraiture and envisions the masterpiece she will render, one day, capturing the soul of Philip II of Spain, the foreign ruler who invaded her country. Director: Donna DiGiuseppe (Italy 2022) 8 min.

Cheryl Pope, proprietor of Sausalito’s Books by the Bay and Founder of Literacy by the Bay, a foundation dedicated to literacy for people of all ages and backgrounds, will moderate an onstage conversation with writer/director Donna DiGiuseppe.

IN PERSON: WRITER/DIRECTOR

DONNA DIGUISEPPE

* PRECEDES SHOWING OF HILMA *

SPECIAL EARTH DAY SCREENING and CONVERSATION

Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire takes viewers on a journey with the top experts in the nation to better understand fire. It follows the harrowing escape from Paradise, California as the town ignited from wind-driven embers and burned within a few hours of the fire’s start. It then continues to the more recent fires when Oregon, California, and Colorado suffered their worst wildfires in recorded history. Elemental includes climate experts, Indigenous people, and fire survivors, and asks us to reimagine our relationship with wildfire as we prepare for an increasingly hotter future. Director: Trip Jennings (US 2022) 84 min.

SATURDAY APRIL 22 4:15

The third documentary in the Screenagers trilogy delves into how the tech revolution has reshaped adolescence and teen substance use. Debunking many myths, the film illustrates strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, and create healthy home environments; and highlights the many ways young people are using their wisdom and strength to help each other and themselves through this complicated terrain. Screenagers Under the Influence explores scenarios addressing the current reality teens face being flooded by images on social media, movies, and TV about vaping, drugs, and alcohol. Directors Lisa Tabb & Delaney Ruston (US 2023) 68 min.

TUESDAY APRIL 25 7:00

SCREENING FOLLOWED BY AN IN-DEPTH PANEL DISCUSSION

SUNDAY APRIL 30 4:30

Ganden is the most influential monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. For more than 500 years, monks lived in Ganden in simplicity and contentment, before the Chinese invasion drove them from their beloved home to start anew in India. Embodying the strength and joy their tradition teaches, survivors of the exodus tell of their lives in the old and new Ganden in Ngawang Choephel’s moving film, made in collaboration with creative consultant Annie Lennox. Filmed on location at Ganden Monastery in India, the film honors the stories of the monks’ lives in both the old and new Ganden. In English and Tibetan with English subtitles. Director: Ngawang Choephel (India/USA 2019) 76 min.

IN PERSON: DIRECTOR

NGAWANG CHOEPHEL

A few days before Christmas, having quit his job in Germany, Madhias returns to his mule-ethnic Transylvanian village. He wishes to involve himself more in the education of his son, Rudi, for too long in the care of his mother, Ana, and to rid the boy of the unresolved fears that have taken hold of him. He’s preoccupied with his old father, Odo, and also eager to see his ex-lover, Csilla. When a few new workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying fears grip the adults, and frustraeons, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin veneer of apparent understanding and calm. In Romanian with English subtitles. Director: Cristian Mungiu (Romania 2022) 128 min. OPENS MAY 5

SPECIAL MAY MADNESS FAMILY SCREENING!

Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters. Director: John Lasseter (US 2006) 117 min.

$5 For Everyone!

Following the national trauma of World War II, Italian society is in turmoil. Ardent leftist Silvio Magnozzi (Alberto Sordi) spent the war as an anti-fascist guerrilla, and he’s dismayed to see the country he fought for lurching rightward politically and focusing on shallow materialism instead of civil rights. Unable to keep his former job as a journalist, Silvio loses both his social standing and his wife (Lea Massari), until he attempts to back away from his principles. In Italian with English subtitles. Director: Dino Risi (Italy 1961) 118 min.

NEW 4K RESTORATION

OPENS MAY 15

This film chronicles contemporary artists living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area and how they extend the historical legacy of Bay Area activism. It follows the work of artists Sadie Barnette, Amy Franceschini (Futurefarmers), Jim Goldberg, Tucker Nichols, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Alicia McCarthy, Nigel Poor (Ear Hustle), and Michael Swaine. Directors: Griff Williams, Keelan Williams. (US 2022) Film 88 min. plus discussion.

IN PERSON: FILMMAKER GRIFF WILLIAMS ARTIST TUCKER NICHOLS CURATOR NATASHA BOAS

Co-Presented by

THURSDAY MAY 18 7:00

An intimate and revealing portrait of a largely misunderstood American icon, this emotional and engaging documentary about Yogi Berra takes us beyond the caricatures and “Yogisms,” and into the heart of a sports legend whose unparalleled accomplishments on the baseball diamond were often overshadowed by his offthe-field persona. Director: Sean Mullin (US 2023) 98 min.

“A joyful celebration! Perfectly captures the magic that was Yogi Berra. Entertaining and intimate.”– Mark Johnson, Awards Daily

“An unabashed love letter to the great Yogi Berra. I loved it!” – Leonard Maltin, LeonardMaltin.com

OPENS MAY 19

Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton) is the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. He is as much devoted to tending the grounds of this beautiful and historic estate as he is to pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager Mrs. Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). However, chaos enters Narvel’s spartan existence when Mrs. Haverhill demands that he take on her wayward and troubled great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as a new apprentice, unlocking dark secrets from a buried violent past that threaten them all. Director: Paul Schrader (US 2023) 107 min. OPENS

One of the most remarkable Tibetan Buddhist lamas to come to the US was Geshe Ngawang Wangyal, a founding figure in the spread of Buddhism in the West, and was instrumental in arranging for the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the US in 1979. He established the Lamaist Buddhist Monastery of America, the first Tibetan Buddhist center here, in Freehold, New Jersey, after emigrating to the US in 1955, and was the first to teach American students, including composer Philip Glass and now-leading scholars Robert Thurman and Jeffrey Hopkins. India, Russia, Hong Kong, and Germany. In English and Russian with English subtitles. Director: Ella Manzheeva (Armenia 2022) 97 min.

IN PERSON: DIRECTOR ELLA MANZHEEVA + ROBERT THURMAN, PRES. TIBET HOUSE US

When dedicated high school teacher Rachel (Virginie Efira) falls in love with Ali (Roschdy Zem), it’s not long before she also falls for his 4-yearold daughter Leila. The adolescent giddiness of Rachel and Ali’s late night rendezvous and secret sleepovers evolves into the familiar warmth of family picnics and after-school pickups. Although she feels like a mother, Rachel is not allowed to forget that Lelia is another woman’s daughter. She begins to long for a child of her own, but as a forty-something woman, she is abundantly aware that she has limited time to begin a family. Other People’s Children becomes a soulful, sexy, and resolutely grown-up story of the elusive quest for agency and belonging. In French with English subtitles. Director: Rebecca Zlotowski (France 2022) 104 min

Our favorite Beatleologist Scott Freiman joins us live at the Rafael with three new multimedia presentations and a Saturday evening meet & greet! Scott combines his love of The Beatles with his experience as a composer, producer and engineer to deliver unique educational lectures about the creative process of the Beatles. He moves past the personalities of the four Beatles to uncover the reasons why their music continues to be loved by millions. Sharing rare audio, video, and photos of the Beatles, Scott’s multimedia presentations transport his audiences into Abbey Road Studio with anecdotes about The Beatles’ recording sessions, allowing fans to experience the evolution of The Beatles’ groundbreaking albums and songs. Scott’s lectures have entertained audiences of musicians and non-musicians alike, from pre-teenagers to octogenarians. Once you’ve attended one of Scott’s presentations, you’ll never listen to The Beatles or any other music the same way again!

1964 was a critical year in Beatles history. After being ignored by Capitol Records in America, the Beatles finally broke through, releasing several hit singles and albums and making a triumphant debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Later that year, they created the groundbreaking film, A Hard Day’s Night, for which Lennon and McCartney wrote some of their best songs to date.

Scott will share the stories behind the 1964 Beatles along with a track-by-track look at the songs of A Hard Day’s Night, including “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” and the title track.

$15 General | $13 Seniors & Youth $10 CAFILM members

In late 1964, the Beatles begin to move from the early, heady days of Beatlemania into the beginnings of more mature influences – both musically and otherwise!

Scott will share the stories behind the making of Beatles for Sale and the “I Feel Fine”/”She’s A Woman” single. The presentation continues with a look at the making of Help!, diving deep into the songs from that film and album, including “Help!” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” and “Yesterday.” The presentation ends with the story of the Beatles’ groundbreaking Shea Stadium concert.

Following the program, join us for a meet & greet with Scott

$20 General | $18 Seniors & Youth $15 CAFILM members

After more than eight hours of Peter Jackson’s epic Get Back documentary, you might think that there is nothing more to be said about the Beatles’ recording sessions for Let It Be. But, you would be wrong.

Scott will dive deep into the music of Let It Be with insights into the composition, arrangement, and production of classic songs like “Get Back,” “Two Of Us,” and “Let It Be.” Using rare audio and video, Scott provides a musical focus to the Get Back sessions. Scott will also discuss how Phil Spector applied his special touch to the final Let It Be album.

$15 General | $13 Seniors & Youth $10 CAFILM members

OPENS IN MAY

The Eight Mountains is the story of a friendship. Of children becoming men who try to erase the footprints of their fathers, but who, through the twists and turns they take, always end up returning home. Pietro is a boy from the city, Bruno is the last child of a forgotten mountain village. Over the years Bruno remains faithful to his mountain, while Pietro is the one who comes and goes. Their encounters introduce them to love and loss, reminding them of their origins, letting their destinies unfold, as Pietro and Bruno discover what it means to be true friends for life. In Italian with English subtitles. Directors: Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix van Groeningen (Italy 2022) 147 min.

OPENS IN MAY

Rome, 1970s: a world which straddles new neighbourhoods being created, TV variety shows still in black&white, societal advances, and family models that now seem outdated. Clara and Felice have just moved into a new apartment. Their marriage has reached a point of no return: they no longer love each other, but they can’t seem to leave each other either. Their children are the only thing that keeps them together, the same children that are the syphon for all of Clara’s dreams of freedom. Adriana, the eldest, has just turned twelve; Clara’s mood swings and the growing tensions between her parents play out before her watchful gaze. In Italian with English subtitles. Director: Emanuele Crialese (Italy 2022) 97 min

SUNDAY JUNE 4 4:15

Meet the Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. A Hard Day’s Night, in which the bandmates play cheeky comic versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell,” A Hard Day’s Night is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time. Director: Richard Lester (UK 1964) 87 min.

Into The Night features intimate, provocative stories of nine men and women forever changed by their encounters with mortality. Through the lenses of Buddhism, a cancer diagnosis, a Native American vision quest, Talmudic perspectives, artistic pursuits, medical advances in aging and longevity, and breakthrough technologies, they challenge us to rethink our place in the universe. Featuring Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei and Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei, founders of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Director: Helen Whitney (US 2017) 112 min.

ON-STAGE CONVERSATION with DIRECTOR

HELEN WHITNEY, CHODO

ROBERT CAMPBELL SENSEI, KOSHIN PALEY ELLISON SENSEI

SUNDAY JUNE 18 4:30

The Great 14th—Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama in His Own Words, is an autobiography that uses first hand conversations and previously unreleased images and footage from His Holiness’ private collection, to paint an intimate, complex, and humanized story of the vast experiences that he has encountered. Uniquely, this film is narrated by the Dalai Lama himself. The film explores an epic and heroic life of resilience, historical importance, and unbounded humanity that has touched and influenced people of all faiths and nationalities around the world for more than 60 years. This special screening is in honor of the 14th Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday. Director: Rosemary Rawcliffe (USA 2019) 82 min.

SUNDAY JULY 9 4:30

IN PERSON: DIRECTOR ROSEMARY RAWCLIFFE and SPEAKER TBA

Dark Red Forest is a beautiful invocation of the unique daily life of women devoted to their faith, an intimate engagement with a hidden world. 20.000 Buddhist nuns live in a monastery on a snowy plateau in Tibet. Surrounded by harsh nature and secluded from the outside world, these women offer us a glimpse into their exploration of life’s biggest questions. Far away from their families, the nuns commit everything to reach an awakened state, entrusting themselves to the lama and each other. Filmed on location at Yarchen Monastery. In Tibetan and Chinese with English subtitles. Director: Jin Huaqing (China 2021) 85 min.

IN PERSON: DIRECTOR JIN HUAQING and SPEAKER TBA

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17 4:30

CINEMA

ARTS WORKSHOPS FOR AGES 11-18

DOCUMENTARY FILM PRODUCTION FOR TEENS

JULY 10 - 14 | AGES 14-18 | IN PERSON

Learn the ins and outs of nonfiction storytelling and filmmaking and produce short documentary films in small-group collaborations.

NARRATIVE FILM PRODUCTION FOR TWEENS

JULY 17 - 22 and JULY 24 - 28 | AGES 11-13 | IN PERSON

Learn elements of screenwriting, cinematography, sound, editing, and more and collaborate with fellow students on the production of a short movie.

YOUTH IN INDUSTRY LAB

JULY 17 - 22 | AGES 14-18 | ONLINE

Connect with film professionals from across the industry in a series of online interactive workshops that allow you to explore a wide range of film roles and career paths.

YOUNG CURATORS

JULY 24 - 28 | AGES 15-18 | ONLINE

Learn how film festivals decide what to show to their audiences, and serve as a member of the jury that chooses the films for the youth-produced shorts program at MVFF46.

Need-based scholarships are available for all programs.

Complete program information and registration: cfieducation.org/summerfilm

PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THE

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The California Film Institute and Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center are located in Marin County, California, on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of the Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples. This includes the Southern Pomo and Graton Rancheria Tribes. These tribes were removed or displaced from their lands. We recognize this history and the harm to present-day Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples and to their ancestors. The California Film Institute commits to moving forward from a place of authenticity and working with present-day tribes to elevate their stories, history, and present-day legacy through film.

TELL US YOUR STORIES

@CAFILMINSTITUTE

@CAFILM

@CALIFORNIAFILMINSTITUTE

CALIFORNIAFILMINSTITUTE

Cover image: Tell Them We Were Here playing May 18

The Smith Rafael Film Center is owned and operated by the California Film Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also presents The Mill Valley Film Festival each October, DocLands Documentary Film Festival each May, and offers CAFILM Education programs throughout the year. © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. No portion of the Mill Valley Film Festival program may be duplicated in any form without written consent from the Smith Rafael Film Cente and/or the California Film Institute.

OPENING NIGHT IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

Wednesday . May 10 . 6:30pm

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls have been making music together for 40 years. Whether you are a long-time devotee or discovering them for the first time, this intimate portrait of these enduring icons, and outspoken queer activists, will not disappoint. In Person: Director Alexandria Bombach | Followed by Opening Night Party

DOCLANDS HONORS DAWN PORTER

Thursday . May 11 . 6:30pm

With screening of The Lady Bird Diaries. Within the revealing personal audio diary recorded throughout her husband’s term as President of the US, Lady Bird Johnson admitted she found the term “First Lady” distasteful. Despite this she used the title to prove herself a savvy political strategist and propel her conservationist ideas into action. In Person: Director Dawn Porter, Producer Kim Reynolds | Followed by Reception

SPECIAL SCREENING IMMEDIATE FAMILY

Saturday . May 13 . 6:30pm

From The Wrecking Crew! director Denny Tedesco, this tuneful doc introduces a group of legendary studio musicians who worked together through the ’70s, ’80s, and onward, chronicling their illustrious partnerships and a formidable track record of hits In Person: Director Denny Tedesco, Musicians Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel | Followed by Reception

CLOSING NIGHT FILM RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE

Sunday . May 14 . 7:00

With sea levels rising, Miami’s real estate developers look to higher and drier ground, making Liberty City — a historically ignored and predominantly Black neighborhood — all the more desirable. Oscar ®-nominated director Katja Esson collects stories from residents as they brace to become America’s new climate refugees. In Person: Director Katja Esson, Producer Ann Bennett, Subject Samantha Quarterman

Logan Red Crow, a spirited young Siksika woman who lives on her ancestral lands in Blackfoot Territory, is determined to compete in one of the most dangerous bareback horse races in the world. Guided by director Banchi Hanuse’s sure hand, Logan’s story is at once lyrical and exhilarating.

MAY 11, 7:00

Pop icon and activist Aryana Sayeed mentors two young female frontrunners on Afghanistan’s answer to American Idol, which has never had a female winner in 13 years. But then the Taliban returns to power.

MAY 14, 4:30

In Person: Director Fazila Amiri

Peabody-winning director Ian Cheney delivers an eccentric and thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s relationship with impermanence through archives, memory, and the construction of a wooden ark. With a diverse cast of experts, including Werner Herzog, the film brims with quirky and deep philosophical musings about the complexities of being human.

MAY 13, 5:15

When the Muscogee (Creek) Nation repeals the Free Press Act of 2015, fearless and irrepressible Mvskoke Media journalist Angel Ellis risks her reputation and livelihood by taking up a political battle to keep her fellow citizens informed and her government accountable.

MAY 11, 4:00

In Person: Director Joe Peeler, Subject Angel Ellis

Filmmakers Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo trail charismatic Ugandan pop star, member of parliament, and presidential aspirant Bobi Wine as he attempts to put an end to the tyrannical regime of sit-tight president Yoweri Museveni.

MAY 12, 1:30

This family-friendly delight profiles renowned Catalan horse wrangler Santi Serra, whose exceptional gift for communicating with animals is the foundation of a unique training program based on strong bonds of friendship. Serra’s work has a lasting impact on both animals and humans.

MAY 14, 3:00

In Person: Subject Santi Serra

Chef Jimmy Lee Hill offers tender but tough tutelage at a gourmet culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Using intimate camera work, directors Brian Kaufman and Mark Kurlyandchik construct an endearing fly-on-the-wall narrative following three of Hill’s trainees as they face decisions that will profoundly affect their futures.

MAY 13, 11:30 am

In Person: Director Brian Kaufman

Narrated by Jason Momoa, the new film from director Matthieu Rytz ( Anote’s Ark , DocLands 2018) presents an elegant and sobering examination of deep-sea mining and how it might change the world — for better or worse. Rytz brings an under-the-radar story into sharp, here-and-now focus, highlighting the urgency of this little-discussed aspect of the climate crisis conversation.

MAY 11, 1:45

Award-winning fashion designer Amy

Powney reclaims her eco-activist roots and embarks on an urgent quest to make Mother of Pearl a sustainable brand. Her team searches the globe for ethical partners in every phase of clothing manufacture— sparking a revolution to greatly reduce ecological harm while redefining style.

MAY 14, 2:00

Nikki Giovanni probably doesn’t come to mind when one thinks of Afrofuturism, but maybe she should. The winner of the 2023 Sundance US Grand Jury Prize for documentary, this visually poetic and emotionally profound portrait amplifies the iconic poet’s cosmic perspective on the future, as well as her enduring legacy.

MAY 13, 2:30

In Person: Directors Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson

From The Wrecking Crew! director Denny Tedesco, this tuneful doc introduces a group of legendary studio musicians who worked together through the ’70s, ’80s, and onward, chronicling their illustrious partnerships and a formidable track record of hits.

MAY 13, 6:30

In Person: Director Denny Tedesco, Musicians Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel

Earth’s polar ice is melting at an alarming rate and with major global consequences. But how quickly are sea levels rising, and how much time do we have left to change course? In this visually stunning adventure, leading glaciologists look for answers.

MAY 13, 8:15

Behold the beautiful story of pioneering Black model, agency founder, and influential fashion-industry diversity advocate Bethann Hardison. In her decades-long career, Hardison created a place for models of color on fashion’s top runways by holding her industry responsible for representing all shades of beauty.

MAY 12, 7:00

In Person: Director Frédéric Tcheng, Director/Subject Bethann Hardison

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls have been making music together for 40 years. Whether you are a long-time devotee or discovering them for the first time, this intimate portrait of these enduring icons, and outspoken queer activists, will not disappoint.

MAY 10, 6:30

In Person: Director Alexandria Bombach

By way of lyrical montage and wise contemplation, Academy Award ®-nominee Elaine McMillion Sheldon’s film explores the waning dominance of the coal industry in an Appalachian mining community, and the profound impact it has on American cultural identity.

MAY 13, 4:00

In Person: Director Elaine McMillion

Sheldon

Within the revealing personal audio diary recorded throughout her husband’s term as President of the US, Lady Bird Johnson admitted she found the term “First Lady” distasteful. Despite this she used the title to prove herself a savvy political strategist and propel her conservationist ideas into action.

MAY 11, 6:30

In Person: Director Dawn Porter, Producer Kim Reynolds

A haunting reflection on a complex history, Jesse Short Bull & Laura Tomaselli’s film explores the struggles of their ancestors and the ongoing efforts of the current generation to reclaim their identity and their land, the sacred Black Hills.

MAY 12, 6:30

In Person: Directors Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli

Matt Waldeck’s heartfelt and sensitive approach to the 39-year false imprisonment of Rickey Jackson makes for a true-crime standout. Black-and-white re-enactments and dream sequences intertwine with Jackson’s own voice to give viewers a passenger seat on his wrenching but ultimately miraculous journey.

MAY 12, 3:45

In Person: Director Matt Waldeck, Subject/Producer Rickey Jackson

In this 2021 DocPitch Finalist, a son’s journey to understand his conservative Christian parents leads him to discover more than just a shocking prosthetic nipple factory in the back bedroom. He also discovers a heartwarming love story.

MAY 14, 6:30

In Person: Director Justin Johnson, Subject Randi Johnson

Unfolding like a magical, modern fairytale, this beautiful and intimate story follows the seven-year endeavor by textile artist Allan Brown, after the death of his beloved wife, to weave a hand-spun dress from stinging nettles foraged in the woods surrounding his home. An exquisite journey through loss, grief, and healing.

MAY 14, 12:30

In Person: Director Dylan Howitt, Subject Allan Brown

The Race Across America is a grueling 12day, 3,082-mile bicycle race. André Kajlich aims to be the first double amputee to complete this arduous endeavor on an adapted bike that allows him to pedal with his arms, taking on what many deem impossible.

MAY 13, 1:00

In Person: Director Pablo Durana

Far from a simple rock doc, this profile of four Toronto musicians, all on the autism spectrum, is packed with pathos and punchlines. A compelling story and interesting leads, not to mention plenty of catchy tunes, make this one more than just okay.

MAY 12, 4:30

Marine videographer Patrick Dykstra explores the underwater world, sharing but also vigorously questioning his emotional attachment to whales. This ravishing visual experience pairs outstanding underwater footage with a throbbing curiosity to better understand between-species relationships.

MAY 14, 12:00

With sea levels rising, Miami’s real estate developers look to higher and drier ground, making Liberty City — a historically ignored and predominantly Black neighborhood — all the more desirable. Oscar ®-nominated director Katja Esson collects stories from residents as they brace to become America’s new climate refugees.

MAY 14, 7:00

In Person: Director Katja Esson, Producer Ann Bennett, Subject Samantha Quarterman

When US sexual assault victims muster the courage to make a police report, their trauma can be compounded by interrogation that suggests they’re lying. They may even find themselves under arrest, their assailants remaining free. Several such instances are investigated in this shocking portrait of systemic bias and negligence. MAY 11, 4:30

In Person: Director Nancy Schwartzman, Producers/Subjects Rachel de Leon, Amanda Pike

Director Mathieu Le Lay endures blizzards and impossibly steep slopes as he follows wildlife photographer Jérémie Villet’s relentless efforts to photograph mountain goats in Canada’s Yukon. Capturing the exquisite but bitterly cold conditions, Le Lay's film documents the toll perfection takes in the search for divine beauty. MAY 14, 2:15

SHORTS

A BAFFIN VACATION Shown with YUKON, A WHITE DREAM

A DISAPPEARING FOREST Shown with PATRICK AND THE WHALE

RANGE RIDER Shown with AITAMAAKO’TAMISSKAPI NATOSI

WALKING ON CLOUDS Shown with NO LEGS. ALL HEART.

WALKING TWO WORLDS Shown with INVISIBLE BEAUTY

BOX OFFICE

SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER | 1118 FOURTH STREET | SAN RAFAEL

TICKETS AVAILABLE

April 6 – May 9: Doclands.com and during regular business hours at Smith Rafael Film Center

May 10 – 14: 60 min before first show until 15 min after start of last show and doclands.com