2018 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 16th Santa Cruz Festival, Oct 3–7th,SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL2018 2018 1 www.santacruzfilmfestival.org for tickets and info HOTEL PARADOX, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION WELCOME TO THE SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL The Santa Cruz Film Festival began 16 years ago, evolving from the Earth Vision film festival with a charter to screen environmental films. Every year we’re proud to bring films that celebrate nature and the environment to Santa Cruz, where we take great pride in our own luxury of natural riches along the Central Coast. Over the years a strong social justice element to the films has emerged in our pro- gramming, reflecting the activist values here in Santa Cruz. And like other places where natural beauty and intellect converge, we have a vibrant arts community in Santa Cruz, and our festival celebrates this in selecting films with a spotlight on the arts. A survey listed Santa Cruz as the best place in the Bay Area to raise a daughter. We’ve brought that to life in our special focus on women filmmakers and films about visionary women. Santa Cruz is often seen as a place for fun, home of the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You’ll see this free spirit reflected in films selected for our comedy section. The Santa Cruz film festival re-located to the new Tannery Arts Center campus 3 years ago to screen independent films in more intimate venues. Independent film screenings allow audiences to interact with filmmakers in our art house style theaters. We’ve organized this year’s program guide to help you explore the special themes of our films. In our new partnership with Hotel Paradox, we’ve even added some lively parties and special screenings to the mix. We’re proud to be able to celebrate the art of independent film here in Santa Cruz! There is an inherent synergy between independent film and Autograph Collection Hotels — Indie filmmakers and screenwriters tell stories that inspire, provoke, and connect us; while immersive storytelling is part of our DNA, enabling travelers to connect to their destination in a memorable way. Autograph Collection is thrilled to support this dynamic and important industry with partners who champion individuality and diversity, and empower storytellers to do the same. www.hotelparadox.com 611 Ocean Street | Santa Cruz, CA 95060 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 3 The Colligan Theater Radius Art Gallery — Festival Hub Located at 1010 River street, The Colligan Theater has 182 seats with Radius Gallery is a professional art venue and gallery at the Tannery two aisles and more distance between rows for better leg room. With Arts Center showcasing the work of local, regional and international a higher rise from one row to the next there is a better view of action artists. Curated exhibitions are year-round and present all art disci- on the stage. Inside you’ll enjoy the spacious lobby with concessions plines. Radius Gallery is also available to rent for events, receptions, bar, and outside you’ll find a beautifully landscaped patio and garden, workshops, and other creative projects. This year we will be hosting relics of the old Tannery, and also dozens of free adjacent parking educational panels, tech demonstrations, and evening DJ parties spaces exclusively for theater patrons. during the festival. Our Italian themed closing party and awards cere- mony will be in the gallery. Hotel Paradox Courtyard and Corridor Theaters at Join us for special screenings and parties at Hotel Paradox Ballroom. the Tannery World Dance Centers Hotel Paradox strikes the perfect balance between nature and urban Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center is a studio, performance, design without excessive fuss. A Paradox is meant for discussion and cultural space housed inside the Tannery Arts Center, right on and questioning the obvious. This Autograph Collection Hotel will the main courtyard. We’re calling it our “Courtyard Theater.” This challenge you with bold contradictions. The engaging staff invite you unique hub is surrounded by loft artists, galleries, sculptures, and the to enjoy an experience where the ambiance is contemporary, inviting Dead Cow Cafe. The Black Box theater, we’ve named our “Corridor and a little bit mysterious. Theater” situated in the corridor between the cafe and the art studios is home to professional dance artists from all over the world. We have Hotel Paradox... Expect the Unexpected. code-accessed, clean, public restrooms and ample, free parking! Bistro One Twelve Located on the center courtyard of the Tannery Arts Center, the café offers a variety of creatively inspired appetizers, salads, flatbread pizzas, sandwiches, and deserts. The bar menu includes a variety of creative cocktails named after artists, as well as wine, champagne, and craft beers. Open daily from 11:00-9:00pm. SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 5 4 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 Contents Special Events 7 SPECIAL EVENTS Premieres 8 EarthVision Environmental and Social Justice 12 Opening Film and Party Visionary Women 18 Dark Money Spotlight on the Arts 22 WED, OCT 3; 6:00 PM (COLLIGAN PLAZA THEATER) Comedy 30 “‘Dark Money,’ with its focus on the personal stories of how individuals are impacted by the flood of campaign money in the system, is an example of World Documentary 34 how ‘storytelling matters when you are trying to raise awareness of the issues,’ Chuck Todd (Meet The Press) said.” —Ted Johnson, Variety World Narrative 39 Index of Films 44 DARK MONEY, a political thriller, examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate Map 45 money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to Montana—a frontline in the fight to preserve fair elections nationwide—to follow an intrepid local journalist working to expose the real-life impacts of the US Supreme Court’s Citizens Program Grid 46–47 United decision. Through this gripping story, DARK MONEY uncovers the shocking and vital truth of how American elections are bought and sold. This Sundance award-winning documentary is directed/produced by Kimberly Reed (PRODIGAL SONS) and produced by Katy Chevigny (E-TEAM). Directed by: Kimberly Reed Country: USA; Language: English; Genre: Documentary Feature; Runtime: 99 mins. Sponsored by Nion McEvoy Ticketing Information Filmmakers expected to attend Individual Film Ticket Sales $10 Opening Party at Hotel Paradox Ballroom following the film Online: at santacruzfilmfestival.org or on brownpapertickets.com by movie title. In Person: cash at the door or credit card sales in Radius Gallery Closing Film and Party The Ark of Disperata Special events: SUN, OCT 7; 7:00 PM (COLLIGAN PLAZA THEATER) Opening Night (film + party) $55 In a small godforsaken town in southern Italy called Disperata, Filippo, the melancholic mayor, feels terribly inadequate in fulfilling his duties. The Closing Night (film + party) $55 only glimpse of light in the overall gloom is his love for poetry and teach- Purchase online in advance at santacruzfilmfestival.org or in person at the door ing literature to prison inmates. That is where he meets Pati, a low-level criminal; both Pati and his brother Angiolino share the dream of becoming Mafia bosses. Their encounter with art, however, changes everyone, and an unusual friendship among the three, leads them to make courageous deci- sions. The life of shy Filippo has been turned upside-down for good and he dives in head first, at last surrounded by a calm silence and not by fears. This unusual relationship heralds a rebirth of the small community of Disperata. Directed by: Edoardo Winspeare Country: Italy; Language: Italian; Genre: Narrative Feature; Runtime: 110 mins. Sponsored by the Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz Opening Party at Hotel Paradox Ballroom following the film SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 7 6 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 From the Ripple Tank PREMIERES THU, OCT 4; 4:45 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) World Premiere Synopsis: page 22 Find Me SAT, OCT 6; 2:30 PM (COLLIGAN PLAZA THEATER) World Premiere US Premiere Synopsis: page 30 Original Sin THU, OCT 4; 9:15 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) World Premiere Synopsis: page 32 Fireland Dogs SUN, OCT 7; 2:30 PM (COLLIGAN PLAZA THEATER) US Premiere Synopsis: page 35 Float SAT, OCT 6; 7:00 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) SUN, OCT 7; 12:00 PM (COLLIGAN PLAZA THEATER) RISE: World Premiere Synopsis: page 36 The Story of Augustines SAT, OCT 6; 9:15 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) World Premiere Synopsis: page 23 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 9 8 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 Calm Before The Rising Storm Chakham SAT, OCT 6; 9:15 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) SUN, OCT 7; 4:45 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) US Premiere Synopsis: page 23 US Premiere Synopsis: page 41 She Is The Ocean THU, OCT 4; 7:00 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) FRI, OCT 5; 4:45 PM The Further Adventures (CORRIDOR THEATER) of Walt’s Frozen Head World Premiere THU, OCT 4; 9:15 PM (HOTEL PARADOX BALLROOM) Synopsis: page 20 SAT, OCT 6; 2:30 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) World Premiere Synopsis: page 31 One Small Step THU, OCT 4; 9:15 PM (HOTEL PARADOX BALLROOM) SAT, OCT 6; 2:30 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) US Premiere Synopsis: page 31 Poco a Poco The Undecided THU, OCT 4; 7:00 PM (COURTYARD THEATER) SUN, OCT 7; 4:45 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) FRI, OCT 5; 4:45 PM (CORRIDOR THEATER) US Premiere US Premiere Synopsis: page 40 Synopsis: page 20 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 11 10 SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL 2018 Dark Money and prevention of modern chronic diseases. For centuries, THU, OCT 4; 12:00 PM (HOTEL PARADOX BALLROOM) the Tarahumara have found a safe place of refuge in the EARTHVISION remote regions of the Copper Canyons and Sierra Madre mountains in Chihuahua, Mexico.