Traven Marx and Liz Lucas with Verdant Studio, Molly Clark with Cal Poly Arts, and Thomas Patchell with SLO Review (photo by Raoul Wise)
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival launched its six-day program on Thursday night at the majestic Fremont Theater in downtown SLO.
Opening Night is the art event that brings a diverse crowd together to ignite a celebration of cinematic art and storytelling on the silver screen.
Within the fabled Fremont—among the colorful art deco sweeps and swirls tumbling up the walls—film afficionados, fans, filmmakers, and present and former festival organizers mingled to the soulful music of Jazz 59 while enjoying paella from Luna Red, Cal Poly cheese, and sips of Vina Robles wine.
The bustling crowd eventually quieted down to listen to Executive Director Skye McLennan’s moving speech.
“We love movies because we love stories, and without our stories, we are nothing,” McLennan said, tearing up as she spoke.
Then the movie of the evening, DJ Ahmet—about a lovestruck Turkish shepherd boy and his outlandish strategies for winning the heart of a girl betrothed to another man—sent the crowd chuckling into the night with much to think about.
“Over the years, the festival has transformed from a classics film fest to a contemporary juried film fest focusing on documentaries, narrative storytelling, burgeoning filmmakers, and special events with directors, actors, and other collaborators in filmmaking, and educating people on cinema,” according to Steve Leone, a former member of the festival’s board of directors.
There’s much more to come during the festival’s six days, with a radical variety of films, times, and venues, not to mention special events like filmmaker panels and workshops:
April 25: Surf Nite, Fremont Theater, Reception featuring local band Riff Tide and Screening of Creatures of Habit, Making Waves: The Lakey Peterson Story, and Nø Way
April 26: Community of Skate, Fremont Theater, Photo Call and Reception with pro skaters Haden McKenna and Leandre Sanders, Chico Brenes, and Aaron Meza, and Screening of Skategoat, Against the Current, and 7×7 with Q&A following
April 27: Spotlight Award, Hotel San Luis Obispo and Fremont Theater, Red Carpet and Reception with Jay Duplass, and Screening of The Baltimorons with Q&A following
April 28: King Vidor Award, Palm Theatre and Hotel San Luis Obispo, Screening of Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion and Reception with Bob Mackie, followed by a Conversation with Bob Mackie
April 29: Closing Night & Award Ceremony, Fremont Theater, Photo Call, Award Ceremony and Screening of Coastal followed by a Q&A with Daryl Hannah and Neil Young