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SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT

The 15th San Francisco Silent Film Festival kicked-off this past weekend with their opening night party at the McRoskey Mattress Company on Market Street. We were there to celebrate the festival, especially the world premiere of newly restored version of Fritz Lang’s 1927 masterpiece Metropolis. We enlisted the help of Alex Smith, a metal artist, to sculpt a Maria mask which we set against a backdrop of the classic Metropolis film poster. Our photo booth gave the Silent Film Festival party goers the chance to be Maria, the machine-human, one of cinema’s most famous icons, for a moment!

Our whimsical and contemporary take on the classic Metropolis poster

Dottie Guy, SFFM Photographer and Annie Mueller, SFFM Community Liaison in action

Eddie Muller (Czar of Noir), Anita Monga (SFF Director) with Paula Félix-Didier and Fernando Peña (Argentinian film archivists responsible for the missing segments of Metropolis)

A charming couple enjoys being photographed into the Metropolis poster

THE CASTRO THEATER SCREENS METROPOLIS

On Friday night, we were at the screening of Metropolis at the Castro Theater. But this wasn’t just any show—this was the Bay Area premiere of the most complete version of the film, including scenes discovered in the archives of the Museo del Cine (film museum) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The archivists who preserved the missing segments were on hand for an onstage interview with Eddie Muller, and the film was shown with a live score by the acclaimed Alloy Orchestra. After all these years, Metropolis still has people sitting in the aisles!

It’s evidenced by the long line that the Bay Area loves Metropolis. There were 1,400 attendees!

A poised woman poses for a photo

More behind the scenes with SFFM crew

THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

From silents to talkies, Claymation to CGI, film has a long history; organizations like the Silent Film Festival help preserve it, and share rare cinema with an audience that otherwise might never see it. But film is also an archive of history itself. It captures the art, the politics, and the changes that were once new and controversial. Film is a timeline of our shared culture.

The Bay Area has a community that understands the need for film preservation; the San Francisco Film Museum exists to ensure the Bay Area’s cultural history, and that films like Metropolis, will always have an audience.

Special thanks to following: San Francisco Silent Film Festival / McRoskey Mattress Company / The Castro Theater / The Little Giant Lighting / Dottie Lou Photography / A’ja Foto / Alex Smith / Our Amazing Volunteers

Click here to view the embedded video.

Teams will be comprised of 2-5 people. Each team will receive a packet containing 20 printed screenshots from San Francisco-based films. The screenshots will show a location, landmark or other visual cue from San Francisco for teams to locate. No knowledge of film locations is required—you just need a sharp mind, a digital camera (one per group) and a good pair of shoes. You may also want to bring a city map, smart phone or GPS device.

The winning team will be determined by the highest number of locations captured within the designated time. All scavenger hunt team photos must be taken with one digital camera, cell phone photos will not be accepted. Each winning team member will receive a film-related prize. We will start at the Ferry Building Traffic Island promptly at noon, so please arrive early. At 3:30, the scavenger hunt will cease and all the teams will meet up at a pre-determined location, where the winning team will be decided. Although the event is timed, our focus is less about competition and more about having a fun, unique and educational experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SFFM was chosen by the San Francisco Arts Commission to participate in the Art in Storefronts Project. Our exhibition “Celebrate Film In San Francisco!” was at 989 Market, directly across from The Warfield.

Our installation was a 3D collection of digital images showcasing San Francisco’s rich film heritage. The centerpiece was a “A Trip Down Market Street,” a Miles Brothers film shot in 1906. Filmed using a camera mounted to the front of a cable car moving steadily down Market Street toward the Ferry building, it captures the city mere months before the 1906 earthquake. See the video below.

Local news crews grabbing coverage of the event

The crowd viewing the sffm installation

Smaller monitors surrounded the Miles Brothers film depicting images from the SF Bay Area’s cinematic history. Featured locations included: Union Square, Justin Herman Plaza, Market Street, the Portrero Hill tracks, Stockton Tunnel, Golden Gate Bridge, Russian Hill, and the 38 bus line.

from behind the installation, the audience is captivated by the historical Miles Brother’s film

About The Art In Storefronts Project

The “Art in Storefronts” opening reception was Friday, October 23rd. Several city officials were present for our unveiling, including Mayor Gavin Newsom. After watching part of “A Trip Down Market Street,” he exclaimed “Who said Market Street was cleaner back then!”

SFFM Board Member John Carlson greets the Mayor

Official press coverage of the event can be found here.

We would like to thank John Freiman and HANNspree, our official sponsor for this project, for their generous donation of monitors and digital frames. Without their support, our installation would not have been possible.