Making old-school magic: Roxie Theatre manager Gabriella Siaton, left, demonstrates the Roxie’s 35mm projector for Lauren Cardinale ’28. / Photo by Jason Jakaitis
Beyond the Screen: Gaels Discover Inspiration at San Francisco International Film Festival
For those studying media production at Saint Mary’s, behind-the-scenes access to the longest-running film festivals in the country comes with the territory.
For nearly 70 years, world-renowned actors, distinguished and emerging filmmakers, and aspirational students have converged in San Francisco for the annual San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF). It is an opportunity to dissolve the borders that contain us in our everyday lives to gather and celebrate an artform that transcends the social constructs of both nationality and language.
For ten days, attendees have access to exclusive screenings, panels, and interviews with fellow cinephiles ranging from independent theatre operators, award-winning directors, and critics. This year’s SFIFF marked the 69th annual festival. If that sounds impressive, it is; this is the longest running film festival in the country, attracting cinephiles, professionals, and students. And this year eight students and alumni from Saint Mary’s, as well as Associate Professor of Communication Jason Jakaitis, had a behind-the-scenes experience with the festival in May.
During their time there, our Gaels were able to sit down with Lex Sloane, the executive director of the Roxie Theater, and learn the complex intricacies of running an independent movie theater. They were even transported back in time by learning how to thread 35mm film.
For Griffin Stenzel ’28, learning the workings of the Roxie was the highlight of the festival. “Hearing the staff talk about careers in film and media made the industry feel tangible and attainable in a way it never had before,” he said. “So often, students are told that pursuing film is unrealistic or reserved for a lucky few, but seeing so many people actively creating short films, preserving cinema history, and working in independent theaters made me realize that there are real pathways into this kind of work.”
The festival afforded the Saint Mary’s crew to attend a number of exclusive screenings as well—at the Premiere One Theater at Lucasfilm’s Presidio headquarters, the Alamo Drafthouse, and SFMoMA’s new theater—which hosted a screening of Bay Area basketball legend Stephen Curry’s directorial debut, The Baddest Speechwriter of All.
Curry’s film was a personal favorite of Lauren Cardinale ’28, who loved the combination of close-up shots and watercolor animation used in the documentary. “I learned so much about filmmaking and was able to see so many films I would have never been able to see if I didn’t attend the festival,” she said. Another Gael attendee, Amy Unruh ’27, found value in the wide array of screening venues. “It gave us a good range of viewing experiences and allowed us to understand the difference a theatre can make when watching a film,” she said.
The group of Gaels had also attended a screening of short documentaries by filmmaker Sam Green at Artist Television Access. It was the full ATA experience—attendees waved around bubble wands, eccentric live experimental music was performed, and guests wore capes to capture the aura of a film extravaganza. Adanna Ogu ’25, a pioneering Media Production program graduate, found the community experience particularly enriching. “I enjoyed the DIY atmosphere and the company of the audience, who were so receptive and open to the artwork and to one another,” she said. “I felt seen in so many ways on this excursion, and I’m hopeful that this group of young creatives will continue to keep these artist spaces alive and uplift others in the way these organizations lifted us on this trip.”
At SFIFF, inclusion goes beyond bubble wands and cape-wearing enthusiasts. At the end of every screening, there is an open Q&A. This enables attendees to draw from the wealth of knowledge from filmmakers themselves. Following a screening of How to Clean a House in 10 Easy Steps, a film exploring family dynamics and separation, the Saint Mary’s crew participated in a Q&A session with director Carolina Valencia. “Watching a film and having the opportunity to learn more about how it was made directly after the screenings was truly a unique experience,” said Lauren Cardinale.
SFIFF draws from the experience of seasoned filmmakers and actors, composers and screenwriters, and gives exclusive access to the next generation of those who dare to dream—and realize that vision on film. Film enables them to find their voices and reach others across the globe to share stories that remind us, regardless of nationality or language, that we are all human.
For McKenna Ingram ’25, MA ’26, a Media Production and Communication alumna, the festival also provided an imaginative spark. “I came in creatively stuck, the kind of stuck where you forget why you got into this work in the first place,” she said. “Four days of films, Q&As, and being around people who clearly care deeply about what they make shook something loose. I left feeling like myself again.”
Whether it is following the inspiration to run an independent theater, direct a captivating intergenerational documentary, or compose the next great score for generations to hum, the festival offered Saint Mary’s students and alumni hope and inspiration. No doubt some aspire to return to SFIFF, not only as attendees but as participants, to encourage the next generation of filmmakers to thread 35mm film into a camera and begin rolling.
