Season #21
September 5, 6, 7 and 24, 2024
Highlighted four evenings of films by local emerging and established filmmakers around the hill.
September 5, 2024 — film crawl on mission
We spread our wings and expanded the Film Crawl to a new quarter of Bernal Heights.
We’re grateful to the new Mission and 29th street business owners and community members who opened their doors and welcomed our audience and filmmakers.
The Magic Patio 3264 Mission Street
Films presented by
Experience audience favorites from the San Francisco Dance Film Festival! This selection of five short films range from documentary shorts to innovative narratives and represent a dynamic range of creativity with broad audience appeal. Featuring exciting locales like the bustling streets of Lagos, the roofs of Mexico City, and San Francisco’s skyline, dancers find poetic expression in the universal language of the body in motion.
I Just Wanna Dance 05:00
Dance
Amanda Beane
Set in a Victorian ballroom overlooking the San Francisco skyline, the dancers take a journey through genres of partner dancing, addressing homophobia and effeminophobia.
Circle 06:00
Dance
Philip Kaminiak
With undulating athleticism, powerful unisons, and a hypnotic score, “CIRCLE” explores cosmic forces at play for people living in mass cities.
Then Comes the Body 15:00
Documentary
Jacob Krupnick
Training on the dusty urban streets of Lagos, Nigeria, self-taught dancer and teacher Daniel Ajala’s passion drives his students to persevere as underdogs in the ballet world and find joy and meaning in their work.
Heartache 03:18
Dance
Iker Karrera, Alberto D. Centeno
Set in a derelict theater, “Heartache” deploys tensely expressive movement in a darkly playful take on the dynamics of seeing and being seen.
Old Man at the Corner Store 08:00
Narrative Dance
Nadav Heyman, Anabella Casanova
Set in a derelict theater, “Heartache” deploys tensely expressive movement in a darkly playful take on the dynamics of seeing and being seen.
Studio 45 45- 29th Street
Films presented by
My Turn 04:53
Isabelle Maria Tumboimbela,
Daisha Lin Sherman
One sunny morning in Jakarta, Indonesia, Beth and her younger sister Liz become fierce rivals in their race to the bathroom.
Tule 04:53
Animation
Jocelyn Estrella Garcia
The poetic contemplations of a young Pomo girl. She revels in the local nature’s glory, but dread strikes when she faces today’s careless pollution damage that impedes cultural practices.
I Was Never A Hippie, I Just looked Like One 16:44
Art Documentary
Adriana Marchione and KIrk Goldberg
A painter in his 85th year chronicles his life in self-portraits revealing an offbeat artistic journey mixed with humor and social commentary
Sense of Place 02:30
Documentary
Waleah Welsh
Sense of Place explores the idea of home from the perspective of an unhoused woman named Mama Shanon.
Re/Frame 04:54
Narrative
Kara Fabella and Craig Smith
Through a surreal turn of events, a model/influencer breaks free from the everyday pull of instant gratification.
Lady in Red 08:01
Noir Drama
Wes House
A private detective in San Francisco, becomes obsessed over the job while he is on a case following a young woman.
Kirk the Blacksmith 09:50
Documentary
Azad Azizyan
Kirk McNeill is a Blacksmith artist and an environmentalist in Santa Cruz, California, who utilizes his art to bring awareness to the cruel act of shark finning.
STEMful 30 - 29th Street
Films presented by
For over 20 years, BAVC Media Youth and Emerging Media Makers Programs (YEMM) have been local and national models in the field of media arts and education.
YEMM Programs equip young people ages 12 – 25 with the skills and experience they need to create media that matters to them and focuses on their social change goals. Students gain marketable technical skills through hands-on, project-based coursework, taught by working professionals using industry-standard equipment.
awkward
Eve Haghighi
When Did You Grow Up
Mary Jane Dye, Lily Ann Dye
Guardians of the Garden
Zeina Danfoura, Ariel Fu-Chen, Luis Gerado Alvorado Rosales, Logan Agnew, Gabriela Trujillo Diaz
A video game quest to find out how what we eat affects the planet and learn about more sustainable food sources.
The Red Fleece
Violet Nadaraja, Rahki Hull, Mitzy Vasquez, Jaybird Joyce, Mia Bazo
The monsters you see in horror films are real, and they’ve banded together to get better healthcare from their boss in this workplace mockumentary.
glasses
Grace Taylor, Sara Hawkins, Iona Judkins, Juliet Schoenberger
A girl is self concious about how she looks with glasses, so she tries to do something about it.
Horror & Co
Alexa Shochet, Olivia Tiffin, Diana Cardenas, Maxine Damerow, Katie Stormer
A true crime junkie discovers a questionable scene in her own apartment building, one which may turn her against herself and her friends.
Maniac
Augustus Adrien
A true crime junkie discovers a questionable scene in her own apartment building, one which may turn her against herself and her friends.
Rebel Rhythms: The Murdani Kahar Story
Natasha Putra
From a local tailor in a new city, to one of Indonesia’s top singers. Watch how November 87 band’s lead singer, Murdani Kahar breaks the stereotype of a rockstar!
Cafe´Seventy8 78 - 29th Street
Films presented by
Making It Work: Stories of labor, labor organizing and doing what you love.
Prolific: Joe Brainard 5:00
Documentary
Sophie Constantinou
The Labor of Lunch 04:15
Helen di Michel, Sophie Constantinou
Work is central to our existence. Some people work to live and others live to work. These films explore the right to work, the power of work and how work gives us joy, meaning and hope.
Ian James Made 04:30
Sadiq Norris
Collaboration: Ron Padgett 4:15
Documentary
Sophie Constantinou
James Richards, 80 Years in Hunters Point 20:00
Documentary
Kevin Epps
September 6, 2024 — film crawl on Cortland
We returned to Cortland Avenue for the beloved Film Crawl on Cortland — featuring new and returning venues and Presenting Partners.
Inclusions Gallery
627 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
A selection of short favorite films from the archives of the San Francisco Queer Film Fest.
All the Men I Met But Never Dated 10:00
Narrative
Muneeb Hassan
When Ali and Oliver meet, it seems like love at first sight. As Oliver starts to wonder where their relationship can go, Ali must choose between the love he wants and the family and faith he has.
One-week Stand 18:33
Narrative
Abby Asuncion
A free spirited,mysterious woman on a week-long trip to San Francisco meets a hopeless romantic woman born and raised in San Francisco. Can they make it through the week with their hearts still intact by the end of it?
An Ending 7:19
Narrative
In the midst of a pandemic, a man learns the meaning of home. Based on a true love story and shot on location in Queens NYC during the heart of the Covid 19 pandemic, this is a tribute to those who stayed and those who had to go.
Bernal Branch Library 500 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
Bickering 01:24
Animation
Gabrielle Hanson Chong
Best friends, Harriet and Priscilla, argue over a small misunderstanding.
Dancing Dhamaal 04:50
Animation
Nimisha Mahatme
A Bollywood inspired hybrid animated music video about Aadarshini, an anxious Indian-American girl, who feels out of place at an Indian wedding.
The Magic Project 04:44
Documentary
Zoe Hertz, Sadiq Norris and “Mo Magic Students”
At Ella Hill Hutch Community Center in the Fillmore, magic is happening.
Facsimile Edition 05:51
Short Comedy
Ivy Anderson
A man is shaken when he finds a “missing person” ad with his own face on it.
Heartbeat Of City College 12:40
Video Poem
Alexandra Lacey
A short poetry film celebrating City College of San Francisco. What is education for?
The Gift 10:38
Narrative
Eric Mann and Meera Joshi
A woman is tasked with delivering a goodbye message to her ailing friend’s paramour.
Waiter For Life 10:25
Documentary
Dan Goldes
Waiter For Life pays homage to the American dream: immigrant stories, connections between people, and, of course, food.
The Owl/s Nest 416 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
People Power Media’s mission is to build power for housing justice and equity in land use. We do this through multimedia popular education, policy innovation, and organizing.
Sa Amin | Our Place 44:00
Documentary
Dyan Ruiz and Nix Guirre
Sa Amin | Our Place is the untold story of Filipinos in San Francisco’s South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood, who despite battling displacement caused by urban renewal, real estate speculation, and tech booms, create and sustain the cultural heart of the Filipino-American community, meaning and hope.
Progressive Grounds Cafe´ 400 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
The Cine+Mas SF Latino Film Festival showcases the work of emerging and established filmmakers from the US, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. It is a celebration of the latest work coming out of the 20+ countries and the diaspora with which we share a bond.
The Unbroken Sky 24:00
Narrative
Josh Peterson
In 1950s California, an undocumented Mexican teenager struggles to stay in school while working weekends with his family in the fields and dodging the authorities to avoid deportation. Based on the beloved books by Francisco Jiménez.
Do Digital Curanderas Use Eggs in Their Limpias? 14:00
Narrative
Roberto Fatal
A struggling Latinx healer considers abandoning the physical world for promises of a digital utopia.
Los colores del intestino son tan lindos 09:00
Narrative
Alejo Perez-Stable Husni
The past, memory, art and the women in my family.
Baukunst 433 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
841 16:00
Documentary
Rachel Burnett
A California sea otter known as “841” to the biologists inhabits the waters of Santa Cruz, California. What happens when “841” engages humans in her habitat? Interactions between “841” and people raise questions and spark debate in the local community about what is in the best interest of both humans and animals when the two meet face to face.
Dick Ogg: Fisherman 09:00
Documentary
Cynthia Abbott
Living and fishing in the Bodega Bay area for 55 years, Dick is forced to confront the realities of a warming ocean, the creation of a Marine Projected Area in the local fishing grounds, and derelict crab pots. Dick wants to see organic sustainable fishing practices but daunting challenges are causing local fishermen to leave the profession. Here Dick faces these challenges with solutions and actions to keep the local fisheries alive.
City Surf Project 11:00
Documentary
Oscar Guerra
Many San Francisco inner-city youth have never been to the beach or had an immersive nature experience. City Surf Project (CSP) was established to give these young citizens an experience in nature and, through surfing, inspire lasting lessons and skills for life. CSP aims at achieving three goals for participants: gaining a respect for nature, experiencing personal growth and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Tess Felix: Portrait Artist 08:00
Documentary
Cynthia Abbott and Andrea E. Leland
After a big storm, a local artist Tess Felix went down to the beach only to discover plastic debris covering the whole shoreline. Realizing the gravity of plastic pollution in the ocean, she started creating vibrant portraits of people she admires out of abandoned plastic to spark conversations around the issue.
SEMCO Engineering 322 Cortland Ave
Films presented by
Our mission is to celebrate African American cinema and the African cultural diaspora and to showcase a diverse collection of films – from emerging and established filmmakers
Lake Merritt Monster 16:16
Narrative
Benjamin MulHolland
When Ollie Henderson’s mother is attacked by a monster hiding in the depths of Lake Merritt, he sets out on a mission to find her — discovering instead a hidden network of monster hunters tasked with protecting Oakland from its own dark underbelly, experiencing personal growth and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Hadaya 19:54
Narrative
Alika Mteuzi
In the near future, Major General Hadaya leads a group of rebels in a society controlled by a tyrannical regime. As the group fights against domination, they send encrypted broadcasts to inspire a new generation of revolutionaries. A blend of digital media and visionary fiction, “Hadaya” explores themes of unity and resistance, in a world where war is a constant, but the hope for freedom burns fiercely.
September 7, 2024 — Under the Stars
At Precita Park we kicked off the evening with Salsa lessons followed by films including the celebration of the Best of Bernal, Spirit of Bernal and Bernal Bright Star award-winning films.
Mimi NI 02:13
Animation
Will Noble
An animated creation myth. The theme is out of nothingness comes life, blooming forth, birthing itself into being
Carbon Traces 04:05
Animation
Stefie Gan
Humans were once in harmony with nature, but now exploit its resources. Now they face an existential crisis and must strive to restore the balance.
December’68 05:24
Music Video
Dan Lee
Inspired by the director’s mother’s photos from her first arrival in San Francisco and 55 years later. The opening sound is the eerie ambient noise from the Golden Gate Bridge when the wind hits it.
Of Good Heart 06:50
Documentary
Dan Goldes
A Republican and a Democrat reveal how their upbringing – and current events – brought them into their political selves.
Steph and the Customers 07:26
Documentary
Sarah K. Hopkins, Aaron Zhang
After losing her husband, Stephanie finds solace and support in her interactions with customers at her bait and tackle shop.
Starling 09:22
Animation
Mitra Shahidi
The spirit of a little girl shoots down from the heavens to spend her birthday with her family.
BEST OF BERNAL AWARDS
Pre-recorded awards presentation and filmmakers’ acceptances preceded each film’s screening.
Shelter In Place 15:38
Drama
David Wilde, Daniel Gorrell
A gay man, in order to manage the loss of his partner and housing during the pandemic, slowly wades through the pain to get his life back on track.
Luki & the Lights 10:04
Animation
Toby Cochran
LUKi, a charming and upbeat robot known for living life to the fullest, confronts a life-altering ALS diagnosis — a testament to the human (and robotic) spirit’s ability to find light even in the darkest of times.
The Chileno Valley Newt Brigade 13:00
Documentary
Lori Eanes
Roads are a major cause of habitat fragmentation. A group of people in Chileno Valley are trying to help newts survive their annual migration to Laguna Lake.
September 24, 2024 — Season Finale
Season Finale & “21st” Birthday Party
We capped off the 21st season with a mini-screening of audience favorites followed by the presentation of the Good Life Audience award. After the screening, the audience engaged in a Q&A with the GLA award winner and the Bernal Bright Star, the Spirit of Bernal and the Best of Bernal award-winners.
Following the film program and awards presentations, we partied and enjoyed music and delicious refreshments provided by our partner in-kind donors. Thanks to all!
Film Lineup
Acknowledging the People who came before and the land they steward
Tule 04:53 Animation
Jocelyn Estrella Garcia
The poetic contemplations of a young Pomo girl reveling in nature’s glory while dreading the effects of climate change.
Bernal Pics
Dream Operator 12:00
Documentary
Peter Vahle
The story of Four Chicken Gallery
honorable mention
My Turn 04:53
Animation / Comedy
Isabelle Maria Tumboimbela,
Daisha Lin Sherman
Two sisters become fierce rivals in their race to the bathroom.
honorable mention
Waiter For Life 10:25
Documentary
Dan Goldes
Homage to the American dream: immigrant stories, connections between people, and, of course, food.
Good Life Audience Award
Starling 09:22
Animation
Mitra Shahidi
The spirit of a little girl streams down from the heavens to spend her birthday with her family.