Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting the best in independent film and filmmakers from around the world, inspiring savvy film lovers and introducing the power of film to student filmmakers.

Mission Statement

The Sonoma International Film Festival provides a welcoming, entertaining, and inspiring cinematic experience that supports and promotes independent films and celebrates the cultural diversity in the Sonoma Valley through the art of film. The Sonoma International Film Festival is a non-profit 501 (c)(3). Tax ID 68-0428999.

About SIFF

Named “One of the 25 Coolest Festivals” by MovieMaker Magazine and one of “America’s Top Ten Destination Film Festivals” by USA Today, the five-day film festival takes place every March screening an estimated 120 films from 200 filmmakers representing 40 countries. An estimated 7,500 live attendees and 30,000 virtual viewers, makes SIFF one of the largest arts non-profit organizations in Sonoma Valley. SIFF is noted for its participation of film and media industry jurists and panelists and continues to grow its reputation in finding and cultivating new talent from around the world, creating a significant platform for networking and distribution opportunities. SIFF programs full-length features, documentaries, as well as shorts programming in Animation, Comedy, Culinary, Documentary, Dramatic and Foreign categories. Cash and production completion grants are awarded annually to Jury and Audience Award winners. Sonoma International Film Festival is committed to the 50/50 gender parity industry pledge, as well as programming films that cover the gamut of human experience from environmental, LGBTQI+, social justice and other diverse viewpoints.

History

Founded in 1997 by friends Carolyn Stolman and

Jerry Seltzer Gerald Edwin "Jerry" Seltzer (June 3, 1932 – July 1, 2019) was the second and final owner of the original Roller Derby league. The league and the sport of roller derby were created in 1935 in Chicago by Leo Seltzer, Jerry's father. Jerry assu ...

, the Sonoma International Film Festival was created to promote

Sonoma, California Sonoma is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Sonoma is one of the principal cities of California's Wine Country and the center of the Sonoma Valley AVA. Sonoma's p ...

, and its

Sister Cities A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inter ...

, as a destination festival to showcase the cinematic arts. Early festivals focused on the breadth of Bay Area filmmakers with work from industry veterans such as

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola (; ; born April 7, 1939) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the major figures of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Coppola is the recipient of five A ...

, John Lasseter and

Danny Glover Danny Lebern Glover (; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. He is widely known for his lead role as Roger Murtaugh in the ''Lethal Weapon'' film series. He also had leading roles in his films include ...

showcased. Continued focus on not only new film programming, but on what Sonoma Valley is known for—exceptional food and wine—were early components to the expanded festival experience. Since 2002, SIFF’s key initiative, the Sonoma Valley High School Media Arts Program, has provided leadership and financial resources to create a state-of-the-art studio in order for students to explore creative pursuits and diverse storytelling viewpoints through the power of film. To date, Sonoma International Film Festival has given more than $650,000, with hundreds of students graduating through the program. Prominent festival attendees include: Brooke Adams, Karen Allen, David Arquette, Demián Bichir, Willie Brown,

, Dominique Crenn,

James Cromwell James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) is an American actor and activist. Some of his best-known films include ''Babe'' (1995), '' Star Trek: First Contact'' (1996), ''L.A. Confidential'' (1997), '' The Green Mile'' (1999), ''The Queen'' ...

Blythe Danner Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. Accolades she has received include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Izzy Huffstodt on '' Huff'' (2004–2006), and a ...

, David Duchonvy,

Jon Favreau Jonathan Kolia Favreau (; born October 19, 1966) is an American actor and filmmaker. As an actor, Favreau has appeared in films such as ''Rudy (film), Rudy'' (1993), ''PCU (film), PCU'' (1994), ''Swingers (1996 film), Swingers'' (1996), ''Very ...

Fionnula Flanagan Fionnghuala Manon "Fionnula" Flanagan (born 10 December 1941) is an Irish stage, television, and film actress. For her contributions to the entertainment industry, she was given the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Flanagan is known fo ...

Tyler Florence Tyler Florence (born March 3, 1971) is a chef and television host of several Food Network shows. He graduated from the College of Culinary Arts at the Charleston, South Carolina, campus of Johnson & Wales University in 1991. He was later given an ...

, Robert Forster,

Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18, 1976) is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms ''Clarissa Explains It All'' (1991–1994), ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' (1996–2003), and ''M ...

, Patricia Heaton, Agnieszka Holland, Ernie Hudson,

Lauren Hutton Lauren Hutton (born Mary Laurence Hutton; November 17, 1943) is an American model and actress. Born and raised in the southern United States, Hutton relocated to New York City in her early adulthood to begin a modeling career. Though she was ini ...

Robert Kamen Robert Mark Kamen (born October 9, 1947) is an American screenwriter, best known as creator of '' The Karate Kid franchise'', as well as for his later collaborations with French filmmaker Luc Besson, which includes the screenplay for ''The Fifth ...

, Michael Keaton, John Lasseter,

Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He received a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, he received an Honorary Césa ...

, Melissa Leo, Ray Liotta,

Christopher Lloyd Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938) is an American actor. He has appeared in many theater productions, films, and on television since the 1960s. He is known for portraying Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in the ''Back to the Future'' tril ...

, William Macy, Jena Malone, Richard May, Angelina Mondavi,

Matthew Modine Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker, who rose to prominence through his role as U.S. Marine Private/Sergeant J.T. "Joker" Davis in ''Full Metal Jacket''. His other film roles include the title character ...

Gavin Newsom Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman who has been the 40th governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California fr ...

Julia Ormond Julia Karin Ormond (born 4 January 1965) is an English actress. She rose to prominence by appearing in ''The Baby of Mâcon'' (1993), '' Legends of the Fall'' (1994), ''First Knight'' (1995), ''Sabrina'' (1995), '' Smilla's Sense of Snow'' (199 ...

Joe Pantoliano Joseph Peter Pantoliano (born September 12, 1951) is an American character actor who has appeared in over 150 films, television and stage productions. After his early roles in the television series ''M*A*S*H'' and the 1983 comedy ''Risky Busin ...

, Mary-Louise Parker,

Alexander Payne Constantine Alexander Payne (; born February 10, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for the films ''Citizen Ruth'' (1996), ''Election'' (1999), ''About Schmidt'' (2002), ''Sideways'' (2004), ''The Desc ...

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in ''King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes fo ...

, Mark Romanek,

Emmy Rossum Emmanuelle Grey Rossum (born September 12, 1986) is an American actress, director, and singer. She is known for her portrayal of List of Shameless (American TV series) characters#Fiona Gallagher, Fiona Gallagher in the television series ''Shame ...

Meg Ryan Meg Ryan (born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra; November 19, 1961) is an American actress. She began her acting career in 1981 when she made her acting debut in the drama film ''Rich and Famous''. She later joined the cast of the CBS soap opera ...

, Susan Sarandon,

Tony Shaloub Anthony Marc Shalhoub ( ; born October 9, 1953), is an American actor. His accolades include five Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, six Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award nomination. He played Adrian Monk in the USA ...

Rachael Taylor Rachael May Taylor (born 11 July 1984) is an Australian actress and model. Her first lead role was in the Australian series ''headLand'' (2005–2006). She then made the transition to Hollywood, appearing in films including ''Man-Thing'' (2005 ...

, Casey Thompson, Deborah Unger, John Waters,

Kimberly Williams-Paisley Kimberly Payne Williams-Paisley (née Williams; born September 14, 1971) is an American actress known for her co-starring roles on ''According to Jim'' and ''Nashville,'' as well as her breakthrough performance in ''Father of the Bride'' (1991) ...

Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and come ...

, Bruce Willis and Saul Zaentz. Noted festival jurists and panelists include: Karen Allen, John Bailey, Ed Begley Jr., Steve Chagolian,

, Nigel Daly, Tom Davia, Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard, Joe Della Rosa, David Dinerstein, Scott Feinberg, Gudrun Giddings, Pamela Guest, Grant Gullickson, JD Heyman, Michael Howell,

, Gabrielle Kelly, Hunt Lowry, Michèle Maheux, Leonard Maltin, Mike Repesch, Arianne Rocchi, Ingrid Rudefors,

Anna Serner Anna Serner, born 11 October 1964 in Stockholm, is a Sweden, Swedish legal professional, public speaker and former CEO of the Swedish Film Institute. Biography Born in 1964, Anna Serner is the CEO of the Swedish Film Institute. She took up the ...

, Bart Walker, Lucy Walker and

April Wright April Wright is an American writer, director and producer. Her debut narrative feature as a writer and director, Layover, won the Silver Lei Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival. Early life and educ ...

Honors And Tributes

1998

1999 John Lasseter 2000 Richard May 2001 Robert Forster 2002

2003 Mark Romanek 2003 Agnieszka Holland 2003

2004 Saul Zaentz 2005

2006 John Lasseter 2007 Michael Keaton 2008 Bruce Willis 2009

2010 Susan Sarandon 2011

2012 Mary-Louise Parker 2013 Demián Bichir 2013

2014

Alan Rickman Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (21 February 1946 – 14 January 2016) was an English actor and director. Known for his deep, languid voice, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespe ...

2015

2016

Leadership

Staff Ginny Krieger, Executive Director, began her career with SIFF as a Board of Directors member in 2001. She has held management roles within the organization including Co-Director, Administrative Director, and Assistant Director prior to serving in her current role. Krieger’s career includes C-level positions with health, wellness, fitness and luxury services companies prior to relocating to Sonoma from Boston. Her management, finance, strategy and organizational acumen provide the needed guidance and leadership necessary to produce world-class festival experiences year after year. Carl Spence, Artistic Director, brings decades of film festival and industry experience including longtime leadership roles with Seattle International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, and San Francisco International Film Festival, among others. Concurrent to his role with Sonoma International Film Festival, he is the Co-Founder, Co-Director, and Chief Curator of the Orcas Island Film Festival. Spence also serves as a consultant to key industry stalwarts such as FilmFreeway and Eventive; and as served as a jurist at internationally acclaimed festivals including Sundance Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, Ashland Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival, Frameline and Vancouver International Film Festival. Kevin W. McNeely, Director Emeritus, continues to inspire and support creative development and pursuits in Sonoma and around the world. Under his guidance, the Sonoma Valley High School Media Arts Program was conceived in 2002 and remains SIFF's primary annual charitable giving initiative. He served as the SIFF Board of Directors Chairman prior to becoming Executive Director in 2010 and Artistic Director in 2020.

Board of Directors

Bob Berg (Chairman), Ken Wornick (Vice Chairman), Keith Casale (Treasurer), Cynthia Wornick (Secretary), Armar A. Archbold, Amanda Bevan, Chris Cahill, Jon Curry, Greg Hanss, Kimberly Hughes, Patrick Pesetti, and Johanna Wolf.

References

External links

* * * Film festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area Sonoma, California Tourist attractions in Sonoma County, California {{US-film-festival-stub