IndieFest innovates in movies and parties
The San Francisco Independent Film Festival, where the zany parties share equal billing with the movies, is promising another lineup of edgy and offbeat films for its 22nd iteration, which opens Wednesday, Jan. 29, and runs through Feb. 13 in the Mission District.
The funloving festival will present 47 feature films and 57 shorts from 21 nations. Some of the eyeopening titles include “Lake Michigan Monster,” “Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway,” “Porno” and “Big Fur,” a documentary about a taxidermist who builds a lifesize Bigfoot. It also will give us the latest movie from San Francisco filmmaker Richard Wong.
The irreverent themes of these films extend to the parties, too, with names such as “Up the Oscars!,” “Super Bowl LIV: Men in Tights,” and “The American Psycho 20th Anniversary Party.”
But not everything is tongueincheek. Some of the more serious fare includes “Pariah,” the centerpiece film, a frightening look at life in a village in India; “The First Angry Man,” a profile of antitax crusader Howard Jarvis; and “Lost Bayou,” about an addict who returns home to Louisiana to
reconnect with her father.
Here is a sampling of the films and parties at SF IndieFest, which will take place mainly at the Roxie and Victoria theaters:
‘Woman in Motion’
One of the opening night films of the festival, this entertaining documentary explores the groundbreaking life of “Star Trek’s” Nichelle Nichols, who explored new frontiers in the space world after her stint as Uhura on the venerated TV series. (Watch for an unexpected treat in the closing credits.) 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, Victoria.
‘Inside the Rain’
In this assured, offbeat comedy, a bipolar student gets expelled from college and teams up with a moonlighting stripper to prove his innocence. Directorstar Aaron Fisher shines both behind and in front of the camera. 7:15 p.m. Feb. 8, Roxie.
‘The Big Lebowski Shadow Cast’
The Coen brothers’ classic gets “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” treatment in one of the festival’s goofiest fiestas. 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, Victoria.
‘Around the Sun’
With shades of “Before Sunrise,” and plenty of talk about the mysteries of the universe, this mindbending romantic story concerns a film location scout and a real estate agent who meet up at an abandoned French chateau. 9:15 Thursday, Jan. 30, and 7 p.m. Feb. 5, Roxie.
‘The First Angry Man’
This compelling, concise documentary traces the exploits of California antitax crusader Howard Jarvis — and shows how his movement still reverberates across the country today. 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, Roxie.
‘Super Bowl LIV: Men in Tights’
Local comedians hit the stage, providing counterprogramming relief to the biggest football game of the year, which, in case you haven’t heard, features our very own 49ers. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, Roxie.
‘Porno’
This wild horror flick introduces us to some repressed Christian movie theater workers who unwittingly unspool a demonic sex monster trapped in a movie reel. The sight of exploding testicles will probably make you squirm. 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, Roxie.
‘Queen of Lapa’
This flyonthewall documentary takes us to Rio de Janeiro, where a local transgender sex worker opens up a place to house other trans sex workers. The banter is often entertaining, even as the film provides a harsh look at oppression in Brazil. 12:30 p.m. Feb. 8 and 7 p.m. Feb. 12, Roxie.
‘Ibiza: The Silent Movie’
Director Julien Temple, a key figure of the London punk scene during the late 1970s, will be honored in person for his career achievements during the U.S. premiere of his latest work, a musicfilled spectacle about the magical Mediterranean island of Ibiza. 7:15 p.m. Feb. 8, Roxie.