Cinequest announces big lineup for 30th annual festival
Cinequest may be turning 30 this year, but the film and creativity festival is still having fun.
“Whenever you have these anniversary editions, people want you to look back, and that’s really not our bag at Cinequest,” Cinequest cofounder and festival director Halfdan Hussey said during a preview event Wednesday at the AC Hotel in Santa Clara. “Instead of doing a look back at 30, we wanted to pick a theme that summed up the best of where we’re at.”
That theme is “elation,” and Hussey says that joy comes from connecting not only Bay Area residents — but fans around the globe — with more than 900 presenting artists from 52 countries during the festival, which will open March 3 and will run through March 15.
The opening night film certainly fits the theme, Bob Krakower’s documentary “John Pinette: You Go Now,” a tribute to the late comedian who was a fixture on “The Tonight Show.” And all the comedy won’t be on the screen, either. Comic Matt Donaher will perform a 10-minute live set before the screening. The closing night film March 15 is “Resistance,” which explores the World War II experience of the actor who became famous as French mime Marcel Marceau, played by Jesse Eisenberg.
In between, there’s plenty to be happy about, with 154 world or U.S. premieres
among the 300-plus films — including work from 122 female directors — as well as several special events. Actress Hong Chau, who appeared in “Downsizing” with Matt Damon and HBO’s “Watchmen,” will be honored with the Maverick Spirit Award on March 7, when her new film “Driveways” is shown at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose.
Cinequest is bringing back the Poets N Film showcase on March 8 at the Hammer Theatre Center. The highlight of the day will be the Maverick Spirit Award presentation to beat poet Ruth Weiss, who is still inspiring in her 90s and is the subject of “Ruth Weiss: The Beat Goddess,” a documentary by Melody C. Miller. She’ll also take part in a panel discussion moderated by Robert Pesich, president of Poetry Center San Jose.
Other featured events include a screening of “Port of Destiny: Peace,” along with the presentation of Cinequest’s Visionary Award to Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins and a conversation with Robbins and Fortune’s Pattie Sellers on March 9; the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Award showing of the documentary “My Year of Living Mindfully” on March 5; “The Longest Wave,” a documentary about surfing legend Robby Naish, on March 6; and the March 13 presentation of the 1920 silent film “The Mark of Zorro,” starring Douglas Fairbanks.
This year’s festival will include more virtual reality and augmented reality programming, too, including “hyper-reality” experiences that will allow people to walk around in a virtual world among dinosaurs or next to superpowered aliens. The VR and AR programming will take place March 5-8 at both the California Theatre and at Kaleid Gallery, which recently moved into a new location at 320 S. First St.
Screenings will take place at the California Theatre, Hammer Theatre Center and 3 Below Theaters in downtown San Jose, as well as the Century Downtown 20 in Redwood City. Regular film screenings are $12 each, with discounts for students and matinee shows. Passes start at $165, with a $500 all-access pass granting entrance to nightly VIP parties and the VIP lounge at The Continental Bar.
Schedule and ticket information is available at cinequest.org.