AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL FILMS, MORE SUNDANCE SELECTIONS THAN EVER, OSCAR WINNERS, AND CALIFORNIA PREMIERES AT THE 2017 MENDOCINO FILM FESTIVAL

12th Annual Mendocino Film Festival Announces Diverse Program
What do Jessica Williams, Pierce Brosnan and Dolores Huerta all have in common? They will each be featured this year at the 12th Annual Mendocino Film Festival.

The 12th annual Mendocino Film Festival has announced its wide-ranging 2017 schedule of films and events for June 1-4.

Marking a dynamic dozen years in beautiful Mendocino, the festival will feature 65 films representing 23 countries. The varied line-up includes 8 Sundance 2017 selections, 5 Academy Award nominees, an Academy Award winner, and 8 California premieres.

This marks the festival’s most international and far-reaching program yet. More filmmakers than ever before will be attending to talk about their films. In addition to screenings and Q&As with filmmakers, the festival will feature several celebrity guests, special events and rousing musical evenings.
“Our program director, Claudia Puig, has compiled and cultivated an impressive showcase of films from all over the world, and we look forward to sharing these selections with our festival audience,” said Mendocino Film Festival Executive Director, Michael Fox. “I think it’s our best program yet and I’m very excited.”

The diverse film slate will be complemented by more celebratory events than in previous years, including an exhibition by a featured artist, concerts by an array of musicians and a wide variety of parties for festival filmgoers.

The opening night party features the delicacies of local culinary celebrities and specially crafted cocktails, as well as an array of beer and the best of the area’s famous wineries.

“It will be our biggest opening night party,” said Fox. “We’re expanding with more chefs, wineries and partners. We’ve taken inspiration from the film Commanding the Table, which profiles powerhouse restauranteur, Ella Brennan, the force behind New Orleans’ legendary Commander’s Palace. In fact, you can watch the film and go directly to the opening party.”

Cinema from all over the world is the heart and soul of the festival. Music and art, as well as culinary excellence, combine with award-winning cinema and of-the-moment Sundance hits to make for an essential festival experience.

Some of the program highlights include:

“Commanding the Table” Opening Night Celebration and Chef Showcase for film festival members and sponsors at Hill House Inn in Mendocino Village.

Special Narrative and Documentary Juries of film executives, journalists and filmmakers added this year. Winning films will be announced at a special event on Thursday night.

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Brosnan will be honored with the 2017 Mendocino Film Festival Rogue Wave Award, for their environmental film Poisoning Paradise. Danny Glover was a past recipient of the award, established to honor those individuals within the film industry who have used their talents, celebrity, and resources in service to society and the world at large. Through their inspiring passion and commitment in this time of political and environmental crisis, Pierce and Keely Shaye Brosnan are radiant examples for us all.

Opening night film Big Sonia will feature the 91-year old subject of the film, holocaust survivor Sonia Warshawski, in attendance with directors Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday.

Award-winning Sundance film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World — about the contributions of Native Americans to contemporary music — screens Friday night, followed by a live musical performance by the high-energy roots rockers, the Steven Bates Band.

Romantic comedy charmer and Sundance favorite The Incredible Jessica James will screen Saturday night, with the director Jim Strouse in attendance.

This year’s Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro, writer James Baldwin’s personal look at race in America, will screen Saturday afternoon, hosted by filmmaker/critic/NPR contributor Tim Cogshell.

Focus on Latino and Latin American Films, with four diverse films: documentary Dolores, which profiles Latina activist Dolores Huerta, Peruvian romantic comedy Como En El Cine (Just Like in the Movies), Argentine dramedy El Futuro Perfecto (The Future Perfect) and Farewell Ferris Wheel, about seasonal Mexican workers contracted to work at American carnivals.

Eight films fresh from Sundance including Dolores, Rumble, Give Me Future, The Incredible Jessica James as well as Unrest, in which Harvard PhD student Jennifer Brea, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, turns the camera on herself; Menashe, a feature about a widower living in the cloistered world of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn; Tell Them We Are Rising, an examination of historically black colleges and universities, and The Force, a cinéma vérité look at the scandal-plagued Oakland police force.

Three films tackling the timely subject of immigration — Farewell Ferris Wheel, The House on Coco Road and The Future Perfect — will screen on Saturday, and the filmmakers of each movie will be on hand for post-screening discussions.

The popular Short Films Program will feature a varied and engaging assortment of short cinema, including Academy Award winner Piper.

Musician and artist Spencer Brewer will be the featured artist at Festival Headquarters. His latest piece “Liszt & Lyre” has a special synchronicity with the documentary Strad Style, about a reclusive Ohio man who fashions a Stradivarius violin for an acclaimed European musician. The film’s director, Stefan Avalos, will also be on hand to discuss the film.

Q&As with record number 25 filmmakers including Peter Bratt (Dolores), Robin Lung (Finding Kukan), Jedd and Todd Wider (God Knows Where I Am), Ann Makepeace (Tribal Justice), Vanessa Gould (Obit), Damani Baker and Belvie Rooks (House on Coco Road), Kieran Valla (Delinquent).

Special Panel on Women and Political Activism featuring Dolores Huerta (co-founder of the United Farm Workers and subject of the film Dolores) and Fannie Houghton (subject of The House on Coco Road).

World Music Traditions Explored: Mali Blues chronicles the resilient spirit of stars of Malian Global Pop as radical Islamists threaten their music. The Groove is Not Trivial follows master fiddler Alasdair Fraser as he explores his Scottish musical roots. Director Tommie Smith will be in attendance.

For more information, including this year’s complete program, visit www.MendocinoFilmFestival.org.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Mendocino Film Festival has established a reputation for presenting riveting, thought-provoking and award-winning independent and international films. The festival draws increasing numbers of filmmakers and avid attendees from around the world, while maintaining its commitment to the local community. Featuring a varied line-up of films, panels, and special events, the festival offers a unique opportunity to meet filmmakers and film aficionados in the intimate and strikingly beautiful setting of seaside Mendocino.