San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

 

The past 10 days we have been working the SLOIFF as hosts.  This is our second year and it is fun! 

Last year, total newbie’s, we agreed to be “Filmmaker Hosts”.  We hadn’t a clue what that meant.  We got some dates, names and screenings on an email.  We called the phone numbers for editors, directors and producers of shorts, features, and a couple of documentaries.  

Enthusiastic, as always, we expected to really “host” these people.  What in the world that meant?  Who knew.  But, we made the calls. We got all sorts of responses, mostly surprise.  Evidently other festivals do not have this contact.  The filmmakers arrive, find their way around and go to the screenings of their films.  Perhaps they meet locals; but not always.  

Finally, last year, we met two great guys.  We went out to dinner, went to the screening with them and enjoyed people that do something completely different than we do.

 

This year we hosted several filmmakers.  We really only met one group.  Their film screened tonight.  The producer was from Switzerland and her folks own an organic farm in Argentina.  The director was a Mexican from Mexico City attending AFI (American Film Institute).  The editor of the film had won the AFI award last year.  The gaffer, the editor’s boyfriend, just had his film accepted to the Sundance Film Festival. They were young energetic talents.  We took them out to Big Sky Cafe for dinner and then went to the screening of their 19 minute short, Guerrilla Garden, a funny film.We are sure we’ll see them again in our home.

 

We also volunteered to be a Venue Host.  Our venue was the Park Cinemas in Paso Robles.  Actually, we only had 3 days of films.  Our venue played a short and a feature each of the 3 days.

 

Charley was the MC and introduced the films and after the film introduced the filmmakers.  He helped conduct the Q & A that follows the film.  I helped with hand outs, other volunteers, and counting and recording the audience vote that follows each screening.  We are house managers that work with the audience and see to the room. There will always be little glitches show up.  One short was listed for one time and really screened at another.

 

We saw some good films.  We recommend that you see BOMBER, GUERILLA GARDEN, and see shorts wherever you can.  They are quick and many of them very interesting. The Legend of Pancho Barnes and The Happy Bottom Ranch was a wonderful documentary of the early test pilots and a genuine legend of aviation history 

 

We also attended RED RIVER at an auction event for the SLOIFF.  It was held at Santa Margarita Ranch complete with BBQ and wine.  We bought a quartet of tickets to a baseball game in Oakland and a train trip to San Diego.  Fun while helping out the festival.

 

Another red carpet event of the Fest was at our venue.  It was a David Carradine film. David Carradine’s son, Bob, was there with many of the Carradine family for a screening of BOUND FOR GLORY.  It is an excellent film about the life of Woody Guthrie.  Carradine channeled Guthrie in that film.  I highly recommend it. 

More coming soon .........