March 29, 2005

48th San Francisco International Film Festival to Present Midnight Movies Program; Films That Appeal to Late-Night Revelers

The 48th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21—May 5) is thrilled to announce MIDNIGHT MOVIES, a program for late-night caffeinated cinephiles who enjoy their films dark and irreverent. Before each film, the Festival will serve Stella Artois beer to thirsty ticketholders. "MIDNIGHT MOVIES will present daring, edgy and outrageous films to entertain and thrill audiences," said Linda Blackaby, director of programming. The series promises to fulfill the essential thrills, chills and comic skills of the midnight movie genre. Audiences will laugh, scream, spill popcorn and grab their neighbor while watching tomorrow's cult favorites. Rod Armstrong, programming associate promises, "a series of unforgettable roller coaster rides."

This Year's Selections are:

IZO (Takashi Miike, Japan, 2004)
The irrepressible and outrageous Takashi Miike (ICHI THE KILLER, SFIFF 2002) is back with another cavalcade of carnage in this story of an immortal samurai who cannot stop killing. Careening through time and space, this violent spectacle will leave viewers reeling.

PHIL THE ALIEN (Rob Stefaniuk, Canada, 2004)
An outrageous comedy about an alcoholic alien who rooms with a talking beaver, reforms his dissolute ways, forms a Christian rock band and garners a cult following, all the while being chased by American secret agents.

THREE…EXTREMES (Fruit Chan, Park Chan-Wook, Takashi Miike, Hong Kong/South Korea/Japan, 2004)
Three well-known Asian filmmakers bring their creepy talents to the fore in a trio of shorts portraying a young woman's horrific ingredient for Chinese dumplings, a film director kidnapped by a psychopathic cast member and a magician in love with two contortionists.

ZOMBIE HONEYMOON (Dave Gebroe, USA, 2004)
Newlyweds Denise and Danny find their marriage running into trouble when the groom develops a taste for human flesh during their honeymoon. A zestful blend of horror, comedy and romantic drama.

Stella Artois is the exclusive sponsor of MIDNIGHT MOVIES.

The 48th San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 21—May 5, 2005 at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, the Home of the Festival, the Castro Theatre, the Palace of Fine Arts, Kanbar Hall at the Jewish Community Center and the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco; the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley; and Landmark's Aquarius Theatre in Palo Alto. Tickets for San Francisco Film Society members will be available on March 29 and for the general public on April 5. To purchase tickets and for ticket information log on to www.sffs.org, call 925.866.9559 or visit the Main Ticket Outlet, located in the atrium of the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, 1881 Post Street or the Satellite Ticket Outlet at the Virgin Megastore, 2 Stockton Street. For up-to-date Festival information log on to www.sffs.org or call 415.561.5000.

The 48th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21—May 5, 2005) is presented by the San Francisco Film Society, a nonprofit arts and educational organization dedicated to celebrating international film and the moving image.