March 29, 2005

48th San Francisco International Film Festival to Open With Costa-Gavras' The Ax; Opening Night Block Party in Ghirardelli Square to Follow French Dark Comedy

The 48th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21—May 5) is set to open on Thursday, April 21, 2005, at the historic Castro Theatre with Costa-Gavras' THE AX. The Opening Night film will begin at 7:00 pm with the Opening Night party in Ghirardelli Square to follow the screening at 9:30 pm. Costa-Gavras, producer Michèle Ray-Gavras (Costa-Gavras' wife) and actor Yolande Moreau are expected to attend the film and party.

In Costa-Gavras's (Z, SFIFF 1969) new film, a laid-off middle manager named Bruno (José Garcia) devises a novel approach to finding a new job. Based on an acclaimed novel by American author Donald E. Westlake, this mercilessly entertaining dark comedy puts outsourcing, downsizing and other 21st-century business trends where they belong: on the chopping block. The film takes the logic of capitalism to its illogical extreme and gives new meaning to the CEO term, "making a killing."

Roxanne Messina Captor, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society said, "We are thrilled to open this year's Festival with THE AX. Costa-Gavras is one of the world's most influential directors and this new film continues his pursuit of challenging audiences by personalizing passionate and political topics."

The Opening Night party following the film at 9:30 pm will he held at the beautifully landscaped courtyards of one of San Francisco's most beloved landmarks, Ghirardelli Square, at the corner of Beach Street and Larkin Street. Guests are invited to be a part of the ultimate block party while indulging in great food, fabulous beverages, live music, dancing and of course, chocolate! Admission for the opening night film and party is $85 general public/$75 for San Francisco Film Society members; VIP tickets are $125 (includes reserved seating at the Castro Theatre and exclusive VIP celebrity room access at Ghirardelli Square). Opening Night is sponsored by Sterling Vineyards.

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.