51st San Francisco International Film Festival to Open with Catherine Breillat’s Newest Film, The Last Mistress

Screening Will Take Place at the Legendary Castro Theatre

Vanity Fair is the Platinum Sponsor of SFIFF51

February 15, 2008

San Francisco, CA – The 51st San Francisco International Film Festival (April 24–May 8, 2008) will open at the Castro Theatre with The Last Mistress (France), the latest film from acclaimed director Catherine Breillat. The Last Mistress will screen at 7:00 pm with Catherine Breillat in attendance, followed by the gala Opening Night party at 9:30 pm in the scenic setting of City View at Metreon, located on the penthouse level of 101 Fourth Street at Mission.

The masterful Breillat continues her candid exploration of female sexuality with a smartly crafted period drama starring the alluringly vulpine Asia Argento. Arguably her most accessible film to date, Breillat’s sophisticated chamber piece, adapted from Jules-Amédée Barbey d’Aurevilly’s controversial novel, is erotic, funny, cruel, and supremely intelligent.

Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society said, “The Festival has had a great relationship with Catherine Breillat and we are delighted to have her film as the opener.  Her previous two films, Brief Crossing (SFIFF 2002) and Sex is Comedy (SFIFF 2003), were both shown to great success. Her work is consistently provocative, challenging and candid. The Last Mistress is an absolute gem.”

After the film, celebrate 51 years of the Film Festival in style in the new, stylish, urban getaway of City View at Metreon. Indulge in culinary delights from the hottest Bay Area restaurants while sipping on some sophisticated cocktails and libations.  Find the groove and dance the night away in the hip City View Terrace while overlooking Yerba Buena Gardens, the SF MOMA and the beautiful skyline the city has to offer. Guests can chill out and relax inside and take in the ultra chic ambiance and listen to some live entertainment.

Admission for the Opening Night film and party is $85 for general public and $70 for San Francisco Film Society members; VIP tickets are $135.

Opening Night is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways. The Last Mistress is presented in association with the Italian Cultural Institute, San Francisco.

Vanity Fair is the Platinum Sponsor of SFIFF51.

Founded in 1957, the vanguard San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring 25 juried awards, 200 films and live events with upwards of 100 participating filmmakers and diverse audiences of 80,000+ people.

The 51st International runs April 24–May 8, 2008 at the Sundance Cinemas Kabuki, the Castro Theatre and Landmark’s Clay Theatre in San Francisco; and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley.

For tickets and information go to www.sffs.org, call 925.866.9559 or visit the SFIFF51 Satellite Ticket Outlet at One Embarcadero Center, lobby level. 

San Francisco Film Society is a nonprofit arts and educational organization dedicated to celebrating the world of film and media. The Film Society’s year-round programs and events are concentrated in four core areas: Internationalism and Cross-Cultural Exchange; Educating and Inspiring Bay Area Youth; Showcasing Bay Area Film Culture; and Exploring New Digital Media. The Film Society’s acclaimed Education Program introduces international cinema and media literacy to thousands of teachers and students (ages 8–18) annually.

SF360, the Film Society’s broad-spectrum series of programs designed to showcase the extraordinary vitality and variety of the Bay Area film and media scene includes www.SF360.org, SF360 San Francisco Movie Night, SF360 Film+Club and SF360 Movie Scene.

The Society will present the Third San Francisco International Animation Festival and 12th New Italian Cinema in November 2008.