46th SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO CLOSE WITH
DOPAMINE BY SAN FRANCISCO-BASED DIRECTOR MARK DECENA


Romantic Comedy is an Award Winning First Feature

The 46th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 17 - May 1) is set to close on Thursday, May 1, 7:00 pm at the historic Castro Theatre with first time filmmaker Mark Decena's DOPAMINE.

DOPAMINE (the name of a natural amphetamine our bodies produce when we're falling in love), asks the question, is it the moonlight, or just my neurotransmitters? In his debut feature film, Decena delivers a fresh take on the romantic comedy by tackling fundamentally different approaches to falling in love. Can love bloom when she believes it's chemistry and he thinks it's chemical? Rand (John Livingston) and Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd) find themselves undeniably attracted to one another, but they must overcome their opposing views of what love is, and what it should be. DOPAMINE, the Alfred P. Sloan Prize winner at the Sundance Film Festival, is produced by San Francisco-based Kontent Films. The buoyant short SING ALONG SAN FRANCISCO will precede the feature.

Roxanne Messina Captor, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, said, "DOPAMINE is a remarkably assured first feature. Mark's story has captured the city's most appealing aspects. It's high-tech, romantic, smart and very much about San Francisco, a perfect closing note for the Festival."

At 9:30 pm as the lights of the 46th International Film Festival begin to go down, the Closing Night party revs up until the wee hours at San Francisco's favorite night club, Bimbo's 365 Club, a landmark that's destined to stand as long as San Francisco stands for good times. A good time featuring music, dancing, tastes from Bay Area restaurateurs and delicious cocktails at the home of The Girl in the Fishbowl. Special admission film only $20 regular / $18 SFFS members; film & party $75 regular / $70 SFFS members. Sponsored by San Francisco Chronicle.

The 46th San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 17-May 1, 2003 at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres "The Home of the Festival", the Castro Theatre, the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley and the CinéArts at Palo Alto Square in Palo Alto. Advance ticket packages and Festival passes go on sale beginning February 17. Individual tickets for San Francisco Film Society members will be available beginning March 25, with individual tickets for the general public available starting March 31. To purchase tickets and for ticket information log on to www.sffs.org or call 925-275-9490. The Main Box Office, located in the atrium of the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres at 1881 Post Street will open for Film Society members on March 25 and for the general public on April 1. There will also be a Satellite Box Office at Crocker Galleria, 50 Post Street, second floor, opening on March 26. For up-to-date Festival information log on to www.sffs.org or call 415-931-FILM.

The 46th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 17-May 1, 2003) is presented by the San Francisco Film Society, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to lead in expanding the knowledge and appreciation of international film art and its artists by showcasing the most compelling, thought-provoking international films, special tributes, major restorations and today's brightest stars.