San Francisco Film Society Presents a Special Benefit Screening of Persepolis During Grand Opening Week of the New Sundance Cinemas Kabuki

Codirectors Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud in Attendance

November 13, 2007

San Francisco, CA—The San Francisco Film Society will present a special reception and benefit premiere of Persepolis, France’s nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and one of twelve films short-listed for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, with codirectors Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud in attendance on Wednesday, December 12 during the grand opening week of the newly renovated Sundance Cinemas Kabuki.

The catered reception will begin at 6 pm and the screening will start at 7:30 pm preceded by an extended onstage interview with the filmmakers. Guests are encouraged to stay after the screening to enjoy the new Sundance Cinemas Kabuki amenities and discuss the film with Film Society staff.

“Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Sundance Cinemas and Sony Pictures Classics, we are very happy to be presenting Marjane and Vincent’s wonderful film during the gala week of celebrations at the new Kabuki,” said Graham Leggat, SFFS executive director. “The film is dazzling and the new cinema is beautiful. Our audiences are in for a real treat.” Sundance Cinemas Kabuki opens to the public on Friday, December 14.

In Persepolis, the Jury Prize winner at the Cannes Film Festival, Marjane Satrapi and codirector Vincent Paronnaud bring her acclaimed memoirs about an irrepressible young girl growing up in Iran and Europe during the time of Islamic Revolution to the big screen with a style that combines a vivid and bold visual design with amusing and heart-rending storytelling. Thematically rich, the film covers the changing political climate in Iran during the ’70s and ’80s, the difficulties and challenges of boarding school and expatriate life, as well as the admirable efforts of the Satrapi family to maintain a warm and open home life amidst an increasingly hostile external environment. Featuring the vocal talents of Chiara Mastroianni and her mother Catherine Deneuve as Marjane and her mother, Persepolis is a sensational film for adults and discerning younger audiences. The film will open in Bay Area theaters on January 11, 2008.

6:00 pm Reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine and entertainment
7:30 pm Persepolis screening preceded by an onstage interview with Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud

Ticket on sale now at 925.866.9559 or sffs.org; SFFS members $20; general public $25. 

Proceeds will benefit the Film Society’s programs including the San Francisco International Film Festival, year-round exhibition of world cinema, SF360 initiatives and the Schools at the Festival/Youth Education Program.

For additional information go to www.sffs.org.

The San Francisco Film Society, presenter of the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival (April 24–May 8, 2008), is a nonprofit arts and educational organization dedicated to celebrating film and the moving image.