5 can’t-miss events at the SLO International Film Festival
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival returns next week for six days of movie screenings, celebrity mixers and red carpet events.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival kicks off Tuesday and runs through March 20 at venues in Avila Beach, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.
Here are a few highlights of this year’s event. For information, call 546-3456 or visit slofilmfest.org.
Sink your fangs into ‘Nosferatu’
German pianist/composer Markus Horn will provide the spooky soundtrack for this classic silent film, based on Bram Stoker’s timeless vampire tale, “Dracula.” Horn last visited the festival in 2014, when he accompanied a screening of “Metropolis.”
The screening starts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students and festival society members.
Catch the stoke at Surf Nite in SLO
South African big wave surfer Chris Bertish will be on hand for the Central Coast premiere of the documentary “Ocean Driven,” which documents his quest to conquer California’s famed Mavericks surf break.
Also in attendance will be Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark, Big Wave World Tour founder Gary Linden and Pismo the surfing goat, the inspiration behind Pismo Beach resident Dana McGregor’s children’s book, “Goatee, the Surfing Goat.”
The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Fremont Theatre, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students and festival society members.
Go behind the scenes
Want to learn more about filmmaking? You’ll have your chance Saturday at the Hollywood & Vines Festival Tent located behind the Fremont Theatre.
At 9 a.m., Cal Poly graduate Ryan Gray speaks about his work as a stuntman in “Action for Directors.” His screen credits include “Furious 7,” “Spider-Man 3” and the TV shows “Grimm,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “True Blood.”
Screenwriter-producer David Vienna moderates the panel discussion “Why Shoot in SLO?” at 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, the “Filmmakers Panel” at 1 p.m. invites festival-goers to “Learn from the Pros.”
Admission to each talk costs $5. Festival pass holders get in free.
Sip some knowledge
Drink in the documentary “Somm: Into the Bottle” at 7 p.m. Friday at Park Cinemas, 1100 Pine St. in Paso Robles. In this sequel to 2014’s popular “Somm,” writer-producers Jason and Christina Wise travel through France, Italy and Spain to reveal the history, politics and pleasure of wine.
Following the screening is the “Z-Nightcap After Party” featuring wine, desserts and live jazz by the Ben Wilmore Trio, 8:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom, in Paso Robles. The event is sponsored by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and Vintage Paso: Zinfandel.
Admission to the screening is $15, or $12 for students and society members. Tickets for the after-party are $35; visit www.pasowine.com for more information.
Meet Ann-Margret
Academy Award nominee Ann-Marget is the star of Saturday’s red carpet award ceremony.
The evening begins with a screening of the rock ’n’ roll musical “Viva Las Vegas” at 5 p.m. at the Fremont Theatre.
At 7 p.m., Oscar winner Alan Arkin will present Ann-Margret with the King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking. Then Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz sits down with the star of “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Carnal Knowledge” and “Tommy” for an on-stage conversation about her career, followed by the George Sidney Independent Film Awards.
Attendees have two options for post-awards ceremony fun: a screening of “Tommy” at the Fremont Theatre and an after-party at King David Masonic Lodge, 859 Marsh St. in San Luis Obispo. Both start at 8:30 p.m.
Admission to the movie screening and awards ceremony is $15, or $10 for students and festival society members. Tickets to the after-party cost $35, or $25 for students and society members.
This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 11:44 AM with the headline "5 can’t-miss events at the SLO International Film Festival."