San Francisco International Film Festival 59th San Francisco International Film Festival took place from April 21 to May 5, 2016 at venues throughout the Bay Area. Founded in 1957 by film exhibitor Irving "Bud" Levin, the SFIFF began as a philanthropic effort to secure San Francisco's place in the international arts scene as well as expose locals to cinema as an art form. The Festival played a major role in introducing foreign films to American audiences. Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" and Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" were among the films that screened at the first festival. One obstacle in the early years was the lack
The Apu Trilogy (including Best Human Document at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival), followed by eleven international prizes for "Aparajito" (including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival) and numerous other awards for "Apur Sansar" (including the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival). When Ray made "Pather Panchali", he worked with a cast and crew most of whom had never been previously involved in film. Ray himself at the time of directing "Pather Panchali" had primarily worked in the advertising industry, although he had served as assistant director on Jean Renoir's 1951 film "The River". From this foundation, Ray went on