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
Martin Smith (film maker) Martin Smith (film maker) Martin Smith is a film maker who wrote and directed the 2006 Scottish BAFTA Award winning short Tracks. He has also directed music videos for acts such as Arab Strap, The Delgados and King Creosote amongst others. His first short film Accidents featured Kate Dickie (Red Road). 'Tracks' (2006) was commissioned by the UK Film Council, Scottish Screen, and GMAC for the DigiCult scheme and made with producer Karen M Smyth of La Belle Allee Productions. It has won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Short Film, was highly commended at the TCM Turner Classic Shorts