San Francisco Documentary Festival

24th San Francisco Documentary Festival, 11 days of great new non-fiction films from around the world playing at the Roxie and Vogue theaters and also on demand right here.

Festival Schedule:

Film Festivals, What Are They Good For?
11 AM - 12 PM @ Manny's

In this ever changing digital world, what are film festivals good for? Are they a relic of filmgoing in the pre-COVID world or do they have something to offer both filmmakers and audiences in today's world?

We obviously believe there is value in film festivals, but don't just take our word for it. Join esteemed film critic Michael Fox as he hosts a panel discussion with a stellar lineup of local film festival programmers and curators including: Rod Armstrong (SFFILM), Dominique O'Neill (San Francisco Jewish Film Festival), Sterling Hedgpeth (Mill Valley Film Festival) and Isabel Fondevila (Roxie Theater) in a conversation about the behind the scenes world of film festival programming.

Resistance of Vision: Selects
12 - 2:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

RESISTANCE OF VISION is a touring festival presented by the 27-year-old 5 01c3 non-profit arts organization San Francisco IndieFest , comprising four programs of social justice themed short films debuting this month in Boston, San Francisco, Wichita and Birmingham.

25 Cats from Qatar
1 - 3 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Special guest appearance by a cat from Oman available for adoption by Give Me Shelter ! Join the filmmaker, film goers and the folks from Give Me Shelter (and the cat!) after the screening for a reception at 518 Valencia St. | Multi-national rescuers in Qatar team up with a cat cafe owner from America to rescue 25 cats amidst a population crisis.

Sketches on the Sky & Mercedes
2:30 - 4:45 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Surrounding Tajin Mexciothere are several schools for Papantla flyers attended by Dana, Said, Jairo and Sarahí, four children that learn a prehispanic dance where people fly to invoke the rain. While they are prepared to become flyers, they will take us on a journey through the legends that tell how new generations can fly and save the region from drought. In order to fly, they must confront their fears, be disciplined and keep dreaming.

Cat Rescue Reception
3 - 4:30 PM @ 518 Valencia

Join Mye Hoang and the team behind 25 Cats from Qatar , film goers and the folks from Give Me Shelter (and a cat from Qatar they have available for adoption) after the screening for a reception from 3pm-430pm at 518 Valencia St. Free and open to all.

Life After
3:30 - 5:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

A gripping personal investigation that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying. Disabled filmmaker Reid Davenport uncovers shocking abuses of power while amplifying the voices of the disability community fighting for justice and dignity in an unfolding matter of life and death.

The Flamingo
4:45 - 6 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

In her 60s, Mary Phillips embarks on a bold pursuit of pleasure, attending dungeon parties, engaging in intimacy with strangers, and offering healing touch through her BDSM practice. After 13 years of celibacy and isolation, Mary begins to reclaim her power, rediscovering herself through sexual play, open-road adventures, and deep self-embodiment.

No Bad Takes: An American Picture Show with William T. Vollmann
6 - 8 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Special Guests expected to attend. Sneak preview. | CENTERPIECE: No Bad Takes is a raw, offbeat documentary nearly a decade in the making, following the longest—and possibly last—literary journey of legendary cult writer William T. Vollmann. Capturing both the mind of the artist and a fractured portrait of America, the film is a meditation on impermanence, friendship, and the possibilities of the creative process when one is open to the world.

Wild Magic
6:45 - 8:15 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

Wild Magic is a kaleidoscopic road trip through modern mystical Americana, revealing the hidden magic that’s happening all around us. A living tribute to the glimmering pockets of light beneath the crumbling facade of the American Dream, inviting viewers to slow down and engage with the unseen.

Short Stories Part One
8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 1

Part poetry, part memoir-style reflection and part prayer, PARAMITA bears witness to Prajna Paramita Choudhury’s 25-year coming out process with her traditional Bangladeshi mother. Told with intimacy, tenderness and a quiet power, PARAMITA invites us into a meditative spiritual experience as Prajna connects with Buddhist practices and nature as gateways for intergenerational healing.

40 Watts from Nowhere
9 - 10:30 PM @ Roxie Theater House 2

40 Watts from Nowhere is a documentary about Los Angeles pirate radio station KBLT. It is based around vintage footage shot in 1998 that shows the station operating 24/7 out of an apartment closet in Silver Lake with DJs running the gamut from Keith Morris (Circle Jerks), Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Don Bolles (Germs) to garden-variety music fans playing everything from jungle and punk to vintage country and French pop.