Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival 2009

Notice! Registration is not required to browse the site, track audience buzz, and learn about the festival. If you choose to register, you can create a personal festival calendar, rate and review films, and receive updates about upcoming screenings. Close
    • highlights
    • films
    • schedule
    • buzz
    • my festival
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
Featured Films
Notice! Check out these featured films playing at the festival. Close
previous film
Pachamama
CineLatino
Screened- Montreal World Film Festival 2008Screened- Vancouver International Film Festival 2008Screened- San Paulo International Film Festival 2008Japanese born writer and director Toshifumi Matsushita, gives us, El regalo de la Pachamama, a tale set and filmed in Bolivia with a nonprofessional, though not untalented, group of actors. The story focuses on an adolescent Quechua, Kunturi (Christian Huaygua), living with his parents and grandparents in Uyuni, a small settlement on the edge of a vast salt lake. The people off Uyuni work tirelessly, harvesting salt and planting quinoa, the only crop that will grow there according to Kunturi's grandmother, while pachamama, or the mother earth, watches over them. In a society that is quickly changing due to the forces of modernity, Kunturi's father, Sauci (Francisco Gutierrez), still leads one of the few remaining salt caravans through the Andes Mountains, a duty which had been passed down in their family for generations. In place of his aging grandfather, who is no longer able to secure the salt bricks to the backs of their llama herd, Kunturi accompanies his father on the “Salt Trail” for the first time, and sadly what Sauci admits might be the last time. Even as this annual three month trek on the salt trail may be having its last days, the cultural importance of this tradition is amply represented in Kunturi. On this journey he learns about loss, betrayal, the interconnectedness of all people, first love, and perhaps most importantly, how to listen to his heart.
more>
Sea of Darkness
US Cinema
A fascinating documentary on the early days and subsequent “dark side” of surfing. In the 1970s, surf culture was greatly intertwined with the freedom, love, and drugs of the hippie lifestyle. Proving that surfing is one of the most powerful addictions on Earth, young surfers from America, New Zealand, and Australia scoured the world to find perfect waves.These thrill junkies, namely Mike Boyum, Peter McCabe, Martin Daly, and Jeff Chitty discovered paradise in Bali and set up a surf camp, the legendary G-Land. In order to sustain their dangerous habit, the men partook in another activity equally as risky: drug smuggling. What seemed like a dream-never-ending waves, beautiful women, easy money, and the best drugs-quickly shattered for some and got the best of others.Nevertheless, the select group of men featured in Sea of Darkness revolutionized the sport; featured subjects include surfing world champions and the founders of Quiksilver. Michael Oblowitz uses intimate and extremely candid interviews, sharp editing, and original stock footage to tell a bewitching story about a group of young explorers who dared to pursue their passion at all costs.The film premiered at CineVegas and has also played at the Malibu International Film Festival.
more>
next film
show details Audience Buzz
Notice! The audience buzz provides you with details on the films people are looking forward to and talking about. For more buzz, click here. Close
rating Highest Rated Films
views Most Visited Films
adds Most Scheduled Films
entries read all from the blog
Welcome to the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival 2009!

Dates are September 17th - 27th, 2009

This popular roving festival takes place outdoors in spectacular settings and in select theaters and venues in Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Ca.

The festival presents features, documentaries, shorts and animation in six categories: World Cinema, Latin Cinema, US Cinema, The Arts in Film™ (films about music, dance and the arts,) Cinema of Conscience™ (films of social issues,) and Eco Cinema.

CONTACT:
707-935-3456 - office
707-228-8514 - (cell)

Posted: Aug. 14, 2009 at 11:34AM by B-Side
~ Winners 2008 ~
22nd Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival

Best Of The Festival:

Bliss (Turkey) By Abdullah Oguz

Best International Feature Film:

Maiden And The Wolves (France) By Gilles Legrand

Best First Feature:

International

La Caja (The Wooden Box, Canary Islands, Spain) By Juan Carlos Falcon

USA

Other People’s Parties By R.A.White

Best USA Feature Film:

Crazy By Rick Bieber

Best Short:

International

The Letter (Canada/Russia) By Matvei Zhivov

USA

In The Wake By Craig Strong

Best Documentary:

International

Lucio (Spain) By Aitor Arregi

USA

All In This Tea By Les Blank

Best Eco Cinema:

Feature

Delta – Oil’s Dirty Business (Greece) By Yorgos Avgeropoulos

Short

Lunatic Farmer (USA) By Chris Warner

Best Arts In Film:

Feature

Caravaggio (Italy) By Angelo Longoni

Short

Roca Bon: Searching The Sublime (Spain) By Karlos Alastruey

Best Cinema Of Conscience:

Feature

Jump! The Philippe Halsman Story (Austria) By Joshua Sinclair

Short

I Am A Soldier (USA) By Juan Escobedo

Best Director:
Branko Schmidt

The Melon Route (Croatia)

Best Actress :
Irene Azuela

Burn The Bridges (Mexico)

Best Actor:
Stefano Accorsi

Maiden And The Wolves (France)

Best Cinematography:
Storaro

Caravaggio (Italy)

Best Sound:

Red Like The Sky (Italy) By Cristiano Bortone

Best Music:
Armand Amar, Composer

Bab’Aziz: The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul
and

Maiden And The Wolves (France)

Special Awards
Margrit And Robert Mondavi Award For Peace And Cultural Understanding:

David And Fatima (USA) By Alain Zaloum


Munyurangabo (Rwanda/USA) By Lee Isaac Chung

Emerging Talent – The Dandy Dwarves Film Group
Film Company Of The Year Award:


Longtale For Prince Of The Himalayas


Looking For Palladin


Milarepa: Magician, Murderer, Saint

Bay Area Legendary Filmmaker Award
Les Blank
Posted: Sep. 02, 2008 at 10:46PM by B-Side
Welcome to the 2008 Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival
Napa and Sonoma Valleys, where locals and visitors alike converge during wine country's oldest and biggest celebration of world cinema, just 45 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

You are sitting under the stars in an open air theater venue, sipping good wine, savoring seasonal cuisine, and socializing with new and old friends. Dozens of festivities range from open air film screenings to educational symposia, informal receptions with guest celebrities to over a dozen cooking demos, live entertainment, barrel tastings and fun for all ages.

What sets us apart from the zillion other film festivals worldwide is our distinctive approach to film programming, committed celebrity guests and friendly leisurely pace. You can have plenty of time to enjoy wine country's amenities. Internationally known for our spectacular "Films al Fresco™" open air film screenings, there are several celestial film nights planned for our 20th Anniversary.

A Festival-within-a-Festival, each long weekend or week offers a program of timely and fascinating films which evolve organically from the programming process. A host of special events, tributes & symposia are in the works.

"Films al Fresco™" - Celestial Film Nights
Get ready for an unbelievable experience. Typically festival goers arrive around 6pm to catch a flick in the winery's indoor theater or to participate in a food sampling following a cooking demonstration. There might even be a special barrel tasting! Most nights there is live entertainment before the feature film begins.

Nights are cool so bring a jacket. Chairs are provided and low lawn chairs are welcome.

Some nights you might glimpse a celebrity guest mingling informally with festival goers. Past celebrity guests include Gregory Peck, Teri Garr, Vin Diesel, Nicolas Cage, Richard Dreyfuss, George Lucas, Lynn Redgrave and Kirk Douglas to name a few.
Posted: Jun. 24, 2008 at 11:21AM by B-Side
What can I do?
Log in to add movies to your personal calendar, rate and review movies, and receive festival updates.
Use the tell-a-friend box to let others know about your favorite movies and share your personal calendar.
Add movies to your personal calendar, rate and review movies, and receive festival updates.
Share
Recent Activity
Rated 5.0/5 Stars
ersm rated Houston - We Have a Problem
on: 10/8/09 1:56 AM
Number of calendar adds lindalucas1 added Virtually a Virgin (screening: 9/27/09 6:00 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/26/09 10:44 AM
Number of calendar adds lindalucas1 added Tengri (Blue Heavens) (screening: 9/26/09 6:50 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/26/09 10:43 AM
Number of calendar adds lindalucas1 added Blue Gold: World Water Wars (screening: 9/26/09 4:35 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/26/09 10:41 AM
Rated 5.0/5 Stars
drue rated HALF
on: 9/21/09 12:59 PM
Number of calendar adds flick lover added Sideways - New Japanese Napa Valley Version (screening: 9/27/09 8:00 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/21/09 11:45 AM
Rated 5.0/5 Stars
disprod rated 400 Years of the Telescope - A journey of Science, Technology and Thought
on: 9/19/09 1:04 PM
Number of calendar adds began added Sideways - New Japanese Napa Valley Version (screening: 9/27/09 8:00 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/19/09 1:07 AM
Number of calendar adds began added Virtually a Virgin (screening: 9/27/09 6:00 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/19/09 1:06 AM
Number of calendar adds began added Tengri (Blue Heavens) (screening: 9/26/09 6:50 PM) to the calendar
on: 9/19/09 1:06 AM