SFI 2017

New Herzog Documentary and 'Kalpana' Premiere Highlight Sonoma Film Institute 2017 Season
December 19, 2016
scene from Herzog's new film

A still from Werner Herzog's "Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World"

Werner Herzog's new film, "Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World," opens the Sonoma Film Institute's fall 2017 season at Sonoma State University. It explores the digital landscape with a fervent curiosity that has characterized Herzog's recent documentaries.

"Lo and Behold" engages with cyberspace pioneers such as Tesla and Space-X co-founder Elon Musk, Internet protocol inventor Bob Kahn, and famed hacker Kevin Mitnick in provocative conversations that reveal the ways in which the online world has virtually transformed how everything in the real world works--from business to education, space travel to healthcare, and the very heart of how we conduct our personal relationships.

In addition to screening several award-winning documentaries and films from around the world, SFI is co-sponsoring with the Green Music Center the West Coast premiere of the restored version of "Kalpana." The sole film of celebrated Indian dancer Uday Shankar (older brother of sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar), "Kalpana" is a vibrant dance-drama that revolves around a young dancer's dream of forming his own dance academy. Originally filmed in 1948, the film was restored in 2008 by Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project in association with the family of Uday Shankar and the National Film Archives of India.

All film screenings are in Warren Auditorium, located in Ives Hall at Sonoma State University. Suggested ticket donation is $5, parking on campus is $5-$8. For more information visit www.sonoma.edu/sfi or call (707) 664-2606.

Full SFI Spring 2017 Schedule

Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.
Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (Werner Herzog, 2016) Landmark documentary that chronicles the virtual world.

Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m.
Lupe Under the Sun (Lupe Bajo el Sol) (Rodrigo Reyes, 2016, in Spanish and English with English subtitles) Independent feature about a migrant laborer in California's Central Valley.

Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m.
Original Copy (Directed by Georg Heinzen and Florian Heinzen-Ziob, 2015, in Hindi and English w/English subtitles) Charming documentary portrait of artist and guru Sheikh Rehman - one of the last hand-painters of colorful Bollywood posters.

Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, 1967) SFI Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Winner of the 1967 Best Picture Oscar, and the 90th Birthday of its star, Sidney Poitier.

Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. 
Lamb (Yared Zeleke, 2015, in Amharic w/English subtitles) A young Ethiopian boy tries to save his sheep from being sacrificed. Co-Sponsored by the United Nations Association of Sonoma County.

Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 5 at 4 p.m.
La Chienne (Jean Renoir, 1931, in French w/English subtitles) Classic French film starring Michel Simon.

Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 12 at 4 p.m.
Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) (Satyajit Ray, 1959, in Bengali w/English subtitles) Part 3 of the Apu Trilogy follows Apu into marriage. Sonoma State University Hutchins School Professor Dr. Ajay Gehlawat will introduce the film on Friday night.

Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 26 at 4 p.m.
Soul on a String (Zhang Yang, 2016, in Tibetan w/English subtitles) Mystical epic about a killer on the run who is entrusted with a sacred mission.

Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 4 p.m.
Forever (Heddy Honigmann, 2007, in French w/English subtitles) Touching documentary on the people who visit the graves of the famous at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Friday, April 7 at 7 p.m. 
Special event: Kalpana (Imagination) (Uday Shanker, 1948, in Hindi w/English subtitles) Celebrated landmark dance film directed by Ravi Shankar's brother. This event is in Schroeder Hall at the Green Music Center. Tickets are $20 (includes parking). Tickets:http://gmc.sonoma.edu/event/3267926-kalpana-a-film-by-uday

Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 at 4 p.m.
The Groove Is Not Trivial (Tommie Del Smith, 2016) Lively documentary on the internationally renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. Filmmaker Tommie Dell Smith will introduce the film and answer questions after the Friday screening.

Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 at 4 p.m.
The Wind Will Carry Us (Abbas Kiarostami, 1999, in Persian w/English subtitles) Profound film about a Tehrani camera crew visiting a small Iranian village.

Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 at 4 p.m.
Starless Dreams (Jo Mehrdad Oskouei, 2016) Touching documentary on a group of young women in an Iranian detention facility.

Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 at 4 p.m.

Celebrating the John F. Kennedy Centenary: The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew & Associates

May 5:
Primary (1960, 52 min.)Follows the Wisconsin primary election between John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic nomination for President.

Adventures on The New Frontier (1961, 52 min.) Follows the newly-elected President in the White House as he conducts his daily business.

May 7:
Crisis (1963, 53 min.) Features both Kennedy brothers trying to maneuver around the University of Alabama integration crisis, with Governor George Wallace blocking the doors.

Faces of November (1963, 12 min.) A simple, wordless portrait of a traumatized nation after the assassination.

Media Contact

Nicolas Grizzle