The 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) is underway with screenings at various theaters around San Francisco and the East Bay.
For a full view of special awards, spotlights, and centerpiece films, check out the complete festival guide. Tickets can be purchased here.
Below is a preview of a few remaining features and the Shorts 6: Family Films program with upcoming showtimes:
1.) SHORTS 6: FAMILY FILMS
(Various, 2024-2025. 66 min.)
HOOFS ON SKATES
(Lithuania. 13 min.)
Hoofs on Skates is a delightful tale about two friends, a pig and a cow, who enjoy skating on a frozen lake, only to be scared away by a giant fish. Eventually, the duo discovers where their assumptions and reality may be vastly differing. The stop-motion animation is cute, simplistic, and charming, and eases wordlessly (except for adorable animal-sound exchanges) into a positive message for kids.
SNOW BEAR
(USA. 11 min.)
Snow Bear is a beautiful callback to the hand drawn animated stylings of Disney’s early ‘90s golden era. The story follows a lonely polar bear who builds a snow bear best friend (a snowman, but a bear) because other species deny his friendship. The montage of the bear and his creation engaging in a variety of arctic activities is truly heartwarming and inventive, and the film wonderfully depicts the emotional power of companionship.
SWIMMING WITH BUTTERFLIES
(USA. 8 min.)
Swimming with Butterflies is a short documentary about paralympic swimmer Lizzi Smith. Her story is one of perseverance and the life-affirming power of self-worth. Anyone can take inspiration from Lizzi’s message, but especially young kids facing their own challenges.
TULE
(USA. 4 min.)
Like a few other shorts in the Family Films program, Tule is a colorful calling card for environmental protection and Indigenous awareness. The film is told through 2D animation, with a poetic young girl’s voiceover reflecting on what she has learned about her native Pomo (of the Clear Lake, CA region) culture, and how preserving that culture has come under serious threat through pollution and environmental degradation.
Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Sat., April 26th, 10:00am at the Premier Theater
2.) THE TALLEST DWARF
(USA, 2025. 93 min)
The Tallest Dwarf is a personal but eye-opening documentary about the little people (LP) community. Directed by Julie Wyman, the film uses Wyman’s own story of suspected “partial dwarfism” to put a spotlight on how society has unfairly categorized and minimized the challenges facing little people. The film mostly focuses on a few individuals as it takes us into a dwarf artist group and an LP annual conference, and follows the Wyman family discovering their true genetic make up. In keeping the story personal while avoiding pandering to audiences, The Tallest Dwarf illuminates one of society’s brightest biased blind spots.
Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Sat., April 26th, 12:00pm at the Premier Theater
– Sun., April 27th, 12:00pm at BAMPFA
3.) FOLKTALES
(Japan/USA, 2024. 113 min)
“…Wake up your stone age brain.” That’s one of the many goals of attending the Pasvik Folk High School in Finnmark, Norway, a year-long educational and experiential program featuring wilderness skills and dog-sledding, aimed at young teens looking to break away from an overstimulating, technology-driven world. Folktales focuses on the journeys of a few of the socially anxious high school attendees and long-time trainers. The filmmakers combine intimate, diary-esque moments with powerfully energetic and spiritual footage of activities to merge the students’ sensory experience with our own, inviting us to deeply connect with the individuals as well as nature’s beautifully harsh wonders.
Screenings already took place. Click here for film information.
