About SIFF

The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the best in independent film and filmmakers from around the world, inspiring savvy film lovers, and introducing the power of film to student filmmakers.

“Top Ten Destination Film Festivals“

– USA Today

Named “One of the 25 Coolest Festivals” by MovieMaker Magazine and one of America’s Top Ten Destination Film Festivals by USA Today, SIFF takes place every March in the United States’ renowned Wine Country, just 45 minutes north of San Francisco.

SIFF is noted for its participation of film and media industry jurists and panelists and continues to grow its reputation in finding and cultivating new talent from around the world, creating a significant platform for networking and distribution opportunities. SIFF programs full-length features and documentaries, as well as short films in the Live Action, Documentary and Animated categories. SIFF also showcases Culinary, Food and Wine films across all categories and presents comedies from around the world in addition to dramas and other genres.

SIFF is committed to the 50/50 gender parity industry initiative, as well as films that cover the gamut of human experience from environmental, LGBTQI+, social justice and other diverse viewpoints.

The five-day festival supports filmmakers with generous cash award prizes and an accommodation program providing the opportunity to interact with industry professionals, community members, and our astute film audience in one of the most intimate, engaging and inspiring settings on the festival circuit.

SIFF has funded more than $725,000 to its signature initiative — the Media Arts Program started in 2002 at Sonoma Valley High School — which introduces students to the process of storytelling and provides resources to further their film education.

In addition to being a festival for and about film and filmmakers, SIFF also showcases the best of the Sonoma Valley region with several high-end culinary and wine events, namely the SIFF | Devour! Chefs & Shorts dinner, featuring celebrity chefs, and our SIFF Backlot Tent experience featuring industry panels, parties, wine and food pairings, and live entertainment.

In light of the unprecedented global situation of 2020, and in the spirit that is #sonomawoodstrong, we launched SIFF 2.0, our first virtual online film festival, which featured 100+ films from 20 countries, and reached an international audience of 30,000 viewers which consumed almost 4,000 hours of media in just four days.

Notable festival attendees include Robin Williams, Bruce Willis, Michael Keaton, Alexander Payne, Susan Sarandon, Robert Patrick, Matthew Modine, John Ratzenberger, John Lasseter, Blythe Danner, Saul Zaentz, Karen Allen, Julia Ormond, Mark Romanek, Danny Glover, Mare Winningham, Christopher Lloyd, Hal Holbrook, Ray Liotta, David Arquette, John Waters, Lauren Hutton, Meg Ryan and Jacqueline Bissett.

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Mission Statement

The Sonoma International Film Festival provides a welcoming, entertaining, and inspiring cinematic experience that supports and promotes independent films and celebrates the cultural diversity in the Sonoma Valley through the art of film.  We are dedicated to the financial support of the visual arts educational programs in Sonoma Valley schools and community outreach programs.

History

1997:

Sonoma friends Carolyn Stolman and Jerry Seltzer ideated and laid the groundwork for the Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF).

1998-1999:

The first two festivals were produced with sponsorship from Sonoma's Sister Cities Program and were held in the early fall. Film industry luminaries, and Bay Area residents, Danny Glover, Francis Ford Coppola and John Lasseter were among the first to attend and support SIFF’s mission to bring new independent world cinema to Sonoma.

2000:

SIFF’s festival moved to the spring and included a tribute to John Lasseter with a screening of his early animated works.

2001:

The festival highlighted restored film classics, with a special tribute to Richard May, noted film historian and preservationist.

2002:

This year marked the debut of food and wine-tastings at all screening venues. The program doubled in scope to a total of 50 films, and included industry panels, as well as the inception of the Media Arts Program at Sonoma Valley High School to provide students the opportunity to learn about and create films. The festival showcase included a screening of FINDER'S FEE and honored three of the films creators: Robert Forster, Lifetime Achievement; Matthew Lillard, Breakthrough Actor; and Jeff Probst, Breakthrough Director.

2003:

World Cinema selections were added to the festival, with six feature films from six different countries highlighted, including Oscar-nominated THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST from Finland. Oscar-winning Director John Lasseter hosted the first Imagery Honors, a talk-show style tribute to three outstanding writer-directors--Alexander Payne, Mark Romanek and Agnieszka Holland.

2004:

The festival program grew to over 70 films, including 20 student shorts and 10 animated shorts, which were screened within our well-received special shorts programs. Women in film was a significant theme, and the festival honored Blythe Danner with a special Achievement Award, as well as three actresses spanning three generations at the Imagery Honors Tribute Evening--Jena Malone, Deborah Unger and Fionnula Flanagan.

2005:

SIFF honored Saul Zaentz with a special Lifetime Achievement Award and the Imagery Honors Program welcomed multi-talented Jon Favreau talking one-on-one with Joe Pantoliano.

2006:

This edition featured actor/activist Danny Glover who was presented with SIFF’s first ever Humanitarian Tribute in conjunction with screening the powerful FAVELA RISING, courtesy of ThinkFilm. Patricia Heaton, Tony Shaloub, Brooke Adams, Kimberly Williams, Ernie Hudson, Melissa Joan Hart, Melissa Leo, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom all attended the festival supporting filmmaking and festival film projects. Entertainment Weekly and Mercedes-Benz joined as Premier Sponsors, and entertainers, The Toledo Show (the subject of Zalman King's documentary DANCE WITH THE DEVIL) brought the house down for 300 enthralled guests at the Festival Gala.

2007:

The 10th annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival featured a special tribute to John Lasseter and Pixar for inspiring the entire film industry with 20 years of artistic innovation.

2008:

SIFF expanded to six screening venues: Sebastiani Theatre, Hollywood at the Veteran’s Building, Vine at the Veteran’s Building, House of Docs at the Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club; Ravenswood Lounge at Sonoma Community Center, and the Ramekins Screening Room at Ramekins Culinary School, Events & Inn. Our festival tributee was Michael Keaton and included a special screening of BEETLEJUICE.

2009:

Bruce Willis was presented with SIFF's Lifetime Achievement Award with a screening montage of his body or work and a Q&A with the actor. His Tribute Gala followed at Jacuzzi Winery. The Opening Night Film was THE ANSWER MAN directed by John Hindman and starring Jeff Daniels, and the Closing Night Film was NECESSITIES OF LIFE directed by Benoit Pilon. Industry Media participants included People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight

2010:

The SIFF Backlot Tent, located in Sonoma Plaza, was introduced and served as the hub for the SIFF Box Office, festivalgoers, filmmakers and sponsors. Noted actor Lauren Hutton was presented an Achievement Award by renowned actor/comedian, and festival friend, Robin Williams. Hutton, along with David Duchonvy, attended the festival in support of their film THE JONESES, which closed the festival.

2011:

Actor/activist Susan Sarandon received our Lifetime Achievement Award after a Q&A to a sold out audience. Her special dinner, attended by several SIFF patrons, was held at Sebastiani Winery featuring the band, Crossfire.

2012:

SIFF focused on Latino films and festival goers with a new program, Vamos al Cine. Also that year director John Waters performed his one-man show to a standing room only crowd. The Opening Night Film was Luc Besson's LADY, the epic story of Aung Suu Kyi who was eventually elected to Parliament in Myanmar. Christopher Lloyd, whose outstanding performances in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, BACK TO THE FUTURE, and the TV show Taxi, received SIFF's Award Of Excellence after the screening of his film LAST CALL.

2013:

Our Spotlight Award went to actors Mary-Louise Parker and Demián Bichir as part of our Latino Vamos al Cine programming initiative. Opening Night Film THE ICEMAN welcomed film actor Ray Liotta and director Ariel Vromen. Liotta’s generosity included a visit with the student filmmakers participating in the Sonoma Valley Media Arts Program.

2014:

SIFF again welcomed actor Demián Bichir, this time with actor Jude Law, for our Opening Night Film DOM HEMINGWAY. Historically based character film BELLE was featured as the Closing Night Film. Another festival highlight was the screening of BORN IN CHICAGO followed by a live concert with some of the film’s featured musicians including Nick Gravenitas, Barry Goldberg, Harvey Mandel, Rick Reed and Gary Malleber, among others.

2015:

A LITTLE CHAOS, Alan Rickman's directorial debut, opened our 2015 edition. Festival films with local connections and added appeal were the David Arquette vehicle SOLD, DIOR AND I, THE CONNECTION, ARTOO IN LOVE and KARA WOMEN SPEAK. SIFF continued to deliver on entertainment with high energy themed parties including: Whisky A Go Go, Prom Night, and a Salsa Swing Party with live music by Despues de la Fiesta.

2016:

We honored two of Hollywood’s most influential and contributing filmmakers. Robert Kamen, scriptwriter and Sonoma winegrower, whose box office hits include KARATE KID, THE 5TH ELEMENT, TRANSPORTER and TAKEN; and Meg Ryan, actress/director, who brought her film ITHACA and whose acting credits include SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY and YOU’VE GOT MAIL, among others. Our 19th festival opened with LOUDER THAN BOMBS (Norway | France | Denmark) and closed with THE SENSE OF WONDER (France). The SIFF Backlot Tent, featuring a VIP Lounge, daily Happy Hours and main stage entertainment nightly, and the Le Tigre Tent, a daytime screening venue and nighttime vaudeville and burlesque stage, electrified the expanded SIFF Village. Five days, 106 films, 200 filmmakers from 16 countries, 5,000 festival attendees, and a showcase of Sonoma’s best wines, spirits and cuisine.

2017:

SIFF reached its landmark 20-year anniversary as a cultural gem in Sonoma Valley and beyond. We screened a record number of films (135) at seven venues and hosted over 200 filmmakers from around the world. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau sponsored the Sonoma Community Center screening venue and served food and drinks representative of their country. SIFF’s Friday Night Party in the Backlot Lot Tent--Taiwanese Night Market—made for rave reviews. Returning sponsor, Celebrity Cruises, created a popup mobile theatre with 91 seats, digital projection and served truffle popcorn to festivalgoers. VIP Lounge for select passholders at the SIFF Backlot Tent featured the best in food, wine and fun with Tito’s Vodka, Nespresso coffee service, Makers Mark, and culinary delights from Sonoma’s best caterers, restaurants and markets. Front and center in the SIFF Backlot Tent were more than 50 premium local wineries with tastings available from 11 AM to closing each day.

2018:

This year, we dedicated our festival to Sonoma Firefighters and First Responders as we sought to rebuild our Sonoma and North Bay communities from the devastating wildfires of October 2017. The exclusive SIFF | Devour! Chefs & Shorts special culinary event, produced by Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo in partnership with SIFF, made its debut. This instant hit brought together five renowned chefs, inspired by short food-focused films, who each prepared a course accompanied by a topflight wine and their assigned short film. Another new event introduced during our 21st festival was the SIFF Plaza Stroll, which gave our passholders access to seven select Sonoma restaurants, and tasting rooms for drink and food specials created especially for them.

2019:

The festival opened with the Australian film LADIES IN BLACK with Julia Ormond and Rachael Taylor, the stars of the film in attendance. The SIFF Backlot Tent featured our Friday and Saturday evening parties, VIP Lounge, a Sony Home Theatre interactive experience, and the new SIFF Café open to the public. The SIFF | Devour! Chefs & Shorts culinary event was a sellout on Thursday evening and Chef Tyler Florence hosted a sold out Friday evening dinner to screen his film UNCRUSHABLE. The UFO Symposium panel and screening special continued to be a popular draw among local enthusiasts.

2020:

SIFF2020 was shaping up to be our best fest yet, but with less than three weeks before it was to begin, the pandemic hit. Slated were more than 120 films from over 30 countries, appearances by acclaimed directors Lasse Hallstrom and Agusti Villaronga, and actors Karen Allen, Kate Bosworth, Christanne de Bruijn, Louis Gossett Jr, Robert Kennedy Jr, Lena Olin, Edward James Olmos, David Strathairn, and D.B. Sweeney. Two new events—the SIFF | Screen & Cuisine Lunch event featuring FANTASTIC FUNGI and our SIFF Sip Trips, featuring complimentary tastings and transportation to select festival wine sponsors, were also created to delight festivalgoers. The festival was set to end with the US Premiere of SUZI Q and a live concert from 70s rock icon Suzi Quatro and the Runaways’ Cherie Currie.

And in light of the unprecedented global situation, and in the spirit that is #sonomawoodstrong, we quickly pivoted and launched SIFF 2.0, our first virtual online film festival, which featured 100+ films from 20 countries, and reached an international audience which consumed the equivalent of 4,000 hours of media in just four days.

2021:

2021 SIFF introduces Summerfest -- a mini festival featuring outdoor winery screenings, live music, food trucks and select new films -- becoming one of the first live gatherings to bring the Sonoma community together.

2022:

2022 SIFF celebrates its milestone 25th festival with tributes to legends Jacqueline Bisset and Chef Jacques Pépin, and new events including Joanne Weir's Plates & Places Lunch. Filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom brought the world premiere of her film FAIR PLAY to Sonoma and was in attendance, along with husband, California Governor Gavin Newsom.

2023:

SIFF2023 was the highest-attended festival in the organization's 26-year history; and welcomed Sir Ben Kingsley, Harriet Sansom Harris, Zoe Winters, Jade Quon, director Marc Turtletaub, and writer Gavin Steckler to Sonoma for the Opening Night World Premiere of the film Jules.

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