By Noma Faingold (May 1, 2025)
When chef/owner Anthony Strong decided to open his restaurant/shop combo, the Pasta Supply Co., in April 2023 on Clement Street, he took DIY to an extreme. Continue reading
Author Archives: garyedf
Women Scientists Fascinated By Bats
A Profile of Filmmaker Kristin Tièche
By Noma Faingold. (May 1, 2025)
Kristen Tièche walks into Le Café du Soleil, a French bistro in the Lower Haight, with unremarkable décor, clutching her little black mixed-breed dog, Zizou. She rode her bike from her Inner Richmond home. It’s mid-afternoon. As she places a glass of white wine, accompanied by a glass of water, at a window table, she mentions that her day is tighter than she realized, having already spent time at a volunteer garden, followed by a shower. “I have people coming over to my place at 5:30,” she said.
Kristen Tièche – Photo by Noma Faingold
Welcome to the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival
A sneak preview of the opening weekend at the oldest film festival in the Americas.
By Meredith Brody (April 23, 2025)
After a five-day iteration in 2024, SFILM returns in 2025 with eleven days stuffed with over 150 movies (narratives, documentaries, and shorts) from 50 countries, special events, workshops and talks, and awards. April 17-27.
Isaac Julien Dreams A World
By Noma Faingold (April 16, 2025)
Watching the 28-minute, 10-screen film/art installation, “Lessons of the Hour,” by British artist/filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien, isn’t as overwhelming as one might think. In fact, the flood of images, sounds and words, dedicated to the life of writer, orator, philosopher, and social justice activist Fredrick Douglass (1818-1895), a former slave, allows the viewer to absorb and interpret the immersive experience in their own way.
Barbarella Gives a Physical-According to AI
By Gary Meyer and his AI bestie (April 15, 2025)
When I read that (not my) POTUS was getting his physical from a Dr. Barbabella I misread it as the French satirical science fiction comic strip heroine created by Jean-Claude Forest and subsequent popular movie starring Jane Fonda, “Barbarella.” I wondered what ChatGBT could do with that. You will note in the comic strip balloons there are misspelled words and the bottom panels are partially cut off sometimes. ChatGBT wants to be sassy and hip in its responses.
I asked for : “BARBARELLA as a doctor treating Donald Trump.”
Let Us Eat Cake
By Noma Faingold
(April 6, 2025)
They baked. They came and placed their cakes on white tablecloths. They devoured.
Photo by Noma Faingold
The official count was 1,387 cakes (and at least that many participants) at the CAKE PICNIC™ on the morning of March 29, on the front lawn of the Legion of Honor Museum.
Cake Happens in San Francisco
“CAKE PICNIC™ was born out of a simple desire to eat a lot of cake. And be surrounded by friends,” writes founder Elisa Sunga. “It is a gathering for the love of cake. It celebrates cake in all of its forms — chiffon cakes, upside down cakes, Princess cakes, Russian honey cakes, meringue cakes, jello cakes, trifles, multi-tiered cakes, sponge cakes, butter cakes, and more. Continue reading
Return to Berlin & Beyond 2025
By Meredith Brody
(March 26,2025)
What are my strategies for choosing what to see at a beloved SF film festival when much of what is offered are unknown titles? Sometimes all it takes for me to want to see a movie is a word or two.
While perusing the twelve film lineup of the upcoming Berlin and Beyond Film Festival, the 29th iteration presented by the Goethe-Institut, this happens several times. Continue reading
THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF MAKING A FILM ABOUT MARCELLA HAZAN
Director Peter Miller talks with Geneva Anderson
(March 20, 2025- foods mentioned with an * behind them open to recipes)
Marcella Hazan is the secret ingredient that made Italian cuisine irresistible to Americans. Through her cookbooks and teaching, she taught home cooks to focus on fresh ingredients and master simple techniques to unlock flavor, which is what truly matters in food. Emmy and Peabody Award winning director Peter Miller’s thoroughly engaging new documentary, “Marcella,” which just won a Taste award for best feature, masterfully pieces together Hazan’s life (1924-2013) and legacy.
A Feast of Cinematic & Culinary Delights
A Marcella Hazan tribute dinner, 17 food-related films, and Michelin Chef Yoshinori Ishii’s masterclass on Japanese cuisine highlight a wine country festival starting Wednesday with 90+ events.
By Geneva Anderson
(March 16, 2025)
The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF), March 19-23, offers an extravaganza of groundbreaking cinema, food, and fun spread over five days in glorious Sonoma, the heart of the wine country. All films are screened at venues in or within walking distance of the historic town square making SIFF one of the country’s most laid back and enjoyable festivals. The full line-up includes over 90 films.
SUDDENLY SOMETHING CLICKED
An excerpt from Walter Murch’s upcoming book on “The Languages of Film Editing and Sound Design”
Award winning editor Walter Murch will be in conversation after a screening of “Her Name Was Moviola” on Friday, March 21 at the Smith Rafael Film Center @ 7pm. He will discuss the kind of editing equipment used for decades with celluloid and how his work has changed in the digital age. Moviolas and other equipment will be on display. For full information and to buy tickets go here.