‘Boys State’ to open 2020 San Francisco International Film Festival

Sundance Grand Jury Prize-Winning Documentary Will Kick Off the SFFILM Festival’s Two-Week Program

SFFILM announced today that the 2020 San Francisco International Film Festival (April 8–21) will start with the hometown premiere of Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s Boys State, Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 pm at the iconic Castro Theatre. The evening will include a screening of the film and an onstage conversation with the filmmakers and several of the film’s subjects, followed by the Opening Night Party at August Hall. Co-directors Moss and McBaine will be in attendance, with additional special guests to be announced.

“We’re thrilled to open the Festival with this award-winning, world-class film that happens to be directed by some of our favorite local storytellers,” said SFFILM Director of Programming Rachel Rosen. “Boys State is both wildly entertaining and richly thought-provoking, giving us a refreshing perspective on our nation’s ideals and political system. This is bound to be an exciting homecoming for this film and these great filmmakers.”

“I’m gonna keep my job if it’s the last thing I do,” says one of the “elected officials” in Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s prize-winning documentary, and it’s hard not to wince. Filming a group of Texas teens selected to participate in the titular highly respected program, Boys State masterfully observes as they engage in a weeklong course of political instruction, forming parties and platforms and electing candidates. As enthusiasm gives way to the competitive instinct, with members of the two parties turning to ruthless campaigning and sophisticated smear tactics (including “fake news”) to win at all costs, the film holds up an unforgettable mirror to the country’s current political turmoil.

The screening will be followed by the festival’s Opening Night Party at August Hall (420 Mason Street), kicking off the 2020 SFFILM Festival program featuring live entertainment, dancing, and treats from some of San Francisco’s finest food and beverage purveyors.

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Erik Anderson

Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.

He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.

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