The 2024 Davis Film Festival is set for November 3 at the Veteran’s Memorial Theater in Davis. The Festival showcases films from around the world and our own backyard including narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, shorts and features, and web series.
Doors open at 1:30 pm on Sunday, November 3rd.
Films start at 2:15 pm after a short Welcome from the Festival Director.
All children under 12 get in free to the Sunday afternoon family friendly films. Sunday evening films are for mature audiences only.
This year’s Festival Director is Judith Plank.
Get your tickets!
Tickets are on sale online and at the door. Prices are $10 for afternoon films, $10 for evening films. Students with ID and senior citizens pay $8.50 for each section. A Festival Pass is $15.
Programs
- 2p: Welcome & announcements
- 2:15p: “Edson’s Gravy” Dir. Ryan Kittleman 2:22
- Based on Russel Edson’s classic poem “Gravy” this film is a whimsical ode to a timeless condiment. (Richmond, CA)
- 2:20p: “The Nature Girl” Dir. Antonio Capreta 9:32
- The Nature Girl is the story of a brave and courageous young girl, abandoned by her parents at an early age, who ends up living on the streets in urban chaos. Her spirit is tested as she saves lost and injured animals with acts of heartfelt kindness to brazen rescues. (Bay Area)
- 2:30p: “Worms” Dir. Aden Bertisch 9:43
- Since the age of five, Ronny has been eating worms, a strange yet surprisingly healthy habit. Now in his freshman year of high school, Ronny faces a dilemma: will he find social acceptance with this unusual habit or not? Caution for kids under 12: some strong language. No worms or insects were harmed in the making of this film. (Sherman Oaks, CA).
- 2:40p: “Angel’s Overpass” Dir. Alfred Hernandez 5:45
- A visual piece that poetically juxtaposes images of man-made architecture with the architecture of nature. (Bay Area)
- 2:50p: “Amelia runs through a meadow.” Dir. Saurav Mohapatra 12:16
- An elderly woman, suffering from Alzheimer’s, tries to recreate a happy memory from her childhood before she loses it. (Bay Area)
- 3:05 pm. “Through a Child’s Eyes” Kat Silva 5:57
- Hear firsthand from 9 children across the country as they wrestle with the emotional and physical challenges of the Covid-19 outbreak. (CO)
- 3:10 pm. “Anointed” Dir. Argenis Herrera Sanchez 16:16
- A mother tries to force her daughter to marry the mayor, in the hopes of giving her child a secure and happy life, just like her own mother did to her. But her rebellious daughter has other ideas. (Venezuela)
- 3:25 pm. “For Love or Rock” Dir. Tony Pacheco 11:49
- Corey must succeed no matter what. Miri must not let anyone break her heart. As their relationship reaches its tipping point, they must choose between their ingrained beliefs, and the undeniable connection that binds them. (Sacramento)
- 3:40 p.m. 20 Minute Intermission
- 4:00 pm. “The Librarian” Dir. Serkan Aktash 20:42
- Anyone with a love for Literature and the Arts will appreciate this man’s struggle to survive in the blistering competitive jungle of your average American or European workday. (Turkey)
- 4:20 pm. A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam Dir. Andy Lauer 24:24
- Forced to flee Vietnam as a child, Chung Truong went on to create a beautiful life and family in the U.S. But as career and family were settling in, an emptiness overtook him, eventually leading him back to the country he barely remembered but ran deep in his blood. There, he connected with a team of courageous nuns and dedicated volunteers. Together they built a house for an impoverished family. Then another. Soon there were hundreds. Educational programs would follow. And a ripple effect that would change the lives of thousands… (U.S.)
- 4:45 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Q and A with filmmakers.
- 5:30 to 6:30 pm Dinner Break. Music by According to Bazooka. Refreshments for sale in the lobby. Popcorn, pretzels, pizza, candy, protein bars, coffee, tea, sodas, water.
- 6:35 pm Welcome Back/Announcements
- 6:40 pm “The First Rule” Dir. Saurav Mohapatra 6:30
- A love song/homage to classic black and white Hollywood crime-noir films from the fifties. (Caution: gun violence) (Bay Area)
- 6:50 pm. “Vasomotor Rhinitus” Dir. Mikheil Gabaidze 14:58
- An employee at a European governmental institution accidently sneezes on his boss at the Opera and spends the rest of the film trying to apologize. (Georgia–Europe)
- 7:05 pm Ten-minute intermission for latecomers
- 7:15 pm “Sally” Dir. Deborah Craig 1:36:26
- She spearheaded the 1970s and 80s lesbian feminist movement and worked shoulder to shoulder with Harvey Milk to defeat the Briggs Initiative, which would have kept LGBTQ teachers out of the classroom. She made an indelible impact on LGBTQ equality and women’s rights and was a brilliant superstar who inspired thousands. So how come you’ve never heard of Sally Gearhart? (SF)
- (A portion of this film’s ticket sales will go to Davis Pride and Davis Phoenix Coalition).
- 8:50 pm. Q AND A SESSION WITH THE DIRECTOR
- 9:40 pm. It’s a WRAP! See you next year!