Announcing the Saul Zaentz Film Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saul Zaentz Film Celebration: Honoring Bay Area Independent Filmmaking
Date: November 15-17, 2024
Location: Smith Rafael Film Center
Co-Host: California Film Institute (CAFILM)
Berkeley, CA - The Berkeley FILM Foundation and the California Film Institute are thrilled to announce the inaugural Saul Zaentz Film Celebration, an event honoring the legacy of legendary independent film producer Saul Zaentz. Taking place from November 15-17, 2024, at the Smith Rafael Film Center, this event is co-hosted by the California Film Institute and promises to be an unforgettable weekend that pays tribute to a maverick filmmaker who represents the best of Bay Area filmmaking history.
Audiences will hear about the 'making of' these films from those who worked on them, including Sound Designer Mark Berger who won an Academy Award for both “Amadeus” and “The English Patient, Vivien Hillgrove who was part of the editing team of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”, and Paul Zaentz, associate producer on “The English Patient.”
Festival Highlights:
4K Restoration of “Amadeus”: Experience this classic in stunning high definition as it tours the US and Europe.
Screening of “The English Patient” with Q&A: Featuring a discussion with associate producer Paul Zaentz.
Screening of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of this iconic film.
Screening of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”: Followed by a conversation with Vivien Hillgrove, a member of the film’s editing team.
The celebration aims to showcase Saul Zaentz's award-winning films and highlight the rich history of independent filmmaking in the Bay Area. A special focus will be on how Zaentz’s pioneering work in Berkeley and Marin set the stage for a thriving independent film movement.
About Saul Zaentz:
Saul Zaentz was a world-renowned film producer known for his masterful literary film adaptations with exceptional cinematography, costume and set design, sound and music that earned three Academy Awards for Best Picture. He is celebrated for independently financing his films and managing the infamous Fantasy Records label in Berkeley, CA. Born in 1921 in Passaic, New Jersey, Zaentz served in the US Army during WWII. He moved to San Francisco in 1948, joining Fantasy Records in 1955 where he managed tours for jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck.
His film career began with “Payday” (1975) and the Oscar-winning “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1976). He also produced “Three Warriors” (1977), “The Lord of the Rings” (1978) and won his second Best Picture Oscar for “Amadeus” (1985). Other notable works include “The Mosquito Coast,” “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” and the nine-time Oscar-winning “The English Patient” (1997). Zaentz received the Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1997 and the BAFTA Academy Fellowship in 2003.
Join Us: Celebrate the Bay Area's rich history of independent filmmaking and honor the legacy of Saul Zaentz. Stay tuned for more details and ticket information.
For press inquiries, please contact: Larsen Associates, publicity@larsenassc.com.
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About The Berkeley FILM Foundation: (BFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit grant-making organization that nurtures, sustains, and preserves the independent film community in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Shore cities and cultivates the next generation of filmmakers. Founded in 2009 through a public-private partnership between the City of Berkeley, Wareham Development, and the Saul Zaentz Company, we foster the East Bay as an artistic hub for independent filmmakers. Read more about the Berkeley FILM Foundation.
About the California Film Institute: The California Film Institute (CAFILM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing film and media arts through its acclaimed programs, including the Mill Valley Film Festival and DocLands Documentary Film Festival. CAFILM Education offers students of all ages the opportunity to explore the world through film and filmmaking, fostering the next generation of film enthusiasts and creators. Our premier independent theater, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, attracts over 275,000 guests annually with compelling cinema and storytelling that addresses pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues. Additionally, CAFILM now owns and operates the Sequoia Cinema, furthering our commitment to preserving cinematic heritage and providing local access to quality films.