San Diego International Film Festival’s Diverse Lineup Features ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘Dream Scenario’
Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival, is keenly aware that film is a uniquely immersive medium with the power to connect people — even strangers. And that power will be evident at SDIFF’s 22nd edition, which will run in person Oct.18-22, with screenings at various venues in the San Diego area. The event will also feature panels, Q and A’s, filmmaker happy hours and more special programming.
The fest will open with Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” (pictured above), a comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti, Domonic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as an unlikely trio bonding at a New England prep school over winter break.
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“Alexander Payne really peels back the layers of the characters,” Mantooth says. “As each one unfolds, he does it in such a way that you laugh – it touches your heart, it makes you cry. But what you see is just real people. He doesn’t ever put the characters in a box with a nice little bow. They’re all complex. They’re all raw. They all have their failings. That’s what makes the film so relatable.”
SDIFF will also premiere the A24 horror-comedy “Dream Scenario,” directed by Kristoffer Borgli and starring Nicolas Cage.
Reflecting on the qualities she searches for when curating the festival’s lineup, Mantooth stresses the importance of strong, unique storytelling and a focus on social issues. “Film allows you to walk in someone else’s shoes. [You’re] able to experience what they experience and come away with a sense of empathy for others. We need that more than ever right now.”
Another SDIFF premiere: documentary “Brothers After War,” in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. The film is a follow-up to the 2009 documentary “Brothers at War,” in which filmmaker Jake Rademacher depicts his brothers’ experiences in the military. The screening will be accompanied by a panel that explores “using film as a catalyst for healing,” per SDIFF’s programming schedule.
Additionally, the fest is continuing its partnership with the Women’s Museum of San Diego to present the Women’s Film Series, which features five films helmed by female directors. These titles include Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s “The Grab,” Michelle Danner’s “Miranda’s Victim,” Emma Davie’s “The Oil Machine,” Jennifer Esposito’s “Fresh Kills” and Claire Dix’s “Sunlight.”
Speaking on the collaboration with the museum, Mantooth says, “One of the things their executive team and our executive team are so excited about is the idea of women supporting women…We need to support and help each other.”
In partnership with Joey Travolta and Inclusion Films, SDIFF will also screen the documentary “Lights, Camera, Friendship!,” which showcases adults on the autism spectrum; the screening will be followed by a panel. Travolta and his team train young adults with developmental differences in film production, and three-quarters of the crew on “Lights, Camera, Friendship!” were adults with developmental differences.
“Again, film allows you to see something and get a new perspective on things,” Mantooth says. “And that’s a really important topic because October is Disability Employment Awareness Month.”
While still rebuilding its presence post-Covid and pivoting amidst the Hollywood strikes, Mantooth is optimistic about SDIFF’s attendance this year. Even in the face of competition from other popular fall festivals, she notes that her team received a large number of submissions from filmmakers. Above all, Mantooth is excited to witness people bonding and forming new connections through film.
“Our festivalgoers this year will see a much more immersive and engaging environment… Something we’re all looking for is to have that [sense of] community. That’s the power of film: it really helps bring people together.”
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