July 30: Grace Film Festival LGBTQ Night

All are welcome to join us for this free event.  

The ABC Conjecture: The dissolution of the relationship between two middle aged women, a poet and a theoretical mathematician.

RSVP: A Gay Widower attempts to fulfill his husband's final request:
To spread his ashes on his hometown beach, in the company of the family that disowned him.
Bound: Some people are drawn into our lives to teach us our true capacity. When is the right time to let them go?

GAYROUTH: To be gay in Beirut, one of the most openminded capitals in the Middle East, which is sinking in the era of repressions, is not as easy as it looks. This documentary tells an exceptional and an uncommon story of two lives.

UPDATE: A Womb of Their Own will be rescheduled at the request of the filmmaker.  Apologies for the inconvenience.

Grace Film Festival: July Official Selections

Here is the list of official selections and screening times for films showing on July 25th.  All films will screen at Grace Lutheran, 3201 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA.

Saturday, July 25, 2015 6-8pm

Love in the City (4:20) Emanuele Michetti - USA
In a big city where everything moves too fast and everyone is too busy, there is no time to relax. How can relationships evolve?

3:00 PM (13:41) hongyi cao-USA

This is a story about two young lovers who want to get married three months after their first sight. It is supposed to be a sweet beginning of love. However, after they live together, they have some conflicts. They turn to find help from a psychologist. An interesting story begins.​

On Flying Water (2:06) Dominique Monfery - France

This film is a metaphore of life, with drops born at dawn and dying at sunrise. the drops are personalized, a visual metaphor of human and animal's life. they all fight, die, win, etc. but they are treated as animals or any other characters.

The Gospel of Jon (9:20) David Goehring - USA

On the heels of deciding to become a Christian, Jon and his girlfriend start having some trouble. Soon, Jon finds that this decision will affect his relationship with all his friends. He questions whether he can actually follow through with it, until he learns something that changes the way he views faith and gives him hope for the future.

A Map of the Heart (36:12) Muzhgan Rasul & Lisa Herndon - US

A Map Of My Heart, a documentary by Muzhgan Rasul & Lisa Herndon, is the story of Ayesha Akhtar, a 25-year-old Bengali American Muslim, who is torn between her traditional Bengali parents and her American boyfriend. To help find answers and to challenge the gender inequalities she believes are in her religion and culture, Ayesha starts a photography project The Burqa Project that she is keeping a big secret from her parents. She asks Muslim and non-Muslim men to wear a burqa for a day and photographs them as they go about their daily lives.  

Finding Gondal (52) Morgan RAUSCENT - France

A documentary about the Reverend Patrick Bronte and how a series of tragedies helped instill a love for the arts in his three remaining daughters; Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

Grace Film Festival: May 2015 Official Selections

Watt Town : Holy songs from Jamaica (46) STEPHANE DELPHIN - Jamaca/France

Mid 19th century, a spiritual revolution breeds a new religion : The Zion Reival : appeared nearly one century before Rastafari, that black jamaicains embraced because African cosmology and Christian Baptist corpus could be blent. Still nowadays, 3 times a year, a Revival pilgrimage happens in Watt Town, St Ann.

Cotton Candy (16:31) Karol Kołodziński -  Poland

What if you could influence the mind of younger you and make him choose differently? Marcel goes on a meeting with his girlfriend Alice. On his way he meets strange girls from his past. Can those circumstances change his attitude towards his present relationship?

Intrinsic Moral Evil (10:45) Harm Weistra - Netherlands

Intrinsic Moral Evil seems to be a tale of identity and coming of age. But above all, the three dancers play with the viewer’s perception and expectations. The layered story gradually develops; revealing its last secrets just before the end credits start. Inviting the audience to make its own interpretation.

I Never Said I Wasn't Happy (38:4) Sara Peak Convery - USA

Filmmaker and artist explores the implications of her parents' conflicted marriage.

The Martyr (10) Darren Langlands - UK

MI5 Agent Laura Kent explains her actions to an internal inquiry in the aftermath of a major terrorism incident.

THE WORLD IT IS.... (1:57:05) BISWAJEET BORA - India

The film is set in Mumbai, tells the story of ever growing human detachment with nature and how an urban family gets trapped in the concrete jungles of a metropolis. It’s a deep contrast between the most populous city of India, Mumbai and the natural beauty of Assam, this film is a satire on the mechanical and fame-driven lives of people of Mumbai.

Of Boys and Planes: Official Selection: Love: Grace Film Festival

Of Boys and Planes
Mexico

Runtime: 2:40
Category: Love
Screen Date: April 2015

Aliens have come to Earth. The mission to end the invasion depends on two militar pilots, Wolf and Eagle. They will have to end the threat before

A film by Luis Buenfil

The Glorious Refuse: Official Selection: Hope: Grace Film Festival

The Glorious Refuse 
Nigeria

Runtime: 14:57
Category: Hope
Screen Date: April 2015

A promising young man, who abandons his university education in his sophomore, finds himself entangled in a dumpsite in grief and regret, now searches for a better life again.

Director: Jimoh Charles Yusuf

Jimoh Charles Yusuf, an ambitious and creative upcoming filmmaker, was born 14th April 1978, in Sapele Delta state, Nigeria. A biochemistry graduate from YABA College of Technology, Lagos state, Nigeria, 2005. His passion for film took him to Denmark where he studied filmmaking at European Film College, (2012- 2013). He is married with a wife and son.
I have so far written and directed three films to my credit, (Regrets, 2012, Produced in Denmark, Dark Days of Kwanele, 2013 Produced in Denmark.) And The Glorious Refuse 2014 a documentary,Produced in Nigeria). He has also worked in several other projects as writer, director, cinematographer, and production manager during his studies in the European Film College, Denmark.

Director’s Statement

My quest to explore the cinema of reality was borne after watching several interesting documentary Masterpiece. I was thrilled and decided to embark on a documentary project. After, waiting for the budget I needed to execute several of my projects not surfacing, I brace to delve into a subject I could easily execute with the little funds at my disposal.

My intention with THE GLORIOUS REFUSE is to explore the sufferings that I feel are relevant to the society today: that we are living in an increasingly impoverished world; that we are vulnerable to starvation beyond our understanding; and that we tend to contain that which we do not understand or would rather not face. Also, to relate despite this impoverished system, how the ordinary man strives, and has to accept the Wastes, as a gift and the only alternative to his continued woe.

As with the above, I take my creative cues from documentary films of the present day happenings to tell my story, from the eyes of those affected directly, and so it is with my visual approach to THE GLORIOUS REFUSE. As opposed to the conventional style of documentary filmmaking of narration behind the camera. I prefer the use of indirect interviews and cutaways to tell my story, rather than a scripted narration. For me the use of interviews to tell a story directly from the POV of the character in question, gives the film its originality and general acceptance by the audience. I would like nothing more than to leave the audience with an experience that will stay with them, in both body and mind, long after the closing credits have rolled.

The Complicated Dance to the Wheel of Life: Official Selection: Hope: Grace Film Festival

The Complicated Dance to the Wheel of Life
Philippines
Runtime: 11:35
Category: Hope
Screen Date: April 2015


Michael, a PWD (Person With Disability), is losing hope. For him, life is already a mess. Dreams are not meant for him. But, while he is rolling his wheelchair, he will encounter people who will change his view on life. He will eventually learn how to do the complicated dance to the wheel of life.

Director: Arjanmar H. Rebeta

Country: Philippines

Director’s Statement

"Our dreams do not end because of the things we lack. It starts with the things that we have."

Two Men and a Cradle: Official Selection: Grace Film Festival

 

Two Men and a Cradle 
France
Language: French/English
Runtime: 55:19
Category: Love
Screen Date: April 2015

his is the extraordinary story of a gay couple using a surrogate mother to create a family. Despite it is forbidden and highly controversial in France, Christophe and Bruno accepted to be filmed during the whole adventure of surrogacy, during more than a year. From the meeting with the surrogate to the birth. More than a year of comings and goings between Paris and Portland ( Oregon, an american state that allows surrogacy ), a clandestine and a very risky way to create a family, raising many issues... For sure, surrogacy, and especially for a gay couple, is stirring a major public debate.

 

Director: Florence Helleux and Smaïn Belhadj

Florence is a 30-year-old journalist and Smaïn is a 28-year-old editor. They are freelance and work for the French television, for different magazine broadcasts. Their documentary represents a work of more than one and a half year. "Too long and too expensive for television" said every producer to Florence and Smaïn. But the two filmmakers were convinced that filming this story was worth it. They started working for free, borrowing cameras and microphones from many friends. Finally, six months after the beginning of the filming, one broadcast of the French public television France 2 , "13h15", believed in their project and produced the film.

Director’s Statement

The surrogate mother of this documentary lives in McMinnville, Oregon. Surrogacy is illegal in France, for all. Despite this, many straight and gay french couples are going to Portland, Oregon, where surrogacy agencies and clinics can help them to create a family.

Bayberries Have Ripened: Official Selection: Faith: Grace Film Festival

 

Bayberries Have Ripened
Nepal
Language: Napali
Runtime:
Category: Faith
Screen Date: April 2015



The film is set in the countryside of Nepal during the civil war period, where most men were either abroad or displaced because of the war. A countryside where orient cuckoo bird (known locally as Kafal Pakyo ) tweets continuously. Sushmadevi, a mother of two sons whose husband is abroad, directs her sons to take their cow for fertilization. As the boys bring back the cow, worshiped as a mother and giver, they are faced with a new realization.

Director: Niranjan Raj Bhetwal

Niranjan Raj Bhetwal was born on 5th of March, 1990 AD. He joined Film College in the year 2009 and he graduated in the year 2014 AD. His Graduation film was selected in the 'opening Section' of Ekadeshma Film Festival 2014: Creating Ripples.

Director’s Statement

I was thinking a short story for my graduation project. I was more concerned about social issue. I started recalling my past.

I spend my childhood in countryside of Nepal with my family. I was grown up listening the ambience of jungle, songs of birds and sound of river. I spent my most of the childhood day with my grandfather, listened his past experiences and some stories with a moral lessons where he told me the story of the Cuckoo bird.

After few years, Maoists started civil war in Nepal. Maoist took many young people and forced them to join the rebel group. Due to the fear of war, my family migrated to the capital city. The beginning days of our city life were hard. In Hinduism cow is taken as holy mother. We Hindus believe that people will be pure from sin even by drinking the urine of cow. By this thinking and for business my mom started selling the milk of cow to manage our daily expenses and our school fees but, it was not enough. One day my dad took a decision to go foreign country to work and thus, he left.
One day cow made continuous loud sound in its shed. We found that cow needed to be taken for fertilization. For breeding and fertilization, only males are allowed in our Nepali Hinduism based culture. But the condition was, there were no any youths in village. My mom ordered me to take for breeding as I was the only male person in the family.

Then, this film, Kafal Pakyo, was born.

The primary themes of Kafal Pakyo are physical desire of humans and animals, family, society, war and religion. The film focuses on the intersection of all of these themes through the holy cow and two teenager brothers. As they discover who they are, so do we. Through their stories, we as viewers, come to understand more fully the meaning of family and religious belief.
Through the voices of these brothers, story of cuckoo, physical desires of cow and the situations of women in the film, we begin to understand what they face, and understand more deeply our own complex relationships, society, culture and religion. I hope, Kafal Pakyo will start a dialogue about what we see, who we are and the situations passed by Nepali women at the time of war.
This film is about these two brothers, their family, their cow, their society, their belief, their nation and more than 15,000,000 people who were affected because of the civil war.

Early Selections for Exceptional Films: April 2015: Grace Film Festival

We screened almost 100 films and have selected the following for early approvals for our film festival which will screen in April 2015.  To learn more about our January 2015 event, click here.  All films will screen at Grace Lutheran, 3201 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA.

Friday, April 24, 2015 - 5:30-8:30pm

Bayberries Have Ripened (16:25) a short film from Nepal
Dervish: a spiritual sojourn (39:01) a short film from India

- Intermission - Films resume at 6:30

Love Free or Die (cancelled)

The Illusion (2:04) a short animated film from Iran
The Complicated Race to the Wheel of Life (11:35) a short film from the Philippines
The Glorious Refuse (14:57) a short film film from Nigeria
Alyosha's Love (22:42) a short film from Russia
1-0 (1) a short from Iran

- Intermission - Films resume at 8pm

Of Boys and Planes (2:40) an animated short from Mexico
Two Men and a Cradle (55:19) a documentary from France

Saturday, April 25, 2015  - 5:15-8:30pm

to be or not to be? (1:01:00) a film from Kazakhstan

 Takhir Umarov is a performer of the leading role, student of the ‘’ARDI’’ Rehabilitation center (Association of Parents of Disabled Children). In real life he dreams to become an actor. His diagnosis is Cerebral palsy. In addition, he is wheelchair-bound and stammers. Takhir does not have chances to realize the dream practically. All roles of this film are performed by young people with disabilities. Every second of their lives is given to them by incredible struggle, which enforces them to put a question for themselves: “To be or not to be”? 

 - Intermission - Films resume at 6:30 pm

Brother Outsider (1:23:00) Documentary from US

Documentary on Bayard Rustin, best-remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.

 - Intermission - Films resume at 8pm

Because of Mum (12:17) an animated short from Bulgaria
Shades of Gray (6:18) an animated short from the Russian Federation
Ticonderoga (7) a short film from Canada
Coffee Talk 6 - Gay Marriage (5:06) a short from the US

Films to be shown at Worship During the Month:

These films will be judged in a special category and awarded laurels by the congregation.

Made from Clay (2:17) 

Animated film with coloured clay on top of back-lit glass, a picture of the hardness of society and a positive message to all about the power of the Cross and the hope, love, and light of Christ Jesus. With the incredible musical talent of Kurtis Blow Walker Hip Hop legend and minister of the Gospel.

Any Man's Pryce (8:58)
Gifted pickpocket Christopher Pryce's life is changed forever when he finds a Bible in the pocket of one of the people he tried to rob. Every Man's Pryce is a unique story of redemption and transformation that will leave you with a new perspective. This film is written, directed and edited by fourteen-year-old Josiah Stendel.

Going Through the Motions () 

In the race from day to day, our routines – extending into every facet of who we are as people – can pass by unnoticed. On this short journey, Going Through The Motions exposes the need for reflection and reformation of lukewarm Christian lives. Embrace the invitation to live proactively.

Umudugudu! Rawanda 20 Years On (36)
Rwanda, twenty years on: former genocide killers and survivors live together once again in former or newly built umudugudus (villages). Haunted by their past and fearing an uncertain future, how is life together, when your neighbour is the one who killed your family?

Christ Tempted (8:16)

A short film illustrating Christ's forty days in the wilderness where, prior to beginning His earthly ministry, He was tempted by Satan... yet without sin.

Once we Were Slaves (27:00)

The story of an influential event 2000 years ago from the viewpoint of two people who had a unique perspective

The Other F Word (1:04:00)

What does forgiveness really mean? Is it always essential? Or is it sometimes unnecessary, even impossible, to attain? This feature-length documentary explores the meaning of forgiveness, and examines its impact on our relationships and our sense of justice. Through personal stories of forgiveness sought, forgiveness found and forgiveness withheld, the film provides insight into the universal nature of transgressions, and questions whether any of us are truly able to “turn the other cheek.”

Starting Over: A Record of Faith (24:05)
Starting Over: A Record of Faith, is a short documentary about a former drug addict, who found salvation while staying at Elmwood state prison on drug related charges. After her release, she had a miraculous transformation of character where she at the age of 54 she obtained her very first job and began to give back to the community working with developmentally disabled well with recovery centers such as Teen Challenge. However, her life takes a drastic turn when she learns that she has to go back to prison two years later as a result of the Federal government seeking to prosecute her for the same crime that landed her in Elmwood. The story is a record of her faith as she copes with the sudden change of events and what this change will mean for her life.

Dervish: a spiritual sojourn: Official Selection: Faith: Grace Film Festival

Dervish: a spiritual sojourn
India
Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu
Runtime: 39:01
Category: Faith
Screen Date: April 2015

This journey is about finding the tomb of a forgotten Sufi, Abu Hashim Madani who was the teacher of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Inayat Khan journeyed from Hyderabad to New York following the guidance of his Sufi teacher who bade him, to unite East and West with the harmony of music and spread Sufism.

Meanwhile, the film intents to capture the Sufi traditions existing in the city and how it has been influencing people of different sections of the society. Film also tries to trace the historical context in which Sufi masters from different parts of Asia who came to the Deccan region of India and their contribution in the field of music, literature and architecture.

Director: Siddharth Ojha

Masters in Communication (Television & Radio) from the S N School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad. Prior to Master’s degree worked for two years in the print sector (Times of India) and for about a year with the television sector (Zee News).
Started making short films of small duration and specially documentaries during bachelor’s degree. First documentary, ‘The Eternal Raga’ in 2011 was nominated in Jaipur International Film Festival (2012) and Udaipur International Film Festival (2012).

Alyosha's Love: Official Selection: Forgiveness: Grace Film Festival

 

Alyosha's Love
Russia
Language: Russian
Runtime: 22:42
Category: Forgiveness
Screen Date: April 2015


1945. The War has ended. Alyosha is coming home, expecting tenderness and kindness of his beloved wife, Lyba, and his children. But many things have changed. Except one - his wife still extremely loves him. But would he accept that love?
Based on a A. Platonov novel.

Director: Nastasia Simbirtsewa

I was born in family of army translator. I've been studying music for 10 years (violin). At the age of 16 I entered to University of Cinematography (VGIK, Moscow). Now I work in TV and I'm making documental films about social problems. As well I'm working on my debut feature film.

The Illusion: Official Selection: Grace Film Festival

 

The Illusion
Iran

Runtime: 2:04
Category: Life
Screen Date: April 2015

This is a human story that is illusion and vanity and every day he gets farther away from the others. In this animation, the dialogue is unknown .(In other world; the dialogue with body language is just to convey the abstract concepts) .

Director: Mohammad Reza Hanafi

Education: high school diploma in mathematics/bachelor’s degree in educational sciences/master’s degree in educational psychology

Art activities: producer and director of movie and
animation/photographer/author
A _ Art records:
1. Writer & Producer & director of Short animation “The Illusion” / 2 min / three dimensional technique / produced in 2013

“The Illusion” was nominee for :
1) The best short animation in Phoenix Film Festival (USA) ( 3-10 April 2014)
2) The best short animation in Short Sharp Film Festival (Australia) (16 August 2014)
“The Illusion” is nominee for :
3) Anim!Arte ( Brazil, 21-30 October 2014 )
4) Festimation: Animation + New Media Arts Festival ( USA, Montana, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th in October 2014 )
5) The Machinima Expo 7 (22 & 23November 2014 )
6) selected for The Jaxon Film Fest ( for Novella Showcase / USA, Michigan, 1&2 November 2014 )
2. Producer and director of animation series “ The Restaurant of the Jungle “ which is totally 390 minutes (26 episodes, 15 minutes each)/
1) “ The Restaurant of the Jungle “ was nominee for the best animated film and sound editing & mixing and also best directing in 2014 Jaame Jam Int. TV Festival and finally won the award of the Best animated film.
2) “ The Restaurant of the Jungle “ selected and is nominee for 28th International Children Film Festival in Isfahan( one of important cities of Iran) (3-6 October 2014)
3. Holding photography, painting and graphic exhibitions in Saadabad art galleries (2002), Niavaran Art Gallery (2002), Jahannama art gallery (2003), Noor art gallery and …
4. Authoring and photographing the book “Karkheh Sarzamin Aram (Karkheh, land of peace)” in two Persian and English languages in 2006
5. Designing hundreds of posters and book cover design by the order of different centers (2000 to 2007).
6. Founder and manager of Shamisa Art and Cultural Inst. (founded from 2004)
7. Producer and director of short animation “Flight” in 2008 (8 minutes)

Alices: Official Selection: Love: Grace Film Festival

 

Alices
France

Runtime:17:30
Category: Love
Screen Date: January 31, 2015


Alice is walking back to her apartment at night. Suddenly, she finds herself outside in the daylight walking the city streets. She meets different men and women who approach her, take her by the hand and guide and deform her.

Director: Ariane Boukerche

Born in Paris in 1984, Ariane Boukerche studied at the École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg where she worked mostly on video installations and experimental videos. Since then, she has edited for the Centre des Arts d'Enghien-les-Bains, as well as for independent short films. She has assisted Mr Vijay Singh, Director of "Jaya Ganga" and "India By Song", for seven years.

Momemo: Official Selection: Love: Grace Film Festival

 

Momemo
Canada
Buy Tickets 
Runtime: 6:40
Category: Love
Screen Date: January 31, 2015

A woman with Alzheimer encounters a man who claims to be her husband. What ensues is a beautiful moment of connection before the nurse returns.

Director: Gabriel Borgetto

Borgetto Gabriel was born in 1982 in Frankfurt am Main. After working in Munich in 2006 as Creative Producer and Editor for various TV formats, Live TV, On air design, and Trailer and Web formats, he went on to study directing at the Film Academy Baden- Württemberg. His films run on national and international festivals, with his short Film, Studies on Hysteria winning awards worldwide.

Director’s Statement

His complete Biography and Filmography can be viewed here at: http://il-borgetto.com

Girly: Official Selection: Love: Grace Film Festival

Girly
US

Buy Tickets 

Runtime: 8:58
Category: Love
Screen Date: January 31, 2015

A girl struggles to make the most of the last few moments with her lover, while trying to figure out whether or not his love for her is forever.

 A film by Kira Bursky.