The 19-day event presented at the Rafael Film Center and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts wrapped on Sunday, December 19, with a sold-out screening of Ken Burns’ Seeing Searching Being. introduced by author/professor Dr. Jacob Needleman.
A total of 21 films representing 10 nations, with 15 premieres among them, were seen by enthusiastic audiences in San Rafael and San Francisco. Opening with a sneak preview of Tom Shadyac’s personal I Am, with the director in person along with author Marc Ian Barasch, other highlights of the Showcase included the appearance of Wavy Gravy at the sold-out screening of Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie, the full house for the west coast premiere of the Cannes Film Festival Palm D’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, introduced by Wes “Scoop” Nisker, the twin-bill of Sky Dancer and The Shadow of the Buddha, with both filmmakers, Jody Kemmerer and Heather Kessinger, in person, and the SF premiere of the Japanese feature Zen, with author/artist Kaz Tanahashi offering an insightful introduction and an engaging hour-long discussion with the audience afterwards.
The IBFF Showcase 2010 at the Rafael Film Center was a collaboration between Buddhist Film Foundation and California Film Institute, with additional screenings at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. For the full program is available here.
