2018 Festival Schedule
Thursday, October 4, 7:00 PM

Opening Night 2018
SFDFF invites you to join us for the World Premiere of Play Serious about Alexander Ekman’s trials and tribulations creating Play for the Paris Opera Ballet.
SFDFF invites you to join us for the World Premiere of Play Serious about Alexander Ekman’s trials and tribulations creating Play for the Paris Opera Ballet.
Friday, October 5, 6:30 PM

The Painting on the Wall
Plunge into the fantastical world of Chinese fairy tales as they serve as inspiration for award-winning choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s Painting On The Wall.
Plunge into the fantastical world of Chinese fairy tales as they serve as inspiration for award-winning choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s Painting On The Wall.
Friday, October 5, 8:30 PM

Ghosts
Norwegian National Ballet’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts, a play of a deep psychology that explores the question “how many lies can a person tolerate?”
Norwegian National Ballet’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts, a play of a deep psychology that explores the question “how many lies can a person tolerate?”
Sunday, October 7, 2:00 PM

Special Screening @ SF Public Library
In the intimate documentary, Perfectly Normal for Me, a group of kids from ages 5 to 15 reveal what it’s like to live with a variety of physical and developmental challenges.
In the intimate documentary, Perfectly Normal for Me, a group of kids from ages 5 to 15 reveal what it’s like to live with a variety of physical and developmental challenges.
Sunday, October 7, 6:30 PM

Experimental / Catharine Clark Gallery
Catharine Clark Gallery co-presents five works that explore the rich intersection of dance, art, and film. With live performance by AnA Collaborations.
Catharine Clark Gallery co-presents five works that explore the rich intersection of dance, art, and film. With live performance by AnA Collaborations.
Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 PM

Spirit Labour / Catharine Clark Gallery
Catharine Clark Gallery co-presents the film Spirit Labour which follows performance artist Janine Antoni and her collaborations with Anna Halprin.
Catharine Clark Gallery co-presents the film Spirit Labour which follows performance artist Janine Antoni and her collaborations with Anna Halprin.
Thursday, October 11, 5:00 PM

Shorts 1: Concentric Circles
A program of original choreographic works for the camera blending dance with image, music, text, animation and movement into poetry on screen.
A program of original choreographic works for the camera blending dance with image, music, text, animation and movement into poetry on screen.
Thursday, October 11, 7:00 PM

Double Play
A double-feature event around the theme of creativity and play with the films BaseBallet: Into the Game and Creative: Alexander Ekman’s Study in Creativity
A double-feature event around the theme of creativity and play with the films BaseBallet: Into the Game and Creative: Alexander Ekman’s Study in Creativity
Friday, October 12, 10:30 – 1:30 PM

2018 Filmmaker Forum
In this two-part program, join filmmakers from around the world for an overview of music rights and a discussion titled “What’s The Score?” about the way music and sound design affect every aspect of filmmaking
In this two-part program, join filmmakers from around the world for an overview of music rights and a discussion titled “What’s The Score?” about the way music and sound design affect every aspect of filmmaking
Friday, October 12, 2:00 PM

Shorts 2: Ears Wide Open
Seven films with music at their center, weaving sounds from East and West, from jazz to electronic to pure human percussion.
Seven films with music at their center, weaving sounds from East and West, from jazz to electronic to pure human percussion.
Friday, October 12, 4:00 PM

La Chana
Award-winning film celebrates a self-taught flamenco dancer who rose to international stardom and then vanished from the public eye at the height of her career.
Award-winning film celebrates a self-taught flamenco dancer who rose to international stardom and then vanished from the public eye at the height of her career.
Friday, October 12, 6:30 PM

American Tap
In-depth documentary about a quintessentially American dance form—from its origins, to the historic and cultural events that shaped it.
In-depth documentary about a quintessentially American dance form—from its origins, to the historic and cultural events that shaped it.
Friday, October 12, 8:45 PM

Shorts 3: Into the Wild Blue Yonder
Travel to the farthest reaches of the world — from the frozen beauty of Antarctica to the deserts of Israel — with this collection of dynamic shorts.
Travel to the farthest reaches of the world — from the frozen beauty of Antarctica to the deserts of Israel — with this collection of dynamic shorts.
Saturday, October 13, 12:00 PM

Bournonville & Balanchine
Three films: Jewels at 50, Bournonville Today, and The Art Of Silence explore the legacy of George Balanchine and August Bournonville.
Three films: Jewels at 50, Bournonville Today, and The Art Of Silence explore the legacy of George Balanchine and August Bournonville.
Saturday, October 13, 1:00 PM

Moving Stories
Six dancers from the acclaimed Battery Dance Company travel the world, teaching the tools of choreography to young people who have experienced trauma.
Six dancers from the acclaimed Battery Dance Company travel the world, teaching the tools of choreography to young people who have experienced trauma.
Saturday, October 13, 2:00 PM

Maurice Béjart, the Soul of Dance
Chronicles the unique destiny of this outstanding choreographer through rare archives and testimonies.
Chronicles the unique destiny of this outstanding choreographer through rare archives and testimonies.
Saturday, October 13, 3:30 PM

Shorts 4: Museums and Megamarts
From hip hop to ballet, martial arts to ice skating, follow dancers through unusual spaces as they find new ways to interact with the elements, and with each other.
From hip hop to ballet, martial arts to ice skating, follow dancers through unusual spaces as they find new ways to interact with the elements, and with each other.
Saturday, October 13, 4:00 PM

Gravity Hero
Introspective documentary about the life and career of Trey McIntyre
Introspective documentary about the life and career of Trey McIntyre
Saturday, October 13, 6:30 pm

Paul Taylor: Dancemaker
Special screening of the 1998 Academy award-winning film Dancemaker, in honor of Paul Taylor, the great American choreographer who died on August 29, 2018.
Special screening of the 1998 Academy award-winning film Dancemaker, in honor of Paul Taylor, the great American choreographer who died on August 29, 2018.
Saturday, October 13, 7:00 PM

Kaori Ito: A Body of Life, Intimate portrait of dancer and choreographer Kaori Ito, the film revists her choreographies and her eclectic collaborations.
Saturday, October 13, 8:45 PM

Shorts 5: Tell Me A Story
From mundane offices to the holy mountains of Tibet, voyage through four engaging stories about brotherly devotion, lost shoes, and overly ambitious employees.
From mundane offices to the holy mountains of Tibet, voyage through four engaging stories about brotherly devotion, lost shoes, and overly ambitious employees.
Sunday, October 14, 1:00 PM

Danseur
Danseur is a powerful look at the struggle facing male ballet dancers as they battle bullying and homophobia in pursuit of their dreams.
Danseur is a powerful look at the struggle facing male ballet dancers as they battle bullying and homophobia in pursuit of their dreams.
Sunday, October 14, 3:00 PM

Raising Voices
This special program celebrates the work of under-represented artists to amplify their powerful messages of social activism and individual identity through the arts.
This special program celebrates the work of under-represented artists to amplify their powerful messages of social activism and individual identity through the arts.
Sunday, October 14, 6:30 PM

Closing Night: Local Shorts + CoLab Films + Festival Awards
The 2018 festival wraps with a showcase of shorts by Bay Area filmmakers, premiere screenings of our two new Co-Laboratory films, and the presentation of filmmaker awards.
The 2018 festival wraps with a showcase of shorts by Bay Area filmmakers, premiere screenings of our two new Co-Laboratory films, and the presentation of filmmaker awards.
October 11 – October 14

The Great Ghosts Installation
Adapted from “The Mechanics of History,” this remarkable film is a live performance capture of an exhibition at the Pantheon. Running continuously.
Adapted from “The Mechanics of History,” this remarkable film is a live performance capture of an exhibition at the Pantheon. Running continuously.
October 12 – October 14

Virtual Reality Experience Room
Immerse yourself in dance as you virtually step inside the frame with this exhibition of 360°/VR films. With filmmaker presentation on creating VR for dance.
Immerse yourself in dance as you virtually step inside the frame with this exhibition of 360°/VR films. With filmmaker presentation on creating VR for dance.
October 12 / October 14, 6:00PM

Discofoot
Get your funk on! Discofoot is an ass kicking, DJ spinning, maybe even twerkin’ free styling battle, where soccer’s rules are twisted and thrashed by dance.
Get your funk on! Discofoot is an ass kicking, DJ spinning, maybe even twerkin’ free styling battle, where soccer’s rules are twisted and thrashed by dance.
October 13 / October 14

Dance Films from China
Program of ten contemporary dance films commissioned by the Chinese Dancers Association of Beijing, as part of their Young Artist Platform.
Program of ten contemporary dance films commissioned by the Chinese Dancers Association of Beijing, as part of their Young Artist Platform.
October 12 – October 14

Silent Cinema Installation
Dive into a world of alternative approaches to dance filmmaking with this collection of short films that experiment with animation, technology, and cinematic illusion.
Dive into a world of alternative approaches to dance filmmaking with this collection of short films that experiment with animation, technology, and cinematic illusion.