Press Releases
DOCUMENTARY and MASTER CLASS with VILMOS ZSIGMOND and JAMES CHRESSANTHIS
Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai
Deerfield Ranch Winery Hosts the 23rd Annual Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival Sept 17 – 20 Community Partnerships flourish, international movies shine at this intimate, lively, crush season, world renown event Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood, Sonoma Valley, is proud to be the Official Winery Host of the 23rd Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival , wine country’s oldest and longest running Film Festival north of the Golden Gate Bridge. WCFF is a celebration of international film, regional cuisine, and community. Deerfield Ranch Winery is an award winning, boutique winery where exceptional wines from exceptional vineyards are made in small lots by hand. Films also screen at Sonoma 9 Cinemas in Boyes Hot Springs. These theaters offer stadium seated auditoriums, superb sound and bright digital projection. WCFF is a dazzling assortment of extraordinary films, special presentations, Galas Under the Stars, and small intimate events that proudly reflect the Festival’s mission to bring people together for enlightened dialogue and cultural exchange. WCFF unveils its new Community Partner Program, partnering with local and regional organizations with similar goals and missions. Community Partners “host” films and lead informative discussions drawing attention to how the films relate to issues and concerns with in our communities. La Luz Bilingual Center, for example, will host the documentary Which Way Home, co - produced by invited guest Academy Award winner, John Malkovich. This revelatory film documents Central American migrants, mostly youngsters, who ride on top of Mexico’s freight trains to travel northward to the U.S. It is a stirring tale of loss, hardship, bravery and humanity. La Luz Bilingual Center is a non-profit organization that presents arts and cultural events such as Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day and provides housing for migrant farm workers during harvest season camp. WCFF presents the return of Eco Cinema, its landmark series that began in 1990s. Some of the environmentally conscious documentaries and dramas selected in this year’s program include: two films about the healthy food movement Ingredients and What’s on Your Plate?, Spain’s first environmentally themed narrative Ashes from the Sky, two films about over fishing and off shore marine sanctuaries, Sea of Change, and The Southern Passage by the Baum Foundation and the true story of eco warrior Paul Watson in Pirate for the Sea. The beneficiaries of Eco Cinema are the edible gardens at Dunbar and Kenwood Elementary Schools. International movies from around the globe once again shine at WCFF. Stephen Ashton, founder and director, travels far and wide to France, Italy, Croatia, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, and Canada finding cinematic “gems” for WCFF. Don’t miss The Seawall starring invited guest French actress Isabelle Huppert. The film by Cambodian native and award winning director Rithy Panh, is set in French colonial Indochina where a French widow (Huppert) and her family struggle to keep the family together and land fertile despite natural and economic challenges. The film screens under the stars at DRW Saturday Sept 19th following the world premiere of Leap of Faith, about two goat cheese makers from Healdsburg, CA. Films at Deerfield Ranch Winery, 10200 Sonoma Highway Kenwood, CA, screen inside the Grand Room of the Cave beginning at 6PM and outdoors under the stars shortly after the sun sets, around 8PM. Food and beverages are available for purchase beginning at 6PM. Restaurants and food vendors promise an assortment of delicious cuisine. Deerfield’s award winning wines will be sold by the glass. Nights get cool. Please bring a jacket and flash lights are encouraged. Chairs are provided and low lawn chairs are welcome. Individual film tickets are sold online and at the venues day of show. Passes are also available on line. Printed programs are at the venues. For complete program details visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com. ABOUT WCFF WCFF combines the best aspects of a casual festival with our well-established reputation as a great audience festival filmmakers, industry professionals, actors, locals and visitors alike love to attend. WCFF’s mission is to create experiences through film and lively discussion bringing people together to explore our common humanity. The 23rd Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival is made possible in part by the support from Comcast, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Pacific Union, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Hilton Sonoma County, The Sonoma Valley SUN, The Kenwood Press, Sunset Magazine, Wine Country This Week, Wine News, MovieMaker, Sonoma Cinemas, Marriott Santa Rosa, Marriott Napa Valley and Federal Express.
WC FILM CLUB AND WCFF PASSES ON SALEWC FILM CLUB MEMBERSHIP - Only $25! We invite you to join the WC Film Club for only $25! That’s right. $25! WC Film Club members receive a discount on passes, and an invitation to one free screening during the Film Festival. 2009 PASSES A generous allotment of seats at every screening is reserved for passholders. While a pass with the exception of the Concierge and Platinum Passes does not guarantee seating, passholders are allowed priority entry up to 20 minutes before showtime. All passes are strictly non transferable and a photo ID may be required. All passes do NOT include in person Tributes, Tribute receptions, food or beverages. Concierge Pass - $900 (no Film Club Member discount) Wine Country Hospitality Extraordinaire! Concierge Passholders enjoy personalized attention. A Film Festival Concierge will assist you on your accommodation needs, offer insider hot tips regarding who is attending, provide up to date news in a personalized email or phone call, and offer guidance when you select your films based on your interests in one or more of our film programs. Passholders also receive an invite to a private reception. You may also select a reserved seat anywhere in all film festival venues. The Concierge Pass truly reaches beyond the boarders of our Film Festival. Limited to only 20 passholders. Platinum Pass - $500 (Film Club Member $425) Sept 17 – 20 (Sonoma Valley) Sept 24 – 27 (downtown Napa) Includes guaranteed seating to all Festival screenings, and reserved seating area at the Opening and Closing Nights. Quantities are limited. Sonoma Pass - $100 (Film Club Member $90) Sept 17 – 20 Includes admissions to all public screenings. Seating is not guaranteed. Priority entry up to 20 minutes before showtime. This pass requires a photo. Napa Pass - $125 (Film Club Member $115) Sept 24 - 27 Includes admissions to all public screenings. Seating is not guaranteed. Priority entry up to 20 minutes before showtime. This pass requires a photo. To order call 707.935.3456 or email wcfilmfest@aol.com On line orders coming soon! We accept all major credit cards and personal checks. WCFF BOX OFFICE – TICKETS ONLINE BY PHONE Call 707.935.3456 9am – 4PM daily IN PERSON Purchase tickets to any screening at any Festival Box Office DAY OF SHOW RUSH TICKETS |
This documentary traces the life journey of one of Africa’s most successful contemporary leaders. This miraculous story of how one individual can be influencial in numerous ways will inspire and amaze you. Dr. Maathai received the 2004 WCFF Humanitarian Award.
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| © 2009 Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival T: 707•935.FILM - wcfilmfest@aol•com |
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