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EXCLUSIVE: The Sonoma International Film Festival announced the lineup for the 28th annual edition of the event, running March 19-23 in California’s bucolic wine country. Kicking off the festival will be the world premiere of Sweet Störy, a documentary that follows “a heartfelt journey to save a charming café” on a remote Swedish island.
SIFF also will feature the world premieres of Roush Niaghi and Greg Morris’s Ali Eats America; Fernando Guillermo Barreda Luna’s Cafe Chairel, and Fatal Watch, directed by Mark Benjamin and Katie Carpenter. The festival will host the North American premiere of Dreams (Love, Sex), the film directed by Dag Johan Haugerud that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival last month.
The SIFF Centerpiece Film will be the California premiere of On Swift Horses, the drama starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi that’s based on the Shannon Pufahi novel. The Closing Night Film goes to The Wedding Banquet, “a fresh reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic by acclaimed director Andrew Ahn, featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, and Joan Chen.”
Chen will receive the festival’s Career Achievement Award, recognizing a body of work that includes Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor; Twin Peaks; Lust, Caution; Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl; Dìdi, and dozens of other roles in film and television.
Chen joins a notable list of stars with films in the festival, including the aforementioned Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran as well as Bérénice Béjo, Gael García Bernal, Nicolas Cage, Glenn Close, Brady Corbet, Julie Delpy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nicole Kidman, Vicky Krieps, John Leguizamo, Matthew Macfadyen, Dacre Montgomery, Bill Murray, Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Pryce, Kyra Sedgwick, David Strathairn, Steve Coogan, Naomi Watts, and Youn Yuh-Jung. [Scroll for additional program highlights and panels]
“After last year’s record-breaking festival, we’re thrilled to elevate the experience with a lineup of extraordinary films, visionary talent, and an exclusive culinary program,” SIFF’s Artistic Director Carl Spence said in a statement. “The Sonoma International Film Festival isn’t just an event—it’s a destination where world-class cinema, fine wine, and gourmet food create an unforgettable cultural experience.”
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
● Opening Night Film: Sweet Störy (World Premiere) – A captivating documentary following Meg Ray of San Francisco’s Miette on a heartfelt journey to save a charming café on the remote Swedish island of Rödlöga.
● Centerpiece Film: On Swift Horses (California Premiere) – Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, this evocative adaptation of Shannon Pufahi’s novel follows intertwined journeys of risk, romance, and self-discovery.
● Closing Night Film: The Wedding Banquet (West Coast Premiere) – A fresh reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic by acclaimed director Andrew Ahn, featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, and Joan Chen.
● Special Presentation Films: The Ballad of Wallis Island (United Kingdom), One to One: John & Yoko (United Kingdom), The Penguin Lessons (United Kingdom), Dag Johan Haugerud´s Love Sex Dreams Trilogy (Norway).
● Tribute to Joan Chen: The acclaimed actress will be honored with the SIFF Career Achievement Award at the Closing Night presentation of The Wedding Banquet.
● 20th Anniversary Screening: Gregg Araki’s groundbreaking Mysterious Skin.
● Culinary Films & Events: 15 food-focused films, an intimate Italian wine dinner honoring culinary legend Marcella Hazan, and a Master Class in Japanese Cuisine & Culture by Michelin-star chef Yoshinori Ishii.
● World premieres of Roush Niaghi and Greg Morris’s Ali Eats America, Fernando Guillermo Barreda Luna’s Cafe Chairel, Mark Benjamin and Katie Carpenter’s Fatal Watch.
● North American Premiere: Dreams (Love, Sex) – Berlinale Golden Bear winner by Dag Johan Haugerud, alongside his full trilogy.
● California premieres of Mark Craig’s Apollo 1, Kevin Macdonald’s One to One: John and Yoko, Mimi Cave´s Holland, Lorcan Finnegan´s The Surfer, and Emilie Blicheld´s The Ugly Stepsister, amongst others.
● Audience Favorites and Award Winners: Bad Shabbos (USA) Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award Winner, Ballad of Wallace Island (United Kingdom) Sundance Film Festival Crowd Pleaser, Bob Trevino Likes It (USA) SXSW Jury and Audience Award Winner, DJ Ahmet (North Macedonia) Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Winner, The Last Journey (Sweden) Official Oscar Submission, Best International Feature, Long Good Thursday (Finland) – Chicago Film Festival Audience Award Winner, Waves (Czech Republic) – Official Oscar Submission Shortlist, Best International Feature.
● Other highlights include a Spotlight on Italian Cinema and a mini-focus on Films from Scandinavia.
SPECIAL GUESTS & PANELS
● A live recording of “The Film That Blew My Mind” podcast, featuring Sundance Director Emeritus John Cooper, Tabitha Jackson, and special guest Christine Vachon.
● Film Veterans Tell All: Come hear film academy members give the ins and outs of the film business. Get insider stories from industry veterans about the film world! A must-attend panel for aspiring filmmakers and film lovers alike.
● SIFF’s SVHS Media Arts Student Showcase: A platform for the next generation of filmmakers from Sonoma Valley High School’s acclaimed media arts program.
PROGRAMMING TEAM: The five-day festival is curated by Artistic Director Carl Spence, along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson and shorts programmer Oscar Arce Naranjo.
FESTIVAL JURORS: This year’s jury includes esteemed international industry professionals including Rajendra Roy (Chief Curator, MoMA), Greg Ellwood (The Playlist), Rachel Rosen (New York Film Festival), Brian Brooks (Cinetic Media), Jaie Laplante (DOC NYC), Daniela Michela (Morelia International Film Festival), Maggie Mackay (Vidiots), and Angelo Acerbi (Fred Film Radio). Their expertise ensures that SIFF remains a platform for groundbreaking storytelling and artistic innovation.
FEATURE COMPETITION FILMS: Café Chairel (Director: Fernando Guillermo Barreda Luna/Mexico), DJ Ahmet (Director: Georgi M. Unkovski/North Macedonia), Gloria (Director: Margherita Vicario/Italy), Long Good Thursday (Director: Mika Kaurismäki/Finland), Mexico 86 (Director: César Diaz/France), My Favorite Cake (Director: Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha/Iran), The Party’s Over (Director: Elena Manrique/Spain), Waves (Director: Jiří Mádl/Czech Republic)
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION FILMS: Ali Eats America (USA) Directed by: Roush Niaghi, Greg Morris; Apollo 1 (United Kingdom) Directed by: Mark Craig; Fatal Watch (USA) Directed by: Mark Benjamin, Katie Carpenter; Free Leonard Peltier (USA) Directed by: Jesse Short Bull, David France; Mistress Dispeller (China) Directed by: Elizabeth Lo; Suburban Fury (USA) Directed by: Robinson Devor; Sweet Störy (United Kingdom) Directed by: Sarah Justine Kerruish, Matt Maude; Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick (Japan) Directed by: Aki Mizutani.
ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTED FILMS:
Sweet Störy (USA) In this real-life fairy tale, Meg Ray, owner of the beloved Bay Area patisserie Miette, embarks on a five-year odyssey to help save a magical café on the remote Swedish island of Rödlöga. An irresistibly delicious story of community, self-discovery, renewal, and the power of baked goods. World Premiere. (USA/75min)
On Swift Horses (USA) stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi. Set in the 1950s, this gorgeous adaptation of Shannon Pufahi’s 2019 novel follows a seemingly sensible newlywed and her wayward brother-in-law as they undertake parallel journeys of risk, romance, and self-discovery. (USA/117min)
The Wedding Banquet (USA) This fresh, modern reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic by Andrew Ahn follows a group of friends who need to get married for convenience—until family arrives, and the plan spirals into extravagant, chaotic mayhem. It stars Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung. California Premiere. (USA/103min)
The Ballad of Wallis Island (United Kingdom) Eccentric lottery winner Charles reunites his favorite folk duo for a private island gig, but old tensions threaten his dream concert. With sharp wit and stellar chemistry, this charming British comedy stars Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Tom Basden, and Tim Key. (99min)
DJ Ahmet (North Macedonia) A shepherding boy´s love of techno music sets him on a path of small-town love and rebellion in this modern-day “Footloose.” A wonderfully touching and humor-filled debut from director Georgi M. Unkovski. Audience Award Winner, Sundance Film Festival. (99min)
Dreams [Love Sex] (Norway) In this installment of Dag Johan Haugerud´s trilogy “Love-Sex-Dreams,” a young woman explores her first love through writing, causing her mother and grandmother to examine their views on love, sexuality, and self-discovery as they grapple with the literary potential of the work. Winner, Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival. North American Premiere. (110min)
Marcella (USA) Marcella Hazan is the secret ingredient that made Italian cuisine irresistible. Through her cookbooks, teaching, and passion for tradition, she stirred up a culinary revolution, turning simple ingredients into masterpieces. This mouthwatering journey is Marcella’s unforgettable story, served up with flavor and flair. (98min)
Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick (Japan) Maverick chef Yoshinori Ishii, an internationally renowned two-star Michelin chef, returns to Japan to transform a historic restaurant in Tokyo into an innovative auberge. But when a personal crisis arises, Ishii’s journey takes an unexpected turn. (84min)
