Sponsored by the Avila Beach Community Foundation and KZOZ

The SLOIFF is proud to add a new Festival Venue this year in idyllic Avila Beach. Our “Sports & Shorts” venue is dedicated to screening some of the very best sports documentaries and short films in the festival, along with a few special presentation films. From the story of the Frisbee, to kayaking the Congo River to short comedies and dramas…we’ve got something for everyone in Avila Beach! There will even be wine tastings for pass holders on Saturday and Sunday afternoon courtesy of Avila Wine and Roasting Company!

From Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10, venture only a 10-15 minute drive south of San Luis Obispo to one of the most beautiful little towns in SLO County. Avila Beach is nestled in a picturesque cove between San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, and is definitely worth the drive. Between screenings of great international films playing at the Avila Beach Community Center, take a stroll on the boardwalk or along the beach. Stop for wine tasting or take in lunch at a great seaside restaurant. It really doesn’t get much better than this!

Check out our schedule to find out what’s playing at the Avila Beach Community Center – you won’t be disappointed! If you’re traveling to the Festival, consider staying at one of the fabulous hotels in Avila Beach and you’ll receive a 20% discount on festival passes! Click here for details.

Meet fellow film-lovers and visiting filmmakers at receptions and parties happening throughout the festival. Parties matter!

Wednesday, March 6 – 9:00-11:00pm
Luis Wine Bar – 1021 Higuera St. SLO
Sponsored by Luis Wine Bar
Meet panelists and filmmakers after the Opening Night gala, and enjoy exceptional wines, beer and light appetizers. Open to all Opening Night attendees – just show your ticket or pass for drink discounts.

Thursday, March 7 – 5:00-6:30pm
Luna Red – 1032 Chorro St. SLO
Sponsored by Visit San Luis Obispo County and Film Commission, Luna Red and Broken Earth Winery
Mingle with visiting directors, producers, writers and location managers, Mogul Pass holders and VIP guests at one of the best downtown bar/restaurants in San Luis Obispo. Complimentary wine, beer and delicious tapas.
Must be a Mogul Passholder, Filmmaker or invited guest to attend.

Thursday, March 7 – 9:00pm
Surf Nite After-Party at SLO Brew
1119 Garden St. San Luis Obispo
Sponsored by SLO Brewing Company
Meet fellow surf/film/beer lovers and VIP guests at one of the best craft breweries in the county. Drink specials to all with Surf Nite tickets or Festival passes.

Thursday, March 7 & Friday, March 8 – 9:00-11:00pm
Alegria Wine & Ware, 942 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo
Sponsored by Alegria Wine & Ware and The Krush 92.5
Enjoy some great local talent and local wine when Songwriters At Play entertain you at this comfy wine bar, located around the corner from the Palm Theatre. Drop by after a film and sample some great local wine and music. Music coordinated by The Krush’s Steve Keys:
Thursday Night                                              Friday Night
9:00pm   Bob & Wendy                                    9:00pm   Tim Jackson
9:30pm   Craig Louis Dingman                         9:30pm   Kate Graves
10:00pm Ted Waterhouse                                10:00pm   Cliff Stepp
10:30pm Jane & Michael Banks                       10:30pm   Dulcie Taylor

Friday, March 8 – 5:00-6:30pm
Mo/Tav Bar and Restaurant
725 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo
Sponsored by Mother’s Tavern
Join filmmakers, sponsors, Movie Mogul pass holders and VIP guests and enjoy a Friday evening happy hour before that night’s screenings. Complimentary wine, beer and great appetizers will be served upstairs in one of SLO’s best bar/restaurants, located in the middle of downtown San Luis Obispo.
Must be a Mogul Passholder, Filmmaker or Special Guest to attend.

Friday, March 8 – 5:00-6:30pm
Paso Robles “Tasting Room Crawl” – Downtown Paso Robles
Sponsored by Acuncion Ridge Vineyards, Clayhouse Wines, D’Anbino Vineyard & Cellars, Frolicking Frog Winery, Grizzly Republic Wines, Parrish Family Vineyard & Pithy Little Wine Co
Before the special presentation of SOMM at the Park Cinemas, enjoy some camaraderie with fellow wine and film lovers, as you do a “crawl” from one tasting room to another around the picturesque City Park in the center of Paso Robles. Try everything from merlots to pinots to ports and then settle in for a great documentary about wine tasting experts who are vying for the coveted title of Master Sommelier, and meet “Somm” Brian McClintic, featured Sommelier in the film. After the film, stroll over to the Paso Wine Center, nibble on some cheese and crackers and enjoy great wines from Broken Earth Winery.

Saturday, March 9 – 1:00-2:00pm
Wine Tasting before “Somm” screening
Fremont Theatre, San Luis Obispo
Sponsored by SLO County Wine Association, Talley Vineyards, Sinor-LaVallee and Cal Poly Wines

Meet “Somm”‘s director, Jason Wise and
Brian McClintic (Sommelier featured in the film) as you sample award-winning wines from some of the finest South County wines before the movie begins. Tickets for tasting and movie are $15 (on sale now). All Festival Passes will be accepted. Portion of all ticket sales will benefit Cal Poly’s Wine and Viticulture Program.

Saturday, March 9 – 9:00-12:00pm
King Vidor Reception
Warden Building, 762 Higuera St. SLO

Rub elbows with our 2013 King Vidor Award recipient, John Hawkes, and special guests, filmmakers and fellow film buffs while enjoying fine wines, great food and entertainment from the following generous sponsors: Windows on the Water, Novo Restaurant, Mama’s Meatballs, Granada Hotel & Bistro, Bella Mundo Cupcakes, Ancient Peaks Winery, Baileyana Winery, Treana Winery,
Roxo Port Cellars, Center of Effort Winery, Tito’s Vodka, Rich Ferguson and Mikaylah Williams.
$35 General / $30 Students and SLOIFF Film Society members
Mogul passes will be accepted. Click to purchase tickets.

Sunday, March 10 – 8:30pm
Closing Night Party
SLOIFF Headquarters, 1007 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo
Sponsored by Woodstock’s Pizza, Mona & Gordon Jennings and the Movie Experience
Join SLOIFF Staff and volunteers as we celebrate the closing of another great festival!
Open to all Festival Passholders and volunteers.

Sponsored by Tom Sant & Susan Hirsch and The Krush 92.5

After its wildly successful debut at the Napa Valley Film Festival, and a sold-out screening at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, we are proud to host two unique screenings of SOMM, a new wine documentary by Jason Wise, before its nationwide theatrical release.

Master Sommeliers are more than just dedicated to their profession – they are obsessed! Fewer than 200 people in the world have ever earned the title Master Sommelier, which requires passing a final exam with three parts: wine service, theory and blind tasting. SOMM follows four sommeliers as they study for and take the exam. Continue reading →

RED CARPET EVENT
Presented by Expressive Technology Studios /  Liberal Arts & Engineering
and Denise Dudley
Also sponsored by Bianchi Winery, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, Vina Robles Winery and Mike & Shannon Larrabee

Opening Night Gala
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
A TRIBUTE TO INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
Featuring Leslie Iwerks’s “Industrial Light & Magic – Creating the Impossible”

5:30pm reception / 7:00pm screening / 8:00pm panel discussion
Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

The SLOIFF, along with ET Studios and Denise Dudley, is proud to present a tribute to Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. For over thirty years, ILM has set the standard for visual effects and in the process, created some of the most stunning images in the history of film. Founded by George Lucas in 1975 to create the special effects for his space epic Star Wars, no other facility of its type existed at the time. Since then it has created visual effects for nearly 300 feature films, contributing to half of the top 50 worldwide box office hits of all time. Continue reading →

HOLLYWOOD & VINES EVENT

Presented by Ultra Stereo Labs
Also sponsored by Derby Wine Estates and Trader Joe’s

GREASE Sing-along
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Galaxy Theatre -  Atascadero
6:00pm  Reception and Costume Contest in VIP Lounge (age 21+)
7:00pm  Movie/Sing-along (all ages)

Ladies, dust off your bobby socks and poodle skirts! Guys, slick back your hair, grab your girl and head straight to the Galaxy Theatres because Grease is still the word! Wear a costume and compete for prizes at the reception in the VIP Lounge (age 21+) or just come for the fun and enjoy great local wine and food. The movie will also be screened in a non-VIP theatre, so all ages are welcome. Continue reading →

West Coast Premiere and Gala
Friday, March 8 – 5:00pm-9:30pm
Hearst Castle, San Simeon

Presented in collaboration with the Hearst Corporation, Friends of Hearst Castle,
California State Parks and D&E Entertainment

The SLOIFF is very proud to host the West Coast Premiere of CITIZEN HEARST before it begins its nationwide release in theatres across the country. On Friday, March 8th, Hearst Corporation executives, members of the Hearst family, VIP guests and important media reps from around the country will join a limited number of paid guests to help honor documentary filmmaker, Leslie Iwerks, when she is presented with the Spotlight Award in the private Hearst Castle Theatre before the screening of her newest film, CITIZEN HEARST. Continue reading →

Presented by the Boutique Hotel Collection and the City of Pismo Beach
Also sponsored by the Movie Experience, Quality Suites of San Luis Obispo, Q104.5,
SLO Brewing Company, and the SLO Woody Club

RED CARPET EVENT – Surf Nite in SLO
Thursday, March 7, 2013 – 6:30pm
Fremont Theatre, San Luis Obispo

The SLOIFF is proud to present its 8^th annual Surf Nite in SLO with an exciting double-feature: The Ride and the sensational new Australian film, Storm Surfers 3D. Continue reading →