San Francisco, CA- After a riveting 5 days, the 10th anniversary of SFFILM’s Doc Stories came to a grad close with a star-studded finale that highlighted local voices, POC community heroes, and untold stories of perseverance. Located at the Vogue Theatre, the final day of this heartwarming and intriguing showcase of films was jam-packed with visits from directors candidly discussing the inspirations behind their projects.
Among these films was a collection of shorts, titled Shorts Block: The Persistence of Dreams, which displayed a tenacious lineup of six incredible non-fiction stories celebrating aspirations, opportunity, and courage. The shorts began with Arepas En Bici by Jonah Moshammer and Brennan McGee, which focused on immigrant and San Francisco chef and cyclist Victor Aguilera, who became renowned for his Venezuelan arepas during the pandemic and has since been a trusted fixture to the city. Kowloon! by Mona Xia and Erin Ramirez followed, which filled a tight 16 minutes with the vivid story of the Wong family behind the largest Chinese restaurant in the US in Saugus, Massachusetts and the splendid legacy they carry for the Asian American immigrant experience. Hello Stranger afterward chronicled the trans experience of Cooper in her Nova Scotian neighborhood, illuminating the LGBTQIA experience in Canada by director Amélie Hardy.
Black Hercules transitioned viewers into the rippling world of bodybuilding by Rodney Lucas, which captivated with the life story of Black bodybuilding legend Craig Monson and his ups and downs all within 10 minutes. Carly Jakins and Jared Jakins of American Seams profiles three women of different backgrounds in the American west as they translate femininity, redemption, and culture using the art of quilting. The final film, The Turnaround plunged viewers into the life of Philadelphia’s own Jon McCann, a true Phillies fan who became a legend from his outspoken and enduring positivity towards his city and beloved baseball team. Kyle Thrash and Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot teamed up for this gripping cinematic delight, further adding to both of their already-esteemed repertoires of uplifting narratives not usually acknowledged.
The films were then followed by an open questionnaire from the audience towards the directors in attendance, with inquiries ranging from the inspirations, project durations, and future endeavors, to the cinematographic choices behind the specific square aspect ratios utilized to frame the narratives.
The official closing film was Director Robinson Devor’s fascinatingly insightful Suburban Fury, which illuminates Sara Jane Moore and her attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford in Union Square in 1975. “For me, the film was a chance to celebrate the activists who were sacrificing their lives to be outspoken for their countries,” Devor elucidates, “that’s where I got the inspiration from and I hope that’s what people take from it.” When relating the themes and motivations of the film to today’s societal climate, Devor explains, “we try to bring some of the radical feminism present in those days to challenge aspects we still face today.”
The entire week of Doc Stories encapsulated not only the determined spirit of nonfiction storytelling, but also the undying tenacity of San Francisco’s activism and pursuit for progressive change. SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks solidifies, “I think the Bay Area is the most exciting place for documentary filmmaking for a number of reasons- 1) we have such a naturally huge community with lots of programs, funds, and grants, and 2) we have a huge number of film festivals and a large audience who cares about getting involved and inspired. I’m really proud to host this here.”
With a triumphant decade of prestigious documentary films under its belt, Doc Stories will only continue to flourish and add to the richly diverse cinematic tapestry of the San Francisco Bay Area, proliferating more narratives on not only perseverance, but also progress, hope, and pure love for nuanced storytelling.
