Enriching the Silver Screen

The 2024 Davis Film Festival takes place November 3rd at the Veteran's Memorial Theater, 203 E. 14th Street in Davis, CA. Films from around the world and our own backyard. Narrative, documentary, animation, experimental. Shorts and features. Now accepting web series too. Festival Director: Judith Plank

Tickets go on sale August 15, 2024 at filmfreeway.com and on our website. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Prices are $10 General for afternoon films, $10 General for evening films. Students w/ID and Senior tickets are $8.50 for each section. Festival Pass is $15. 

We want to thank our Festival Sponsors: Davis Food Co-op, Davis Media Access, International House, The Avid Reader, Strands Salon, Sudwerk, and Judy Reynolds Low-Salt Recipes. For more information email davisfilmfest@gmail.com or call 530.383.1711.

Each film director in the festival will receive one Festival Pass, to use as they wish. Doors open at 1:30 pm on Sunday, November 3rd. Films start at 2:15 pm after a short Welcome from the Festival Director. All children under 12 get in free to the Sunday afternoon family friendly films. Sunday evening films are for mature audiences only. There are eight easels available for use if filmmakers wish to show their movie posters in the lobby. This year there will be awards for various categories of filmmaking including Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. Films will be judged by a juried panel of experienced filmmakers and writers. Finally, we are still looking for volunteers for this year's festival. Volunteers take tickets, hand out programs, work at the concession booth and show people their seats. Each volunteer will receive one Festival Pass. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Judith at davisfilmfest@gmail.com or call 530.383.1711. 

The film schedule for November 3, 2024 will be posted here no later than October 15th. (For a list of films from the 2022 and 2023 Davis Film Festivals, plus festival photos, click on our Instagram or Facebook links below). 

  2:00 pm. WELCOME! A few announcements.   

2:15 pm. "Edson's Gravy" Dir. Ryan Kittleman 2:22

Based on Russel Edson's classic poem "Gravy" this film is a whimsical ode to a timeless condiment. 

2:20 pm. "The Nature Girl" Dir. Antonio Capreta 9:32

The Nature Girl is the story of a brave and courageous young girl, abandoned by her parents at an early age, who ends up living on the streets in urban chaos. Her spirit is tested as she saves lost and injured animals with acts of heartfelt kindness to brazen rescues. 

2:30 pm. "Angel's Overpass" Dir. Alfred Hernandez 5:45

A visual piece that poetically juxtaposes images of man-made architecture with the architecture of nature.

2:35 pm. "Amelia runs through a meadow." Dir. Saurav Mohapatra 12:16

An elderly woman, suffering from Alzheimer's, tries to recreate a happy memory from her childhood before she loses it. 

2:50 pm. "Through a Child's Eyes" Kat Silva (Colorado) 5:57

Hear firsthand from 9 children across the country as they wrestle with the emotional and physical challenges of the Covid-19 outbreak.

2:55 pm. "Anointed" Dir. Argenis Herrera Sanchez (Venezuela) 16:16

A mother tries to force her daughter to marry the mayor, in the hopes of giving her child a secure and happy life, just like her own mother did to her. But her rebellious daughter has other ideas.

3:15 pm A Place Called Sacramento film TBA 10:00

3:25 pm. "Kija Puja" Dir. Sanish Maharjan (Nepal) 12:01

An emotional family drama that delves into the complexities of relationships, familial bonds and the impact of alcoholism.

3:40 pm. "Worms" Dir. Aden Bertisch 9:43

Since the age of five, Ronny has been eating worms, a strange yet surprisingly healthy habit. Now in his freshman year of high school, Ronny faces a dilemma: will he find social acceptance with this unusual habit or not? (Caution: some strong language. No worms or insects were harmed in the making of this film). 

3:50 p.m. 15 Minute Intermission

4:05 pm. "The Librarian" Dir. Serkan Aktash 20:42

Anyone with a love for Literature and the Arts will appreciate this man's struggle to survive in the blistering competitive jungle of your average American or European workday. 

4:25 pm. TBA 

4:55 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Q and A with filmmakers.

5:30 to 6:30 pm Dinner Break. Music by According to Bazooka. Refreshments for sale in the lobby. Popcorn, pretzels, pizza, candy, protein bars, coffee, tea, sodas, water.

6:35 pm Welcome Back/Announcements

6:40 pm "The First Rule" Dir. Saurav Mohapatra 6:30

A love song/homage to classic black and white Hollywood crime-noir films from the fifties. (Caution: gun violence)

6:50 pm. "Vasomotor Rhinitus" Dir. Mikheil Gabaidze (Georgia) 14:58

An employee at a European governmental institution accidently sneezes on his boss at the Opera and spends the rest of the film trying to apologize.

7:05 pm Ten-minute intermission for latecomers 

7:15 pm "Sally" Dir. Deborah Craig 1:36:26

She spearheaded the 1970s and 80s lesbian feminist movement and worked shoulder to shoulder with Harvey Milk to defeat the Briggs Initiative, which would have kept LGBTQ teachers out of the classroom. She made an indelible impact on LGBTQ equality and women's rights and was a brilliant and sexy superstar who inspired thousands. So how come you've never heard of Sally Gearhart? 

(A portion of this film's ticket sales will go to Davis Pride and Davis Phoenix Coalition).

8:50 pm. Q AND A SESSION WITH THE DIRECTOR

9:40 pm. It's a WRAP! See you next year!