2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival Honors New Italian Actor Francesco Mistichelli and Hawaiian-American director, Kimberlee Bassford
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on May 20, 2009 under San Joaquin International Film Festival | 
- Italian actor Francesco Mistichelli in Denis Rabaglia’s “Marcello Marcello”
The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival of the San Joaquin Film Society honored new Italian actor Francesco Mistichelli with its inaugural Discovery Award at its Opening Night Gala on May 14, 2009 at the historic Bob Hope Theatre. The award was presented to Mistichelli prior to the Northern California premiere of Denis Rabaglia’s “Marcello Marcello,” in which Mistichelli played the memorable leading role in his first feature film performance.
The Discovery Award honors a striking new talent that is being introduced on the international scene.
Born in Pescara, Italy, raised in Palermo and currently works in Rome, Mistichelli was selected from a pool of 1,200 auditions for the leading role. He is slated to appear in Federico Moccia’s next film “Scusa ma ti voglio sposare.”
The San Joaquin Film Society also honored Hawaiian-American director, Kimberlee Bassford, with the 2009 Spirit of Humanity Award, for her documentary film “Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority.” The award honors a filmmaker who uses film as an important instrument to advance, celebrate, and promote humanity.
About the Film
“Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority,” a California Central Valley Premiere at SJIFF2, explores the remarkable story of Patsy Mink, an Asian American woman who, battling racism and sexism, redefined American politics. Small in stature but a giant in vision, she began her life on a Maui sugar plantation and rose to become the first Asian American woman and woman of color in the United States Congress. A firecracker and a fighter, she continually pushed the limits of what was acceptable, speaking out against the Vietnam War and entering the 1972 presidential primary, making her one of the first women to seek the nation’s highest office. She transformed America’s schools as the co-author of Title IX, the landmark legislation that opened up higher education and athletics to women.
The film goes beyond Mink’s accomplishments, however, to reveal a woman whose political journey was lonely and tumultuous. Dispelling stereotypes of the compliant Japanese female, she battled sexism within her own party, whose leaders disliked her independent style and openly maneuvered against her. Her liberal politics, particularly her vocal opposition to the Vietnam War, engendered intense criticism. As Franklin Odo, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, states: “Patsy Mink offers a phenomenal political story, because she was so outside what you would expect of a woman, of a Japanese American and of a member of Congress.” Simultaneously a woman of the people and a pioneer, a patriot and an outcast, her story proves endlessly intriguing, and one that embodies the history, ideals and spirit of America. (54 min., USA, In English)
“Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority” had its World Premiere at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in October 2008, where it won the Audience Award for Favorite Documentary and was nominated for the Golden Orchid Award for Best Documentary. Earlier this month, it won Best Documentary, Best Hawaiian Film and Gold Kahuna Award at the Honolulu International Film Festival. The film is now running in the Documentary Competition at the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival.
– About the Festival
The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2), the flagship annual exhibition of the San Joaquin Film Society taking place May 14 to 23, 2009 - is a glorious world showcase of new and innovative works from emerging talents and seasoned international artists, presented in various venues across the city of Stockton in the heart of California’s Central Valley. SJIFF2 will feature: red carpet premieres; new independent American and world films; Animania - a cinematic spotlight on animated cinema; tributes to celebrated and rising filmmakers; an exhilarating collection of the world’s top short-length films from new and accomplished directors; educational programs, panels, interactive discussions; family events and programmes; a cultural family day at the museum; guest celebrities, entertainment and industry luminaries, and filmmakers from around the nation and the world; galas and festive parties; and diverse programs for all ages.