Wednesday, March 14th
That’s right – we’re back for SF in SF’s 4th Annual Steampunk Film Festival – it’s getting to be a tradition! Come join us for three Steampunk offerings that will be a revelation to you – steeped in Steampunk you may be, but we’ll always show you something new!
Steam Trek – (12 mins.) from the UK, courtesy of Dennis Sisterson and the Ad Hoc Film Society – Steampunk meets Star Trek!
The Special Effects of Karel Zeman – (20 mins.) shows us the absolute wonderfulness of filmmaker Karel Zeman; not only shorts from other works but actual demonstrations of just how he does it. The clips used in The Special Effects of Karel Zeman (1980) are from his films made between 1947 & 1980. The short quarter-hour documentary begins with a very sophisticated piece of science fiction, with gorgeously designed space ships, & a cosmonaut walking on the surface of a blasted planet — toward a wind-up Victrola, a most curious filmic image. It’s the perfect introduction to our main feature:
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (unrated, 83 mins.) A terrific treat for Steampunk fans — call it “the granddaddy of all Steampunk!!” It’s a rare Czechoslovakian film from 1958, (we’re showing the American release) filmed with both live action and animation, extraordinarily ahead of its time. Its style, dubbed “Mystimation,” faithfully recreates that of the Victorian line engravings (by Édouard Riou, Léon Benett, and others) featured in the original editions of Verne’s novels, composited with various forms of animation by Karel Zeman.
It pulls out all the stops — double exposures, painted animation, cut-out animation, stop-motion animation, puppets, miniatures, models, stylized matte-paintings, and who knows what else – with its live-action footage to create a seamless blend of startling, crisp, black-and-white material. It captures the feel of the earliest photographic equipment and the sense of wonder around the turn of the century. Famous critic Pauline Kael was called the film a “wonderful giddy science fantasy” that “sustains the Victorian tone, with its delight in the magic of science, that makes Verne seem so playfully archaic.” The American version of the film was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1962.
An amazingly fantastic film that we bet you’ve never seen — if you love Steampunk, believe me you won’t want to miss it!
This year, we’re delighted to be holding this Steampunk event as a fundraiser for the Locus Science Fiction Foundation, to benefit their collections budget. Help support Locus make their 40+ years of science fiction letters, photos and ephemera available to the public! Great fun for a great cause!
All bar and raffle proceeds benefit Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California. Steampunk Slings at the bar!
Come in costume!
Steampunk raffle to benefit Variety’s pediatric wheelchair mobility program! Steampunk music from local artist Unwoman.
Doors and cash bar open at 6:00PM
Film begins at 7:00PM
$5-$10 per person suggested donation at the door; no one turned away for lack of funds.
While there is no need to RSVP – seating is limited to 60; first come, first seated. Cash bar will be open for the reception hour before the films.
The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance between Quiznos and Citibank
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104
Don’t Drive — BART/MUNI Montgomery Street station is right at our front door, and parking in San Francisco sucks!!! Street parking ($3.50 per hour) is metered M-Sat., til 6PM; find a parking garage here.