Must-Watch Films at the San Francisco International Film Festival

If you’re attending the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival this year, you’re in for a treat. This iconic festival is riddled with page-turning stories, iconic performances, and indelible scenes. Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer, these are the films you won’t want to miss.

Top 10 Must-Watch Films at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival:

Rebuilding

Directed by Max Walker-Silverman, this gripping drama is about a man who is trying to rebuild his life in his hometown after catastrophe has hit. It’s a heart-wrenching story of healing and redemption. As the opening night film of the festival, it sets the tone for an epic lineup.

Showtime: April 17, 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Premier Theatre at One Letterman
Genre: Drama

Outerlands

Elena Oxman’s debut feature is all heart. It’s about Cass, a non-binary person in San Francisco who is suddenly forced to take in a friend’s child. It’s raw, truthful, and delves deep into what building your own family is all about.

Showtime: April 27, 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Castro Theatre
Genre: Drama

Love Brooklyn

This film, in a transforming Brooklyn community, explores friendship, neighborhood, and what you do when the world around you is transforming. André Holland heads a cast that delivers big feeling and authenticity to the screen..

Showtime: April 20, 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Roxie Theatre
Genre: Drama

Rains Over Babel

This Colombian treasure entwines fantasy and reality in a town where nothing is what it seems. With stunning imagery and a strong message, it makes you think long after the credits roll.

Showtime: April 22 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Genre: Surreal Drama

The Dating Game

A sharp documentary about young Chinese men navigating modern love. It offers an eye-opening look at dating in a fast-paced world. Honest, funny, and full of insight.

Showtime: April 23, 3:00 p.m.
Venue: YBCA Screening Room
Genre: Documentary

Cloud

This Japanese thriller from Kiyoshi Kurosawa mixes mystery and the supernatural. A detective tries to solve a case with eerie twists. If you’re into edge-of-your-seat stories, this one’s for you.

Showtime: April 24, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Marina Theatre
Genre: Thriller

They Live

Back on the big screen, this cult classic goes for media and control with a sci-fi takedown. It’s as relevant today as it was when it came out. Bonus: the fight scene still gets wild.

Showtime: April 18, 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Castro Theatre
Genre: Science Fiction

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Tobe Hooper’s cult horror classic is preceded by a documentary appetizer, “Chain Reaction.” Dive into one of the most fantastic slashers ever made and learn why it still works.

Showtime: April 19, 10:00 p.m.
Venue: Roxie Theatre
Genre: Horror

The Babadook

This horror movie explores parenting and bereavement with an eerie twist. It’s sad and creepy all at the same time — a must-see for fans of thinking-person’s horror.

Showtime: April 21, 8:00 p.m.
Venue: BAMPFA
Genre: Psychological Horror

Carnival of Souls

A woman survives a crash, but something just doesn’t feel right. This eerie black-and-white cult favorite still gives us the creeps, courtesy of its strange, dreamlike atmosphere.

Showtime: April 26, 9:30 p.m.
Venue: BAMPFA
Genre: Horror

Final Thoughts:

This year’s San Francisco International Film Festival calendar is seriously packed. With dramas, thrillers, and horror blockbusters on the list, there’s something for every kind of film fan. Book early, get your tickets, and get lost in the movie magic.

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Top 10 Must-Watch Films at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival