Columbia Filmmakers Head to The San Francisco International Film Festival

Columbia filmmakers took over the lineup at last week's San Francisco International Film Festival, which ran from April 24 to May 4, 2026.

Having just celebrated its 69th edition, the SFIFF is the longest running film festival in the Americas, with a mission to ensure that "independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive."

Seven projects with connections to Columbia filmmakers were in the lineup this year, including:

Those Who Whistle After Dark 

Those Who Whistle After Dark is a feature film directed and co-written by Pınar Yorgancıoğlu '16. Emre Gulcan '17 co-wrote the film, and Gustavo Rosa '16, Gregorio Mircea Franchetti '17, and Sarah Oh '15 all worked as executive producers on the project. The film follows retired Melih, who drifts through life as his wife and daughter pursue risky professional schemes. When ghostly figures appear, domestic absurdity spirals in this offbeat, comic, and charming portrait of family life. Those Who Whistle After Dark premiered in the Goa International Film Festival last year and enjoyed its European premiere in the Istanbul International Film Festival, where İnci Sefa Cingöz won the award for best actress. The screening at SFIFF was the film's North American premiere.

If I Go Will They Miss Me

This feature film executive produced by Lauren Lopez de Victoria '19  is a coming of age story set in South Los Angeles which blends social and magical realism, Greek mythology, and vérité observation, crafting a poetic yet grounded portrait of family, legacy, and the realities of growing up. The film recently screened at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival as a part of NEXT, a grouping of films distinguished by their innovative approach to storytelling.

Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird)

This documentary tells the story of director Anne Fitch’s closest friend, Yo, who passed away in 2013. Through beautifully constructed miniature sets and puppets, directors Fitch and Banker White craft an elegy to the life and times of Anna’s beloved friend. Anne Goursaud '73 was an editorial consultant on the project. The film recently screened in the 76th edition of the Berlinale Film Festival as the only documentary-feature in the main competition.

A Sad and Beautiful World

A Sad and Beautiful World boasts a whole team of Columbia talent. The film was directed by Cyril Aris '17 and co-written by Aris and Bane Fakih '19. Executive producers include Anna-Nora Bernstein '16 and Katharina Otto-Bernstein '92. Even the film’s star, Mounia Akl '16, is a Columbia alum. The film tells an ambitious and emotionally potent story exploring one couple’s romantic travails with three tumultuous decades of Lebanese history as the backdrop. The completed film premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival where it won the People’s Choice Award. It has also been selected for the 2026 Oscar Awards as Lebanon's entry for Best International Feature Film. 

I Love Boosters

I Love Boosters tells the story of a fearless crew of young women who shoplift designer clothes across the Bay Area and sell them at deep discounts. When fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore) takes notice, their rivalry escalates—sparking a bold plan for one final heist. Cheryl Wang '22 worked as the music supervisor on this project. The film headed to San Francisco after a successful run at the 2026 South by Southwest Festival.

Dua Ji

Written and directed by Yuhan Tsai '24, Dua Ji is a short film set in rural Taiwan which follows an eldest daughter as she bears the quiet weight of tradition during her mother’s funeral. Grief and stirring defiance threaten to fracture the entrenched ritual. The film has been screened at several festivals including Aspen Film festival and South by Southwest. It is also set to be screened at this year’s Columbia University Film Festival.

The Baddest Speechwriter of All

The documentary The Baddest Speechwriter of All will be showcased within a trio of documentaries. The film spotlights Clarence B Jones CC '53, who worked as Martin Luther King Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter. The film was awarded the Short Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It is also set to make its Netflix premiere later this year.