Film Society Awards Night
This star-studded occasion honors this year’s directing, acting and screenwriting award recipients with a glamorous black-tie evening featuring onstage celebrity appearances and gourmet dining.
Founder’s Directing Award
This award is given each year to a master of world cinema. The 2010 award will go to Walter Salles.
Peter J. Owens Award
Named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936–91), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity. Robert Duvall is this year's recipient.
Kanbar Award
The Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting acknowledges the crucial role that b screenwriting plays in the creation of great films. This year's recipient is James Schamus.
Mel Novikoff Award
Named in honor of legendary San Francisco film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922–87), this award is given to an individual or organization notable for making significant contributions to the Bay Area's richly diverse film community. This year's recipient is Roger Ebert.
Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award
The POV Award honors the lifetime achievement of a filmmaker whose work is crafting documentaries, short films, animation or work for television. This year's recipient is Don Hertzfeldt.
New Directors Prize
This $15,000 cash award supports innovative thinking by independent filmmakers and shines the spotlight on an emerging director. Films in this juried competition must be the director's first narrative feature, exhibit a unique artistic sensibility or vision and deserve to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.
Golden Gate Awards
The GGAs recognize and promote excellence in documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental film and video, youth works and work for television. Three juries will bestow awards on films in 14 categories.
FIPRESCI Prize
Selected by the International Federation of Film Critics, this award aims to promote film art, to encourage new and young cinema and to help films get better distribution and win greater public attention.
State of Cinema Address
Each year, the Festival invites a leader in the world of cinema to address the issues facing the film world today. Past speakers include Kevin Kelly, Peter Sellars, Tilda Swinton, Brad Bird, B. Ruby Rich, Michel Ciment, Kevin Kelly and Mary Ellen Mark. This year's address will be presented by Walter Murch.
