The San Francisco Film Society will present the first SFFS Film Arts Forum at 7:00 pm on Monday, November 10 at Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street. The inaugural Forum, an activity-packed evening for local filmmakers and cineastes features, work-in-progress screenings, dynamic presentations, craft-based discussions, networking, trade secrets and cocktails (cash bar), making for an entire conference in the span of a few hours. The evening will start with presentations from local vendors Monaco Digital Film Labs (on transferring video to film), Photoflex (affordable lighting strategies) and Rental Express Video/Dub Express (the latest in video production rentals). Next on the program Film Society staff will discuss their roles working with filmmakers; talk about how to apply for the $25,000 Herbert Filmmaking Grants, fiscal sponsorship and the newly opened SFFS FilmHouse Residencies; and demystify the call for entries process for the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival. A highlight of the Forum will be the presentation of three works in different stages of production. Jonathan Silvio, producer of Nocturnal Jake, will share an excerpt; Amanda Micheli (La Corona, SFIFF 2008) will show a trailer for her uncompleted documentary, Mack; and Michael Jacobs (Audience of One, SFIFF 2007) will screen three pieces from his new series for Showtime, American Dreamers. All participating vendors, staff, filmmakers and crew will be available for further discussion throughout the evening.

SFFS Film Arts Forum is a keystone of the full suite of filmmaker services programs -- in the areas of professional education, career development, membership services, fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking and information resources -- established this summer when the Film Society assumed stewardship of Film Arts Foundation's 32-year legacy.

Tickets $5 year-round SFFS members, $8 general, available in advance at www.sffs.org.
For more information, www.sffs.org/events/films/event_film_arts_forum.

Coming December 8: SFFS Film Arts Forum: Sundance Confidential -- extolling, exposing and demystifying the Sundance Film Festival. Future Forums will cover online distribution, visual effects and education.