The Multicultural San Francisco Black Film Festival Celebrates Homecoming of Award-Winning Bay Area Filmmaker James Farr with Premiere of "Soul Bowl: 1984 NCS Championship"

Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~ Dallas

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-The San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF), celebrating 'Black Filmmaking, Healing One Film at A Time' during its 26th anniversary from June 13th to 16th, is pleased to announce that Bay Area native James Farr, a two-time San Francisco Black Film Festival winner and the recipient of the 2022 Jeff Adachi Social Justice Award, is back in the Bay Area from LA with his latest project, “Soul Bowl: 1984 NCS Championship."

The documentary screens at the SFBFF on Saturday, June 15th, 2024, at 2 pm at the AAACC (762 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA). It's an opportunity for all sports enthusiasts and those interested in transformative moments to see how sports changed the game in the Bay Area in more ways than one.”

“‘Soul Bowl’ shows one of the strong aspects of the legacy of the San Francisco Black Film Festival,” said Cree Ray, Executive Director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. “Since its inception celebrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day during Black Music Month, SFBFF has opened doors for and affirmed many emerging filmmakers in the Bay Area while their work stands side by side with such greats as Danny Glover, Spike Lee, Robert Townsend, Mario Van Peebles, Dwayne Wiggins, and late greats such as Ray Liotta, Michael Duncan and so many others.

“It’s great to be welcomed home to tell such a rich story that showcases the Bay Area’s unique flavor,” said Filmmaker, James Farr, recipient of the 2022 Jeff Adachi Social Justice Award. “The opportunities via the San Francisco Black Film Festival have been tremendous even extending Dennis Haywood’s and my film, ‘Zinzun: A Revolutionary Activist’ to the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa.”

Relive the Epic High School Rivalry
"Soul Bowl" dives into the legendary 1984 championship game between the Kennedy Eagles and El Cerrito, a clash that forever changed the North Coast Section (NCS). Using grainy VHS footage and powerful interviews, the film transports viewers back to that electrifying night, capturing the raw emotions and fierce competition that unfolded on the field.

More Than Just a Game
"Soul Bowl" is a testament to the enduring power of community spirit. It explores the intense rivalry between the two schools, the pressure faced by the young athletes, and the unwavering support from the surrounding community.

Four decades ago, a town braced itself on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Childhood bonds forged on playgrounds and family ties woven over generations were about to be tested. High school rivalries, etched in years of laughter and competition, were ready to explode under the Friday night lights.

"Kennedy v El Cerrito: The 1984 Game That Changed the NCS" isn't just a documentary; it's a portal back to 1984. It's a time capsule overflowing with grainy VHS memories, capturing the raw, electrifying tension of the legendary "Soul Bowl."

Prepare to relive the epic championship clash between Kennedy and El Cerrito through flickering play-by-play footage. Every snap and tackle feels like a punch to the gut. The roar of the crowd at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum washes over you as the narrative unfolds, transporting you to the heart of that night.

This wasn't just any game; it was a head-on collision of teen titans, a clash that would forever be remembered as the "Soul Bowl." Vivid accounts from players, coaches, and sportswriters paint a picture of the rivalry—a tradition that transcended competition. It was a battle for bragging rights, a fight for the very soul of the community.

We hear tales of the underdog spirit burning bright within the Kennedy Eagles, a team hungry for victory. The media frenzy surrounding the game is laid bare, showcasing the weight of history and community pride resting heavily on the shoulders of these young athletes.

The film takes us on a nostalgic journey, reminiscing about the camaraderie and shared experiences that define high school football. The narrative beautifully ties a bow on this time capsule by the end. We're reminded that Friday night lights illuminate more than just the field; they illuminate the enduring power of a community united.

MK Productions produced it. KCRT and James Farr, San Francisco Black Film Festival's two-time winner and Jeff Adachi's Social Justice Award recipient, this documentary is more than just a game; it's a testament to the enduring power of community spirit. Will Kennedy upset the odds? Will El Cerrito retain their dominance? Buckle up and prepare to find out – the answer lies within the flickering VHS frames of "Kennedy v El Cerrito: The Game That Changed the NCS," a night forever remembered as the "Soul Bowl."

SFBFF Celebrates 26 Years
The "Soul Bowl" screening is part of the San Francisco Black Film Festival's 26th-anniversary celebration, themed "Healing The World One Film At A Time." The festival runs from June 13th to 16th and features diverse thought-provoking films, panels, and parties.

Don't miss this chance to see James Farr's latest work and celebrate 26 years of Black cinema at the San Francisco Black Film Festival!
For more information and tickets, visit the SFBFF website: https://www.sfbff.org/
SFBFF- SATURDAY - AFTERNOON BLOCK - THEATRE

CREDITS
Produced by MK Productions. KCRT and James Farr
Co-Director James Farr, Brian Bland Sr., Jeff Patterson & D’Andre Wells
Written By James Farr, Jeff Patterson & D’Andre Wells
Archival Footage Courtesy of Linda Pedescleaux

Meet the Filmmaker
James Farr, San Francisco Black Film Festival's two-time winner (Thorns on the Rose 21' & Zinzun: A Revolutionary Activist 22'), and 2022 Jeff Adachi's Social Justice Award recipient. James contributes to the LA Progressive and LA morning drive KBLA 1580’s First Things First.

BAY AREA FILMMAKER QUESTIONS AND ANSWER SEGMENT
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM HOSTED BY BLOCK REPORT RADIO'S J.R. VALREY. Tickets are available, and you pay what you want to contribute for the ongoing great work of SFBFF (CLICK HERE) Reserve Your Seat!
SFBFF 2024 FACT SHEET
 
SPONSORS TO DATE

Sponsors for this year's San Francisco Black Film Festival include:
The San Francisco Foundation; African American Art & Culture Complex; The Dream Keeper Initiative of San Francisco; The San Francisco Main Library; AATCLC (African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council); SFHDC (San Francisco Housing Development Corporation); San Francisco Arts Commission; California Arts Commission; SF GIANTS; The Academy of Art University; Durban International Film Festival; SFJAZZ; NOSACONN; Hotel Nikko; Hylife O'City Productions; and others. For a complete list of sponsors visit www.sfbff.org.
 
About San Francisco Black Film Festival
 
Ave Montague (1945-2009), arts impresario, fashion industry executive, publicist, founded the San Francisco Black Film Festival in 1998.   Montague created the San Francisco Black Film Festival, a 501c3 nonprofit, with the artistic vision to provide a platform for Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors to present their art. As a competitive film festival, SFBFF identifies filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors that are emerging as talents and established artists who are contributing to the cinematic legacy of African Americans. SFBFF conscientiously expands the notions of “Black film-making” to a global perspective. The organization is multicultural and inclusive of all in the expression of the African Diaspora experience.   The San Francisco Black Film Festival has screened more than 10,000 films from around the world.  Kali O’Ray (son of Ave Montague) and his wife Katera Crossley, both formerly of Atlanta, Georgia, co-directed The San Francisco Black Film Festival until O’Ray’s untimely death August 7, 2020.  Now the festival is directed with O’Ray’s daughter Cree Ray, a retail management professional, who assumed leadership at the age of 30.
 
The Mission of the San Francisco Black Film Festival is to celebrate African American cinema and the African Cultural Diaspora and to showcase a diverse collection of films – from emerging and established filmmakers. This is accomplished by presenting Black films, which reinforce positive images and dispel negative stereotypes, and providing film artists from the Bay Area in particular and around the world in general, a forum for their work to be viewed and discussed.  The San Francisco Black Film Festival believes film can lead to a better understanding of and communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.  For more information about the San Francisco Black Film Festival visit www.sfbff.org.