
06/27/2025
At an illuminating panel during the SF Docfest earlier this month titled ‘Film Festivals – What Are They Good For?’, film critic Michael Fox spoke with programmers Rod Armstrong (SFFFILM), Dominique O’Neil (San Francisco Jewish Film Festival), Sterling Hedgpeth (Mill Valley Film Festival), and Isabel Fondevilla (Roxie Theater) about this very question. They discussed how they approach programming for their individual festivals/venues, the future of independent film and festivals overall, and how independent filmmakers can use them to their advantage.
Film festivals… whether you’re a filmmaker, goer, or both, you may find yourself wondering, ‘What are they good for?’ Well, for one, they’re a great place