The Sonoma Film Institute offers many films that are screened free of charge. The movies, displayed in Ives Hall, often center around meaningful and thought-provoking topics. Each week on both Friday and Sunday, the film welcomes the community and students to come in and enjoy a movie.

The institute has existed on campus since 1973, and since then has unspooled enough “film celluloid to reach the next galaxy,” according to the university homepage. Recently, the institute has moved towards an admission-free method for showing their films, relying on tax-deductible donations for income. Hopefully, this will result in more students being open to come in and explore the films. One of the organization’s main goals is to provide cultural benefits and enrichment to the campus and nearby community. This new admission free method of screening may help them further their goal by introducing a wider audience. 

Recently, the institute screened Buddy, a touching documentary about service dogs and their experiences. This film allowed students and community members to get a glimpse into the lives of people who depend on dogs. It is not every day we encounter people with this kind of interspecies dependency in their lives, and the screening helped to put that into the spotlight. Many attendees of the film found value in the viewing experience, as comments on the institute’s Facebook page show.

Following this, Asakao I & II was shown from September 6-8. This Japanese production that showcased the dynamics of love and followed a woman through a unique case of doppelgangers. 

Most recently, this past weekend’s screening of Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin demonstrated a female science fiction writer’s life story, struggles and successes. Le Guin, who recently passed away in 2018, blazed a new path in her life by being one of the first female science fiction authors. She introduced women into focus in a genre that was previously dominated by men, and ultimately her books sold well despite many naysayers. Arwen Curry, the director of this documentary, was present on the Sonoma State Campus this past Friday for questions and more. 

Many upcoming films will focus on cultural diversity and topics of gender. Future productions include A Raisin in the Sun, 13 Conversations About One Thing, The Third Wife, Mur Murs, and Black Panthers, according to the posted schedule. 

A Raisin in the Sun will touch on family dynamic issues, as well as race relations in Chicago. 

This was a landmark film in the industry upon its release being “the first drama to be produced by a black woman to ever feature on Broadway”, according to Film4. The film features critically acclaimed actor Sidney Poitier and has won several awards. The screening for this film will be on Friday of this week, beginning at 7:00 in the evening. The matinee will be on Sunday the 22nd at 4:00 p.m. 

Following this will be the film 13 Conversations About One Thing. This production focuses on capturing the feel of American life, by following five separate people around as they survive in New York. Critics from the BBC describes the film as “reveling in fashionable cynicism”, but ultimately allowing “faith in human nature to win out”.