UN Day at the United Nations Association Film Festival

Upon arriving in San Francisco yesterday, I was met by a wonderful volunteer (thank you, Joyce!) from the United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF WEBSITE) and hit the ground running.  "No rest for the wicked" has been the theme of the world tour of 'A2-B-C' and yesterday was no different; whisked off right from the airport to a reception at the festival.

I had the opportunity to meet some of the amazing UNAFF staff and volunteers and to meet some of the other visiting directors, such as Willem Timmers (below, left), director of "Framing the other", which screens on Saturday (INFO), and Tony Donoghue (below, right), director of "Irish Folk Furniture" (INFO), which screened last night after the reception.

The strand that "Irish Folk Furniture" screened in was about sustainability, and was beautifully curated.  Films like "The Story of an Egg" (an intelligent and fascinating short film about, well, eggs) and "Shady Chocolate", an expose of the chocolate industry, featured the foods that we eat.  "Shift Change" was an informative feature documentary about cooperatives, something I have never really even thought about.  But Tony's "Irish Folk Furniture", an unassuming, seemingly simple short film, was the highlight of the program for me, and combines amazing oral histories with gorgeous stop-motion animation.  It is clever, quirky, beautiful, funny, sweet, compelling... shall I go on?

Tony Donoghue, director of "Irish Folk Furniture" during the post-screening Q&A

The program was followed by a very compelling panel discussion about "Alternative Economic Models", led by United Nations Association Film Festival founder and executive director, Jasmina Bojic (far right, below).

I am so extremely honoured to be presenting the West Coast Premier of 'A2-B-C' today at UNAFF (SCHEDULE), even more so as today is UN Day (INFO).  Thank you all so very much for your support and encouragement.