A Short History of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival was founded in 1993 by Mary Harris, Cathy Peacock, Jim Dee, Patty Dee and Lee Cogan. Originally a week-long celebration of classic films, it included 32 screenings and a tribute to film director, George Sidney. He won the King Vidor Lifetime Achievement Award that year and began the annual tradition of awarding a successful motion picture industry personality with the lifetime achievement award on the stage of the beautiful Fremont Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Mary Harris continued to spearhead the festival for the next nine years, growing it to include the George Sidney Independent Film Competition which brought exciting, independent cinema to San Luis Obispo helping to promote independent filmmaking and young up-and-coming talent. She also added filmmaking seminars to the festival which attracted a wide variety of filmmaking professionals from nearby Hollywood and all over the country.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival continues to grow and thrive as an oasis for independent filmmakers to screen their films and have face to face contact with enthusiastic audiences in talk-back sessions and workshops.

In 2004, the festival moved from October to March and the 2006 SLOIFF was held just two days after the Academy Awards and included more independent films than ever before. Over 25 filmmakers attended the 6 day festival with 29 films competing for awards. The red carpet was rolled out for Greg Noll, Stacey Peralta, and Jeff Clark attending a special sold-out screening of Riding Giants and later that week, the King Vidor Lifetime Achievement Award went to actor, Morgan Freeman who was applauded by yet another sell-out crowd at the Fremont Theatre after the pre-release screening of his newest film, Lucky Number Slevin (courtesy of The Weinstein Company.) Following a Q & A session which included Malcolm McDowell, Phil Alden Robinson and Academy Award-winning editor, Neil Travis, awards were presented to independent filmmakers by actors Keith Carradine and Zac Efron. The awards were followed by a special dinner in tribute to Morgan Freeman at Buona Tavola attended by Film Society and Board members, VIP's and filmmakers.

Exciting plans are underway to expand the 2007 festival to eleven days of independent and classic films, special events, workshops and parties. There are great sponsorship opportunities still available - be a sponsor of a film, a reception or even a Red Carpet event. For more information, please call Festival Director, Wendy Eidson - (805) 235-1507.