Cue the Spot: Here Comes the Sonoma International Film Festival

Sonoma Valley residents can join in the fun of this year’s Sonoma International Film Festival in a number of ways, from careful choosing of the films they want to see from the 100-plus being screened, to spending some real change and attending a reception, or even just hanging out in the Sonoma Plaza or a local restaurant and hope a celebrity walks by.

The first such occasion is Wednesday, the opening night screening of The Iceman, directed by Ariel Vromen and starring Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Benicio del Toro, Chris Evans and James Franco. Quite a cast on screen, and since actor Ray Liotta as well as director Ariel Vromen will be there in person, it adds up to a worthy opening night for the 16th festival.

The Iceman is getting some heat, so to speak, with Shannon’s portrayal of Richard Kuklinksi, an everyday family man by day, Mafia hit man by night. Individual  tickets ($20 is the standard price for all films) are still available. It screens at 6:30 and again at 9:30 at the Sebastiani Theater – watch for the searchlights, you can't miss it.

Also Wednesday night, with much less fanfare, you can see Iceland’s official entry for the 2013 Oscars, The Deep at 7 p.m., the Sonoma Valley Women’s Club. It’s based on a a true incident in 1984, as a fisherman tries to survive in the freezing ocean after his boat capsizes in the frigid seas off the south coast of Iceland. I get chills thinking about it.

The third show on Wednesday will be at Burlingame Hall at First Congregational on West Spain St, the other primary screening location (there are eight in all), where “You Will Be My Son” shows at 6:45. This should appeal to locals: it’s about a prestigious winemaking patriarch who’s looking for a successor to take over the business, and doesn’t believe his own son has the juice.

Thursday the SIFF swings into full repertoire, with films starting from 9:30 a.m. until 9:15 p.m., at multiple locations. You can download a complete schedule at this link or view it with this article, or pick up the full Festival Guide at one of several locations in town. It’s also online at this location, an 80-page off-size brochure that has full details on all shows.

Daily, special events enliven the usual magic of going to the movies. Among them: the Opening Night After-Party at General’s Daughter, for which very few spots are available; a New Belgium Brewery beer pairing with 4-course dinner at Ramekins (6:30 on Thursday, $75); the annual Latin Fiesta “Vamos al Cine” at the Backlot Tent on the Spain side of City Hall (Friday, 6-8 pm, $25); and three special events on Saturday that warrant their own paragraph.

It's all at the Veterans Memorial Hall, starting at 6 pm with a mini-“Weeds” reunion. Nancy Botwin is reunited with her (spoiler alert) deceased husband Esteban Reyes, Tijuana mayor and drug kingpin. For those without cable, that would be three-time Emmy-winner Mary-Louise Parker (Angels in America) and Oscar-nominated Demian Bichir (A Better Life) in this year’s Celebrity Tribute at ($50). It’s followed at 7 by the Tribute Dinner at the Hall ($175), then the Gala from 9 – midnight in the same location, with music by Bosonoma & Unforgettable Fire – the last, subject of their very own musickomentary in the Festival.

Alternatively, you could drop $10 and shake your booty at the LBGT Secret Disco Party, 7 – 10, in the Backlot Tent. Your choice, as it should be.

The Festival keeps up its full-tilt schedule through Sunday, 107 films and shorts of every description. Clearly the way to see the ones you want is to buy a Pass, which starts at $175 for unlimited movies, or a Premiere Pass for $400 to include access to all films and panels, Opening Night Reception, Latin  Fiesta, Tribute and Awards Ceremony. At $900 a Star Pass gives you everything but an audition. Maybe that too.

For complete information and tickets visit the Sonoma International Film Festival online.

Interested in blogging the SIFF? Contact the Patch editor if films are a passion for you, and you share that passion with Patch readers.