BFF Presents
the Saul Zaentz Film Series
The Berkeley FILM Foundation proudly presents an annual program honoring the legendary Berkeley-based producer Saul Zaentz. This November, we’ll host a multi-day festival across iconic Bay Area theaters—including the Smith Rafael Film Center, The Roxie, The New Parkway, and more—showcasing powerful documentaries that have received our prestigious Saul Zaentz Award. The event brings audiences face-to-face with the filmmakers themselves through exclusive post-screening Q&As, offering an opportunity to delve into the stories behind the films and explore their lasting impact on communities and culture. Please watch our channels for more information!
2024
In 2024, BFF celebrated Saul Zaentz with a retrospective of his films at the Smith Rafael Film Center and included many special guests. Audiences heard about the 'making of' these films from those who worked on them, including Sound Designer Mark Berger, who won an Academy Award for both Amadeus and The English Patient; Vivien Hillgrove, who was part of the editing team for The Unbearable Lightness of Being; and Paul Zaentz, associate producer of The English Patient. The event also featured an appearance by Michael Ondaatje, author of the novel The English Patient on which the film is based.