The Sonoma International Film Festival takes place every April in the Sonoma Valley and is hosted by the Sonoma International Film Society, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The festival is in its 14th season and has become a film festival destination location hosting the best in film, food and wine. The festival contributes to the support of the Student Film Department at Sonoma Valley High School and includes in its program a showcase of student films.
Film presentations are held at a variety of venues including the historic Sebastiani Theater on the Sonoma town plaza. Film genres include world cinema, feature-length narratives, documentaries, shorts and a student film program.
Prior to 2009 the festival was known as the Sonoma Valley Film Festival. As the festival grew and developed a more international flair the name changed with it. 2009 marked the 12th year for the Sonoma International Film Festival and was the year that brought Food Inc and The Answer Man (film) to the independent film screen. The festival ran April 1–5, 2009. Actor Bruce Willis was honored that year with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
April 15–18, 2010 was the 13th annual festival and brought the film The Joneses starring Demi Moore, David Duchovny and Lauren Hutton to the wine country screen. Ms. Hutton was honored with a Spotlight Award. Documentary film From Coals to Newcastle starring The New Mastersounds held its world premiere at the festival, opening the festival with a live performance from The New Mastersounds after the film premiere. Other films highlighted in 2010 were The Singularity is Near with a special Q&A with famed futurist Ray Kurzweil. Venezuelan film Venezzia starring Mexican actor and singer Alfonso Herrera was also featured at the 2010 Sonoma International Film Festival. Documentaries of note were Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Eating Alaska and Bhutto, a documentary about Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Additional documentaries were "Dressed", which documented the upcoming fashion designer Nary Manivong who has since partnered with Ally Hilfiger [1] the daughter of famed designer Tommy Hilfiger. This year was also the year that included the LunaFest, a festival within a festival of films made by women and presented by LUNA bar.
April 6–10, 2011 brings the festival into its 14th year. LunaFest will also return to the festival.
Festival sponsors have included Dolby Laboratories, Comcast, AT&T, Infineon Raceway, New Belgium Brewing Company