Author: Alfredo Casuso

media contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry /  (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Film Schedule Announced for
21st Annual International Ocean Film Festival 

 April 12 – 14
 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre Fort Mason and the Smith Theatre San Rafael

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

16 February 2024 —  San Francisco, CA:  San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org) has announced its slate of films for the 21st annual Festival, April 12 – 14 taking place at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason: 34 films representing 13 countries. Especially anticipated is the Festival’s opening night offering: the US Premiere of a film titled Blue Carbon: Unleashing Nature’s Superpower. In an especial honor, the filmmakers will be coming in from London along with key partners, foundations and supporters to launch the film’s screenings here in the US. The film is produced by CNN and will be aired on CNN on April 21st in recognition of Earth Day. 

“It’s a very special year for us with not only a continued focus on environmental issues, but our recent honor by the United Nations,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “Truly, with continued awareness of our fragile ocean world, our work at the International Ocean Film Festival becomes more important every year.”

As part of the United Nations’ ongoing work to combat and educate around climate change and other environmental projects, UNESCO’s Ocean Decade Initiative (www.oceandecade.org) has officially endorsed the efforts of San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival.

The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Sponsors for this year’s International Ocean Film Festival are: RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, RBC Wealth Management and Laura Wais Underwater Photography.Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Below is the full list (in alphabetical order by title, followed by director, country of origin and running time)

• 841 Rachel Burnett, (USA) 16 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• A Disappearing Forest Tyler Schiffman, (USA) 9 min Shorts
• Active Anilao Walter Marti (USA) 5 min Shorts
• Alien Contact Rick Rosenthal, (USA) 50 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Blue Carbon: Unleashing Nature’s Superpower Nicolas Brown, (UK) 85 min Environmental
• Blue Whales: Return of the Giants Hugh Pearson, (UK) 45 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Dahican Boogs Rosales, (Philippines) 16 min Conservation
• Daughters of the Waves Lisa Monin & Sebastien Daguerressar, (France) 53 min Exploration and Ocean Sports
• Deep Look: How Does the Mussel Grow its Beard? (USA) 4 min Shorts
• Deep Trouble Lavinia Currier, (USA) 10 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Disappearing Jewels Will Kim, (USA) 15 min, Environmental
• Expedition Amana Mason Le & Kai Smith & Julian Goodman & Niki Wallin, (USA) 7 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Fish with A Story Karen Logan & Melissa Raemakers, (South Africa) 45 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Great White Summer Nick Armando Budabin, (USA) 79 min Coastal and Island Culture
• HAULOUT, Evgenia Arbugaeva & Maxim Arbugaeva, (UK) 25 min Shorts
• Kahu Mano, David W McGuire, (USA) 22 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Keepers of the Land, Deirdre Leowinata & Douglas Neasloss (Canada) 29 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Kingdom of Ice: Antarctica’s Leopard Seals, Paul Nicklen & Andy Mann, (Canada) 9 min Shorts
• Konstantin’s’ Legacy – Awakening the Love for Nature, Daniel Bichsel, (Germany) 6 min Conservation.
• Orca – Black & White Gold Sarah Nörenberg, (Austria) 93 min Conservation
• Return of the Mangroves, Leo Thom, (USA) 9 min Conservation
• Sequoias of the Sea, Natasha Benjamin & Ana Blanco, (USA) 14 min Conservation
• Shark Researchers: A New Approach to Shark Conservation, Arnau Argemi González, (Spain) 3 min Shorts
• Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief Daniel Kreizberg, (Lithuania) 15 min Shorts
• The Blue Quest Palawan, Clément Pourtal, Jérôme Brousse, (France) 47 min Conservation
• The Granny Grommets, Leah Rustomjee, (Australia) 9 min
• The Passage, Boogs Rosales, (Philippines) 20 min Environmental, Conservation, Shorts
• Turtle Walker, Taira Malaney, (India) 75 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Why Blame the Seagulls? Philip Hamilton, (UK) 36 min Environmental
• Wild Hope: Return of the Manatees, (USA) 16 min Shorts
• With the Tide, Chelsea J Jolly, (USA) 25 min Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Representation
• Zoe, Gaby Scott, (USA) 27 min Exploration and Ocean Sports

The 21st International Ocean Film Festival runs April 12 – 14, 2024 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The International Ocean Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

• www.intloceanfilmfest.org 
• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

media contact: Kate Azima / Kate@northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org

NACD Northern California Announces
New Leadership Council to Help Shape
Corporate Governance in the Region

https://northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org/

21 February 2024 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Today, NACD Northern California (https://northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org/) announced its new leadership council, a group of key advisors and partners of NACD who will help shape the future of corporate governance within Northern California’s board director community.

The NACD Northern California Leadership Council will bring together leaders from various industries who are experts in the world of corporate governance. They will work together to foster and celebrate excellence in the community by sharing thought leadership with expert insights on risks facing the boardroom in the next five years.

The leadership council members include Donoghue Clarke (San Jose managing principal, EY), Keith Dorsey (managing partner and US practice leader, Boyden), Mary Francis (corporate secretary and chief governance officer, Chevron), Kumar Parakala (president, GHD Digital), Louis Lehot (partner, Foley & Lardner), Tony Perazzo (West Region managing partner and the Greater Bay Area office managing partner, Grant Thornton LLP), Joseph Talmadge (senior vice president, Heffernan Insurance Brokers), Tara Tays (partner, Pay Governance LLC), and Catherine Zinn (chief client officer, Baker Botts). More information can be found on the website.

“We are delighted to form the NACD Northern California Leadership Council with such an experienced and thoughtful group of individuals from organizations that have made a commitment to lead in corporate governance,” said Claudia Fan Munce, NACD Northern California’s board chair. “Bringing these leaders together to discuss the issues facing board directors will be a wonderful opportunity to ensure directors are prepared for what will face them in the upcoming years.”

The leadership council will release a series of reports to provide strategic insights and guidance on emerging trends and challenges in corporate governance that affect board leaders, such as geopolitics, climate/sustainability, AI, cybersecurity, and executive compensation/human capital issues. Additionally, the council will curate virtual programming, exclusive dinners, and interviews to engage the local NACD community in these pivotal conversations.

ABOUT THE NACD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

NACD Northern California Chapter provides a forum for 2,300 NACD members to exchange knowledge and discuss leading boardroom practices. NACD’s 20-plus chapters enhance the value of NACD membership by providing directors with a local forum to address governance challenges to elevate their board’s performance.

Members benefit from peer-to-peer discussions on critical issues such as cyber risk, CEO succession planning, activism, and leadership. To learn more about NACD Northern California, please visit www.nacdnortherncalifornia.org.

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Media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Berkeley’s Crowden Music Center Presents Fry Street Quartet on March 3

https://www.crowden.org/fry-street-quartet/ 

20 February 2024 – Berkeley, CA:   Crowden continues its 40^th anniversary season on Sunday, March 3, presenting the acclaimed Fry Street Quartet (Robert Waters, Rebecca McFaul, Bradley Ottesen, Anne Francis Bayless) in a rare west coast performance featuring a new commission by Gabriela Lena Frank along with works by Beethoven and Shostakovic.

 Hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times, this globally acclaimed, Fischoff Grand Prize-winning quartet is a frequent member of Crowden’s renowned summer chamber music faculty. This concert is the Bay Area’s first opportunity to hear Gabriela Lena Frank’s latest commission A Psalm of Disquiet (jointly commissioned by the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University, the NOVA Chamber Music Series, and the Fry Street Quartet), as Fry Street will perform the west coast premiere just two days prior, in Healdsburg.

General admission tickets are $35, with discounted rates for seniors and students, and a free “Meet-the-Artists” reception. Ages  8 to 18 attend free.

 Crowden Music Center is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this 2023-24 season, presenting illustrious alumni and faculty from throughout its history. Established in 1983 and still the only school of its kind in the country, The Crowden School’s unique chamber music-inspired curriculum for grades 3–8 features intellectually engaging collaborative academics side by side with its esteemed music program. Crowden also serves more than 1,000 community music students of all ages and levels of experience. Flagship programs for the general community include its John Adams Young Composers Program and acclaimed chamber music workshops for youth and adults. Crowden reaches a combined audience of 8,000 with a rich array of workshops, events, and concerts each year.

Learn how music changes everything at https://www.crowden.org.  

Fry Street Quartet

This remarkable quartet – hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times – is a multi-faceted ensemble taking chamber music in new directions. The quartet has reached audiences from Carnegie Hall to London, and Sarajevo to Jerusalem, exploring the medium of the string quartet and its life-affirming potential with “profound understanding…depth of expression, and stunning technical astuteness” (Deseret Morning News).

With a discography that includes a wide range of works from Haydn and Beethoven to Stravinsky, Rorem, and Kaminsky, the quartet is known for being “Equally at home in the classic repertoire of Mozart and Beethoven or contemporary music,” (Palm Beach Daily News). The FSQ has commissioned and toured new works by a wide range of composers, and upcoming commissions include quartets by Clarice Assad, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Laura Kaminsky. After more than 50 performances in three different countries, Rising Tide: The Crossroads Project continues to resonate with audiences. A collaboration with physicist Dr. Robert Davies, this fresh approach to communicating society’s sustainability challenges draws upon all the senses with a unique blend of science and art. A film version of the project was released in fall of 2020.

The quartet’s touring history includes performances at major venues and festivals, and for distinguished series such as Carnegie Hall and the Schneider Series at the New School in New York, the Jewel Box series in Chicago, Chamber Music Columbus, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the DiBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame, the Theosophical Society in London, and the Mozart Gemeinde in Klagenfurt, Austria.

The Fry Street Quartet holds the Dan C. and Manon Caine Russell Endowed String Quartet Residency at the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University. In 2019 the members of the FSQ were named co-Music Directors of the NOVA Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake City, an appointment that continues through 2024.

——————–

Crowden 40th Anniversary 2023–2024 Season Calendar

February 17, 2024, 7:00pm
 Alexander String Quartet Festival Faculty Concert
 Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Crowden inaugural Chamber Music Festival with the Alexander String Quartet features a faculty concert open to the public!

Program:
 Tarik O’Regan: Gradual

 Leoš Janáček: String Quartet, No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”

 Jean Sibelius: String Quartet, Op. 56 in d minor, “Voces Intimate”

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March 3, 2024, 4:00pm
Sundays @ Four: Fry Street Quartet
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times, this globally acclaimed, Fischoff Grand Prize-winning quartet of sometimes Crowden summer faculty members perform Beethoven, Lena Frank, and Shostakovich.

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven Quartet in F Major, Op.135
Gabriela Lena Frank: New commission, will premiere 3
Dmitri Shostakovich Quartet No. 9 in E-flat Major, Op. 117

————–

April 21, 2024, 4:00pm
Sundays @ Four: Catalyst Quartet
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Grammy® Award-winning Catalyst Quartet, featuring alumna Karla Donehew Perez (’99), tours the world to acclaim for its “perfect ensemble unity” and “unequaled class of execution” (Lincoln Journal Star).

Program:
 “But just a minute”, Paquito D’Rivera
“Farewell mambo”, P. D’Rivera
“Wapango”, P. D’Rivera
Angel Suite, Astor Piazzolla (arr. Catalyst Quartet)
String Quartet, Germaine Tailleferre (Gershwin lullaby)
String Quartet in F Major, Maurice Ravel

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May 25, 2024

Crowden 40th Anniversary Concert & Reception
 Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley
 An unforgettable showcase of Crowden alumni, mentors, and friends at Hertz Hall, including Bonnie Hampton, Audrey Vardanega, the Catalyst Quartet, and more. This program features perennial Crowden favorites paired with special moments, including a work composed by Crowden’s greatest benefactor, composer Gordon Getty, and the world premiere of a new work for two violins and string orchestra by Samuel Adams, commissioned for our 40^th anniversary and premiered by two acclaimed Crowden violinists: Nora Chastain, a world-famous soloist and chamber musician and student of founder Anne Crowden, and alumnus David McCarroll (’99), Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, formerly a member of the famed Vienna Piano Trio.

Program:
 * David McCarroll (’99) and Nora Chastain performing Samuel Adams world premiere 40th anniversary commission with an ensemble of Crowden faculty, alumni, and current students.
 * Catalyst Quartet performing a movement of Mendelssohn Octet with Crowden faculty and alumni, including violist Abigail Rojansky (‘03) of the Verona Quartet
 * Bonnie Hampton-led cello ensemble performing Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 by Villa-Lobos
 * Friction Quartet performing Carrot Revolution by Gabriella Smith
 * Audrey Vardanega and Ariana Kim performing Primavera Porteña from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Piazzolla
 * Gordon Getty composition TBA
 * Kenneth Rensaw (‘08) Concertmaster for Crowden faculty and alumni orchestra performing Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (an Anne Crowden favorite)
 * Original composition by John Adams Young Composers Program student Nicole Targosz, performed by The Crowden School Lower School Orchestra

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May 26, 2024
Crowden 40th Anniversary Alumni Brunch
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)
Crowden alumni from all programs, alum families from all eras, and current and former faculty from throughout Crowden’s history to join us for a joyous brunch honoring Crowden alums from the past 40 years.

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media contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry /  (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

United Nations’ UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Endorses San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival 

21^st Annual International Ocean Film Festival Runs
April 12 – 14 in San Francisco 

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

7 February 2024 —  San Francisco, CA:  As part of the United Nations’ ongoing work to combat and educate around climate change and other environmental projects, UNESCO’s Ocean Decade Initiative (www.oceandecade.org)  has officially endorsed the efforts of San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org). The 21^st edition of the International Ocean Film Festival convenes immediately after in San Francisco, April 12 – 14.

“For the work of the International Ocean Film Festival to be recognized by the United Nations is a high honor,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the Festival. “To take part in the Ocean Decade initiative means that our films and filmmakers are seen as an important part of the UN’s work, and to facilitate a transition from ‘the ocean we have’ to ‘the ocean we want: an ocean that supports sustainable development and a healthy ecosystem.”

After a rigorous review process, the International Ocean Film Festival met the following criteria for endorsement:  

• Contributing to fulfilling the Ocean Decade Challenges and to achieving the Decade Objectives and the associated sub-objectives.
• Accelerating the generation or use of knowledge and understanding of the ocean, with a specific focus on knowledge that will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and complementary policy frameworks
  and initiatives.
• Deemed to have co-designed or co-delivered by knowledge generators and users, and thus facilitate the uptake of science and ocean knowledge for policy, decision-making, management and/or innovation.
• Having ensured that all data and resulting knowledge has been provided in an open access, shared, discoverable manner in accordance with the provisions of United Nations Conventions of the Sea and are appropriately deposited in recognized data repositories consistent with the IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy10 or the relevant UN
  subordinate body data policy.
• Has strengthened existing or created new partnerships across nations and/or between diverse ocean actors, including users of ocean science.
• Has contributed toward capacity development, including, but not limited to, beneficiaries in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries.
  
• Has overcome barriers to diversity and equity, including gender, generational and geographic diversity.
• Collaborates with and engages local and indigenous knowledge holders.
  

The Ocean Decade initiative aims to harness, stimulate and empower interdisciplinary ocean research at all levels to support the timely delivery of the data, information and knowledge needed to achieve a well-functioning ocean in support of all Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The Ocean Decade will not set ocean policy but rather will provide a framework to motivate ocean science and research that can increase understanding and inform policy and decision-making. In order to achieve this, the Ocean Decade will mobilize resources and technological innovation to build capacity, develop scientific knowledge, build and share infrastructure and foster partnerships for a sustainable and healthy ocean. 

The International Ocean Film Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Sponsors for this year’s International Ocean Film Festival are: RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, RBC Wealth Management and Laura Wais Underwater Photography.

The full list of films will be released in the coming days.
The 21st International Ocean Film Festival runs April 12 – 14, 2024 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The International Ocean Film Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

• www.intloceanfilmfest.org 
• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest