Author: Alfredo Casuso

The San Francisco Travel Association, The Hotel Council of San Francisco, the Union Square Alliance and The Golden Gate Restaurant Association issued the following joint statement today regarding the billboard going up in Union Square.

“There are no words sufficient to console the pain of those impacted by addiction across the United States. Here in San Francisco, our hospitality community has been proactive and focused in our efforts to push our elected officials to clean up the open air drug dealing that’s sadly visible in parts of our city. The passionate campaign being launched today by MADD, although impactful, is not the solution as it will only hurt local small businesses and our hospitality workers who just now are beginning to crawl out of the economic disaster caused by COVID and its continuing fallout. We respectfully ask that MADD join with us in pushing for solutions while supporting our tourism industry workers.”      
– San Francisco Travel Association, The Hotel Council of San Francisco, the Union Square Alliance & The Golden Gate Restaurant Association

Media Contacts:
San Francisco Travel: Lori Lincoln, lori@sftravel.com
The Hotel Council of San Francisco / Union Square Alliance: news@davidperry.com
GGRA: amy@ggra.org

Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc, David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Castro Theatre Re-Burglarized

Same Individual Arrested Five Days Ago Breaks in Again & Re-Arrested

3 April 2022 – San Francisco: For the second time in a week, San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre has been burglarized, and by the same person who was arrested for the first burglary five days ago. The suspect, Gary Marx, has been re-arrested and is in custody.

“This is both heartbreaking and galling,” said Mary Conde, Vice President for Bay Area small business Another Planet Entertainment. “Why this individual was allowed on the streets again is beyond my understanding and should be unacceptable. We are so grateful to the San Francisco Police for their continued vigilance and for again arresting this person. However, our system is failing us.”

According to Conde, an additional $15,000 worth of damage was done in yesterday’s incident adding to the previous $30,000 from last week’s incident. Additionally, the expensive leaded glass on the iconic freestanding box office has been broken five times since January.

“We have tried to avoid installing a metal security gate across the front of the Castro’s iconic entrance, but I don’t believe we are now left with any choice,” said Conde.

According to Conde, who is overseeing the renovation of the historic Castro Theatre, such a gate would be costly. January of this year, Another Planet took over management of the LGBTQ community and film landmark that is celebrating its centennial in June. Opened in 1922, the registered San Francisco landmark is still owned by the local Nasser family who built it. 

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

Awards Announced for 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival 

11 Films Cited in Categories including Conservation, Ocean Sports,
First Time Filmmaker and Diversity & Equity & Inclusion

April 7 – 10 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theater Fort Mason
with additional screenings at The Roxie SF and Smith Rafael Film Center
Virtual Presentations April 11 – 24  

13 World Premieres, 9 US Premieres and 7 Bay Area Premieres.
Films have been received from 30 countries
and 17 filmmakers will be in attendance.

1 April 2022 – San Francisco, CA:  For the first time in two years, live audiences will take in films from around the world for the 19^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival, including 11 films announced this week as award winners in categories including Conservation, Ocean Sports, First Time Filmmaker and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This year, the Festival will screen in three venues in the Bay Area April 7 – 10 for the first in-person event since 2019: The Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason and the Roxie in San Francisco, and the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. In addition, virtual presentations will also be offered April 11 – 24. Tickets to the entire festival are on sale online www.intloceanfilmfest.org

“All of our films and filmmakers are standouts and advance our mission of saving our oceans through the beauty and education of the visual medium,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the Festival. “In a field of exceptional quality and diversity, especially this year, we have 11 standouts deserving of special recognition.”

The Eleven Award Winning Films are:
(* Filmmakers On hand to receive their awards)

• Soul of the Ocean: Howard Wesley Hall Director’s Award *
• Back to the Sea: Jack Gordon Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award *
• Bangla Surf Girls: Elizabeth D Costa, Lalita Krishna, First-time Filmmaker Award *
• Waterman Isaac Halasima, Steven Ungerleider, David Ulich, Michael Cascio, Ocean Sports Award *
• Whetū Mārama- Bright Star Toby Mills, Aileen O’Sullivan, Coastal and Island Culture Award
• The Ocean Solution Darcy Hennessey Turenne, Conservation Award
• Coextinction Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean, Environment Award
• Selma Maciek Jabłoński, Exploration Award
• Coding for Crayfish Serge Raemaekers, Karen Logan, Innovation Award
• INTO THE BLUE: The Wonders of the Coral Triangle, Robert Fonollosa, Wildlife Award
• Eight Arms the Unite Us, Abdillah Intje, Shorts Award

This year’s 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival is marked with 18 days of ocean-focused, independent films. In addition, the Festival will host lively Q&A panels with film directors, marine scientists, and industry experts, as they discuss the films and share insights into ocean conservation, preservation, and legislation.    

In addition, this year marks the 11^th Annual Student Film Competition in which students tell their stories about the ocean and explore the exciting world of filmmaking. Support for the Student Film Competition comes from PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors). The Student Film Competition is open to middle school and high school students (grades 6 through 12) from around the world. Films must be five minutes or less in duration, and touch upon some subject matter regarding the ocean.  The program is free to attend and is scheduled for Sunday, April 10, 2022 at 12:30 in the Tidepool at Fort Mason. 

According to Blanco, the past two years’ “Virtual Oceans” online Festivals were seen by a record breaking 10,000 people and more than 2500 students took part in the online education series.  During 2020 and 2021, submissions were received from around the world, including films from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, and Germany.  For this year’s 19^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival, Blanco is expecting an even great number – and greater diversity – of submissions.

According to Blanco, this year’s 2022 19^th Annual International Ocean Festival will present 13 World Premieres, 9 United States Premieres and 7 Bay Area Premieres. Films have been received from 30 countries and 17 filmmakers will be in attendance.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.

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.

Current sponsors for the upcoming 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include, The Consul General of Canada of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Laura Wais Underwater Imaging, NOAA, PG&E, RingCentral, RBC Wealth Management and The SSA Group.

Hotel and hospitality partners for the 19^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival are:  The Hotel Griffon, The Hotel Zetta, the J.W. Marriott, the Kimpton Alton Hotel, Le Meridien, the Lodge at the Presidio and the Omni Hotel.

The International Ocean Film Festival encourages its patrons, supporters and partners to follow the most current advice from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 in Northern California and beyond, and to stay tuned for announcements about International Ocean Film Festival events once the threat level is reduced. The 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place April 7 – 10 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture (2 Marina Boulevard, Pier 2), the Roxie Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission District (3117 16^th Street) and at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael (1118 4th Street, San Rafael) and April 11 – 23 online at www.intloceanfilmfest.org. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

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

Following is the full schedule of films for 2022 19^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival

Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture

Thursday April 7 at 4 pm – Program #1

• The Oyster Farmer, Kika Tuff (USA) 5 min
• Albacore Tuna: The Tale of a Fish, Jennifer Marie Bell*, Jessica Eden (USA) 37 min
• The Witness is a Whale, Nick Dean* and Cheryl Dean (Austria) 52 min

Thursday April 7 at 7 pm – Program #2 

• Back to the Sea, Jack Gordon* (USA) 6 min
• Eight Arms That Unite Us, Abdillah Intje (Indonesia) 9 min
• The Last Vaquita, Ed Harrison* & Luke Ripley (UK) 13 min
• In Too Deep – The True Cost of Deep Sea Mining, Maarten van Rouveroy* (Netherlands) 19 min

Friday April 8 at 1 pm – Program #3

• Mangrove Forests: Roots of the Sea I Marine Ecosystem Diaries, Rebecca Daniel (UK) 4 min
• The Dark Hobby, Paula Fouce* (United States) 56 min

Friday April 8 at 4 pm – Program #4: Kiel Program

• The Origin – Life around the Hot Spring, Claudia Schmitt*(Germany) 4 min
• STURMFAHRT – The World’s Toughest Sailing Race, Philipp Grieß (Germany) 90 min

Friday April 8 at 7 pm – Program #5: Surf Program 

• Resurrection Artist, Scott Fitzloff * (USA) 22 min
• Waterman,  Isaac Halasima*, Steven Ungerleider, David Ulich, Michael Cascio (USA) 93 min

Saturday April 9 at 10 am – Program #6 

• Deep Look: Starfish Gallop With Hundreds of Tubular Feet, Josh Cassidy*  (USA) 5 min
• Adventures of a Maritime Archaeologist, Kurt Mann* (USA) 12 min
• I Just Went for a Swim, Adam Dostalek* (Australia) 18 min
• Nā Kama Kai – Children Of The Ocean, Ju Martins* (USA) 36 min
• Celestial, Jack Gordon* (USA) 28 min

Saturday April 9 at 1 pm – Program #7: Sharks Program

• Great White Sharks, Lakan Duskin (USA) 3 min
• Fish with Superpowers – The Clownfish and the Shark, Hendrik S. Schmitt* (Germany) 5 min
• Emperors of the Deep – Short, William McKeever*, Paul Rachman (United States) 20 min
• Sharks of the Sea of Cortés: A Lost Treasure?, James Ketchum* (Mexico) 27 min
• Changing Seas: “Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation”, Kristin Paterakis* (USA) 27 min

Saturday April 9 at 4 pm – Program #8 

• The Forest Stands Tall, Abbey Dias* (USA) 2 min
• Veins of an Island, Shireen Rahimi* (USA) 8 min
• Coextinction, Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean (Canada) 93 min

Saturday April 9 at 7 pm – Program #9 

• ICEolation, Sophie Ballagh & Ewan Blyth (Antarctica) 28 min
• Soul of the Ocean, Howard Wesley Hall* (USA) 78 min

Sunday April 10 at 10 am – Program #10 

• Hungry Jellyfish, Sabrina Inderbitzi (Switzerland) 4 min
• My Journey Across the Ocean, Madeleine Kelly Toomey (USA) 4 min
• The Blue Forest, Philip Hamilton (UK) 35 min
• Twist and Spin, Peter Donovan Walker (Vanuatu) 50 min

Sunday April 10 at 1 pm – Program #11 

• Planktonium, Jan van IJken (Netherlands) 15 min
• Open Ocean, Nathan Siegel* (Spain) 83 min

Sunday April 10 at 4 pm – Program #12

• Tess Felix: Portrait Artist, Cynthia Abbott*, Andrea E. Leland (USA) 8 min
• Bodies of Water, Lavado Stubbs (USA) 10 min
• The Ocean Solution, Darcy Hennessey Turenne (USA) 14 min
• Coding for Crayfish, Serge Raemaekers, Karen Logan (South Africa) 30 min
• INTO THE BLUE: The Wonders of The Coral Triangle, Robert Fonollosa (Spain) 50 min

Smith Rafael Film Center

Friday April 8 at 7pm – Program #1 

• Lionfish: Ocean Murder Hedgehogs, Sarah Baumann* (USA) 2 min
• Soul of the Ocean, Howard Wesley Hall (USA) 78 min

Saturday April 9 at 7pm – Program #2 

• Tess Felix: Portrait Artist, Cynthia Abbott*, Andrea E. Leland (USA) 8 min
• Selma, Maciek Jabłoński (Poland) 92 min

Sunday April 10 at 4pm – Program #3

• Stranded: A Whale Rescue Tale, Bruce Narin*, Ashley Love (USA) 25 min
• Archipelago New York – An Island City, Thomas Halaczinsky* (Germany) 53 min

Roxie Theater

Saturday April 9 at 1:30 pm – Program #1

• It’s Time to Listen, Louisa Gilbert (Canada) 7 min
• Fishing with Wally, Ellie Schmidt* (USA) 20 min
• Bangla Surf Girls, Elizabeth D Costa*, Lalita Krishna (Canada) 85 min

Sunday April 10 at 1pm – Program #2 

• Deep Look: Sea Slugs Scrub Seagrass by the Seashore, Mike Seely (USA) 4 min
• Whetū Mārama – Bright Star, Toby Mills, Aileen O’Sullivan (New Zealand) 90 min

Media contact: 

David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

BuildOUT California, World’s First LGBT Industry Association for Construction & Architecture,  partners with Another Planet for Castro Theatre Project with Historic MOU

22 March 2022 – San Francisco. Bay Area small business Another Planet Entertainment (www.apeconcerts.com) is partnering with BuildOUT California (www.buildoutcalifornia.org),  the world’s first LGBT industry association for construction and architecture,  as part of the renovation and restoration of San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre.

“The Castro Theatre is a cathedral to the LGBTQ communities,” said Mary Conde, Vice President for Another Planet who is in charge of the overall Castro Theatre Project. “It’s absolutely expected and appropriate that we partner with LGBTQ firms as we revitalize this irreplaceable icon for future generations. We’re thrilled to partner with BuildOUT moving forward.”

“Another Planet is the definition of a local company rooted in San Francisco and the Bay Area and sensitive to gay community and architectural concerns,” said BuildOUT founding member Paul Pendergast. “There’s a lot of work to be done and we’re thrilled that LGBTQ contractors and vendors will be at the front of the line when considered for this work.”

Often overlooked in the fields of construction, LGBT contractors are getting renewed opportunities through the work of BuildOUT and partnerships such as the one with Another Planet.

“As a lifelong San Franciscan, a member of the LGBTQ community and a Latino the Castro Theater holds a very special place in my heart,” said Nick Colina, COO of Anco Iron and Construction, a third generation San Francisco firm based in the Bayview Hunters Point. “A very special moment in my life was when I got take my mom, Dr. Colina, to the Gay Men’s Chorus on Christmas Eve where we celebrated family and our community! As a gay man in the steel industry a project like the improvements to the Castro Theater comes along once in a lifetime. To work on a building designed by Timothy Pflueger is a tradesperson’s dream.”

“To be able to provide electrical construction supplies on the historic Castro Theater project would be an honor for my LGBT-owned/certified business,” stated Sandra Escalante, CEO of Laner Electric Supply. “A building with the iconic status of the Castro Theatre deserves to have safe, reliable, state of the art electrical systems throughout. As a member of the LGBTQ community from the Philippines, my friends there had heard of the theater and have seen photographs of the Castro Theatre, it’s famous even back home. It would be an honor to work on this project.”

When the project is ready to proceed, Another Planet Entertainment will hold construction project meetings with key representatives from BuildOUT California with the express purposes of providing information outlined below:

• Project Timeline and Schedules

• Unbundled contract opportunities

• Clearly articulate any/all insurance, bonding, and pre-qualification requirements to potential subconsultants and subcontractors

• Introductions to Key Trade Subcontractors in the following areas where LGBTQ/Allied businesses with the proper qualifications, experience and capacity can actively compete for competitively bid subconsultant and subcontracting opportunities:

o Construction and Project Management

o Concrete Installations, Forms, Finishings

o Construction Materials Supplies

o Steel Fabrication

o Interior Design

o Furniture/Finishings

o Flooring

o Wayfinding and Event Signage

o Construction Safety Training and Compliance

o Quality Assurance/Quality Control

o Inspection Services

o Specialty Trades

o Advertising Specialties (branded apparel, hats, PPE wear, etc)

o Media/Public Relations and Community Engagement

Another Planet Entertainment will also consider the utilization of local, small,

LGBT/Allied/Minority businesses in the following categories where appropriate:

o Catering

o Event Planning and Production

o Public and Neighborhood Notification Services

o Graphic Design and Print Production

“We’re looking forward to working with Another Planet Entertainment to make meaningful introductions between qualified subconsultants and subcontractors who have relevant experience, qualifications and capacity to provide real value on the Castro Theatre Project,” said Pendergast, noting that Another Planet has long been committed to the LGBT community and employs many members of the LGBT community. “This is the definition of a big rainbow win.”

BuildOUT California is the world’s first LGBT Industry Association dedicated to the sustainable growth of LGBT owned & certified businesses, and our allies, in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Construction Services, Real Estate Development, and Related Industries.

Another Planet Entertainment is partnering with Bay Properties, Inc., owners of the Castro Theatre,  on an evolution and preservation of San Francisco’s world-renowned entertainment and LGBTQ community landmark. With a long-standing history of working to preserve and improve historic buildings such as the Fox Theater in Oakland, the Greek Theatre in Berkeley and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Another Planet seeks to enhance the Castro Theatre by implementing significant improvements to the sound, lighting, production, HVAC and the theatre’s trademark marquee, among other facets of the building: all of this, always, with an eye to honoring its unique place in the lives of the Castro and celebrating its communities and residents.

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

Hotel Council of San Francisco 6^th Annual “Women in Leadership” Forum

Friday, May 13 at Fairmont San Francisco

Resilience, Rebuilding & Reinventing

Keynote Address by Toni Atkins, California Senate President Pro Tempore

22 March 2021— San Francisco, CA: “Don’t listen to the voice that says you can’t,” said Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. “Listen to the voice inside yourself that says I can.”  With the inspiration of such leadership and vision, this year the Hotel Council of San Francisco’s Women in Leadership Forum returns, live-and-in-person, for the first time in two years: Friday, May 13 (8am – 1pm) at the Fairmont San Francisco. Sponsored by Alaska Airlines, the event features a “who’s who” of California leaders from the world of hospitality, health, government, and education, all speaking to this year’s theme of Resilience, Rebuilding and Reinventing. The day begins at 8am with breakfast and networking followed by panel discussions from 9am – 11am then culminating with a lunchtime keynote from California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins.  Registration is available online at https://hotelcouncilsf.org/events/ .  Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences with the hashtags #BreaktheBias, #IWM2022, #WILSF2022

“Our program was created to encourage and support women to grow into leadership positions,” said Kelly Powers, Director of The Hotel Council.  “Women, and especially women of color, are underrepresented in corporate and government management positions at a time when diverse work teams are proven to be more successful.”

The conference includes discussions on the value of a diverse workforce, gender pay equity and how COVID has impacted women’s work and personal lives. The impressive lineup of speakers at this year’s Women in Leadership Forum is designed to inspire all attendees, women and men, by being together and hearing compelling stories from our panelists and speakers.

The event will kick-off with welcome remarks by Malia Cohen, Chair of the California Board of Equalization. Following her lunchtime keynote, Atkins will take part in a live dialogue with Melinda Yee Franklin of J.P. Morgan Chase. Featured panelists are:
Resilience / Heroes of COVID Panel:
Dr. Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at UCSF
Elizabeth McCusker– Emergency Room R.N
Dr. Susan Phillip, San Francisco Public Health Officer
Janet Reilly, Co-Founder / Board Chair for Clinic by the Bay
Grace Vedad, San Francisco Fire Department, Paramedic

Rebuilding / Advocacy Leaders for Tourism Panel:
Amy Arbuckle, Hotel Council Chair
Carmen Chu, San Francisco City Administrator
Barb Newton, President & CEO CalTravel
Keri Robinson, Marriott International
Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines

Reinventing / Positive Lessons We’ve Learned Panel:
Joanne Desmond, I.A.T.S.I Local 16
Papia Gambelin, United Airlines
Ann Goggins, Westin St. Francis Hotel
Ceylan Karsli, Expedia Group
Jhonae Mazique, Harbor Court Hotel
Stephanie Thomas, Hyatt Regency Hotel

“The strength and power of women leaders continues to inspire me every day, Kevin Carroll, Hotel Council President and “During the last two years of unprecedented challenge, women leaders have truly shown us how to survive and thrive as we move beyond COVID.”

Presenting sponsor for the 6^th Annual Women in Leadership is Alaska Airlines with additional support from partner sponsors Expedia, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Clearway Community Energy, ( Add) Recology, United Airlines , Local 16, Add and Visa.  Supporting sponsors include Athleta, The Bay Club, The Fairmont San Francisco, The Golden State Warriors, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) & San Francisco Travel.  Media Sponsor is the San Francisco Business Times

Attendees at the day’s event will have an opportunity to win two free roundtrip tickets from Alaska Airlines: no blackout days, destinations are anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. Winners must be present to win.

The Hotel Council of San Francisco is a non-profit membership-based organization advocating for the economic and social vitality of the hospitality industry in San Francisco. With a membership roster of over 200 hotels, allied members, and partner organizations, the Council is dedicated to protecting the San Francisco hospitality industry and connecting its members to support its growth and success.