About Dance Film SF and the San Francisco Dance Film Festival
Dance Film SF
Founded in 2010, Dance Film SF (DFSF) is a nonprofit organization bringing dance to new audiences through the presentation and development of dance-based media. Along with the annual presentation of its award-winning San Francisco Dance Film Festival, DFSF’s year-round activities include special screenings, panels, and filmmaking workshops. DFSF also produces original dance films through its Co-Laboratory program, matching top choreographers with professional filmmakers and creating the time, space, and budget for them to collaborate.
San Francisco Dance Film Festival
From in-depth feature documentaries to engaging shorts programs, the San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) offers something for diehard dance fans and newcomers alike. Since its first iteration in 2010, the Festival has secured a solid place on the international scene, drawing a vibrant and diverse range of participants from all over the world. SFDFF offers a rare place where independent artists can celebrate their achievements and inspire each other as a unified community. It also serves to introduce dance to those who don’t typically attend live performances, and showcases new international talent before it reaches the Bay Area through traditional venues.
SFDFF is a proud recipient of a Special Award Honoree for the 2016 Isadora Duncan Dance Awards. The Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, known locally as the “Izzies,” are awarded annually to acknowledge exceptional creative achievements in the performance and presentation of dance.
Organizational Values & Goals
ADVANCING DANCE FILM AND MEDIA
As experts in the field, Dance Film SF provides invaluable industry guidance and inspires audiences through the captivating mediums of dance film and media. We share impactful storytelling that amplifies underrepresented voices, ensuring diverse perspectives are witnessed and celebrated. Through the presentation of cutting-edge programming, including marquee events like the San Francisco Dance Film Festival and our Co-Laboratory programs, we highlight innovative contributions to the dance world. With these initiatives, we aim to raise the profiles of outstanding dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, and other dance-centered artists.
EDUCATION
Dance Film SF is dedicated to creating professional development opportunities for dance-centered artists in film and media at every stage of their careers. Our initiatives include hosting workshops, Q&As, and panels designed to educate the general public about socially and culturally relevant issues. Additionally, we facilitate meaningful, accessible educational programming for youth and underserved communities, connecting art to broader audiences while fostering inclusive learning environments.
CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
Dance Film SF is committed to creating spaces that bring people together, fostering networking and matchmaking opportunities that build artistic, professional, and mutually supportive relationships within the field. This focus includes sharing resources and promoting JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles, ensuring that all voices are represented and empowered. By connecting under-resourced cultural practitioners, artists, and organizations, we provide valuable opportunities for them to showcase their work and amplify their impact, thereby enriching the greater cultural landscape.
Support Our Work
Your support plays a crucial role in fulfilling our mission as one of the world’s most respected dance film festivals; to support, develop, and present a diverse range of programs that push the limits of dance and film; and offer a platform for exceptional artists from across the globe to captivate audiences. Dance Film SF, producer of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival, is a registered tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization.