If spring is springing in Sonoma County, it must be time for the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival.
This year’s annual event runs March 27-30 in lovely, you guessed it, Sebastopol, and features a great lineup of current doc sensations as well as a tribute to Bay Area husband/wife doc all-stars, Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk. The duo will be feted Wednesday, March 26 before their 2024 films, In Waves and War and The White House Effect (also directed by Pedro Kos), play throughout the festival.
In Waves and War tells the story of decorated Navy SEAL Marcus Capone, who returns home from Afghanistan, only to face the daunting challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. Years of intense combat have left him grappling with treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injury and debilitating depression—conditions that surpass the capabilities of existing government-backed therapies.
With Marcus’ life hanging in the balance, his wife discovers a ray of hope in an unconventional treatment involving two powerful psychedelics, not yet approved in the U.S. but brimming with transformative potential. A compelling story of courage, love and the pursuit of healing against all odds, this is a perfect fit for Sebastopol’s forward thinking, progressive hippy outlook.
Cohen and Shenk’s The White House Effect focuses on the ongoing climate crisis, reflecting on a more hopeful era when scientists, government leaders, corporate executives and the American public collectively recognized this isn’t a political issue but rather, one that affects us all.
Focusing on the presidencies of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the film employs archival footage to explore how the consensus on humanity’s impact on the climate devolved into a deeply divisive and completely avoidable political battle. This is a poignant and very current reminder of lost unity in the face of a global challenge.
When asked about what the film fest means to the community, Sebastopol Center for the Arts (which puts on the event) executive director Serafina Palandech said, “[The festival] brings so much to our town—thought-provoking films, filmmakers from around the world.” She added, “We have filmmakers from Japan, Italy, the East Coast, Los Angeles joining us in Sebastopol, opportunities for connection and compelling conversations, as well as the chance to come together as a community.”
In addition to the connection and conversation, SDFF has always been great about supporting local filmmakers, and this year is no exception. One exciting showing is that of Musica!, the most recent doc from Bay Area documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. If those names ring a bell, it’s because they also directed the fantastic Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice in 2019, as well as seminal queer doc The Celluloid Closet in 1995.
Musica! tells the story of Havana’s renowned Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, where four talented students pursue their musical aspirations despite mounting challenges. While the conservatory holds a storied reputation as Cuba’s premier music school, it grapples with maintaining its instruments and resources.
Hailing from diverse backgrounds, the four share a common determination to hone their craft, even as economic hardships and daily struggles in Cuba test their resolve. Their stories reflect both the enduring power of music and the resilience required to chase dreams in difficult times.
Another locally sourced selection is The 9 Lives Of Barbara Dane, the latest from Oakland based documentarian Maureen Gosling, which will be showing throughout the weekend. The film delves into the extraordinary life of singer-activist Barbara Dane, who passed away in 2024 in Oakland, exploring her pivotal role in 20th-century social movements, her unwavering dedication to music and her relentless pursuit of justice, all while navigating obscurity and adversity.
A portrait designed to fire one up as they rally around resilience and passion, this documentary celebrates Dane’s enduring legacy as both an artist and a changemaker.
Of course, some of the best things about any film festival, aside from the films, are the parties and celebrations that take place throughout. Palandech said the “opening night and the tribute are going to be amazing. We will celebrate the importance of independent documentary film, [which] serves as a powerful tool for truth-telling, social change and artistic expression.”
Taking a more somber tone, she noted, “Unlike mainstream media, independent documentaries often explore underrepresented voices, marginalized communities and pressing global issues with depth and authenticity.”
In addition to the opening night tribute and conviviality, the evening will feature wine from Healdsburg’s Roadhouse Winery and appetizers from chef Jen Johnson, who is renowned for her delicacies at Sebastopol’s Hip Chick Farms, as well as for being invited to cook for President Barack Obama at The White House.
With so much to choose from, we needed a qualified guiding light and reached out again to Palandech for some of her can’t-miss picks. Showings she’s most excited for include:
Meg Shutzer and Brandon Yadegari Moreno’s Mother. Inspired by a longing for the women’s bars of the past, Malia Spanyol set out to create a new gathering place for queer women, leading to the opening of Mother bar in San Francisco. The film delves into Spanyol’s journey and the bar’s evolution, questioning whether such spaces still hold significance for today’s younger queer generation. Through their efforts, the team at Mother crafts a space that feels unexpectedly essential—a haven they didn’t realize they were missing until it came to life.
Democracy Noir, an unfortunately all too timely doc that follows three courageous female activists as they fight to expose the lies and corruption within Hungarian dictator Viktor Orbán’s white nationalist regime. It’s always good to take a peek at who’s influencing our fearful leader and this American carnage while we’re still allowed to.
A less alarming doc Palandech singled out is Robert Clem’s Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me, which chronicles the life and career of lesser known bluesperson Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. She was the first person to record “Hound Dog” and forged her own unique style, defying gender norms in turbulent times.
In addition to those insider picks, one may want to check out the Oscar-nominated Porcelain Wars, as well as more than 25 doc shorts, which can really be a fun way to experience out of the ordinary films.
Individual tickets and passes for the 2025 Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, as well as the opening night party, are on sale now at sebastopolfilmfestival.org or in-person at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St.
