William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe at CALDOCFEST October 2, 2009

OPENING NIGHT
Sophoan Sorn, Founder of the San Joaquin Film Society, and the Society's Board of Directors cordially invite you to the Opening Night CalDocFest. Join us for an extraordinary evening! Featuring complimentary treats, festival preview, special guests, prizes, and surprises!

WILLIAM KUNTSLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE
90 min | USA | 2009 | Documentary Feature
Writer / Director: Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler

- ABOUT THE FILM

In "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, Kunstler fought for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and represented the famed Chicago 8 activists who protested the Vietnam War. When the inmates took over Attica prison, or when the American Indian Movement stood up to the federal government at Wounded Knee, they asked Kunstler to be their lawyer.To his daughters, it seemed that he was at the center of everything important that had ever happened. But when they were growing up, Kunstler represented some of the most reviled members of society, including rapists and assassins. This powerful film not only recounts the historic causes that Kunstler fought for; it also confronts a man that even his own daughters did not always understand, a man who believed that, however unpopular, justice should serve all.

"William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" held its World Premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in January, where it was honored with the L'Oreal Women of Worth Vision Award. It went on to screen and be honored at major international film festivals across America, including Special Mention for the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award at the Full Frame Documentary Festival, runner-up for the Golden Space Needle Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival, and won the Special Jury Prize for Best New Documentary Filmmaker at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.

More info on film: www.sjiff.org/caldocfest/f-universe.html

- ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The San Joaquin Film Society's inaugural California Documentary Festival (CalDocFest): California Central Valley's first international focus on nonfiction cinema. The Festival is dedicated to promoting gifted documentary filmmakers and sharing knowledge and understanding of our world. Experience a vibrant and exhilarating roster of events, featuring new works, new directors, distinguished and award-winning American and international films, a spotlight on California documentarians, creative conversations with guest artists, and educational events. 15 magnificent films, (including significant premieres) along with the presence of directors and luminaries, will light up an exciting and memorable weekend in Stockton!

- ABOUT THE SJFS

The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS) is the benchmark cinema arts organization of Californias 400-mile Central Valley and home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF). The ;;Society celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals and educational programs. For 2009, with a home base in Stockton, California, the Society launched an ambitious and exhilarating year-round program, which includes: The flagship 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (May 14 to 23), San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 16 to 18), California Documentary Festival (October 2 to 4), year-round world cinema series and mini-festivals (Cinema Italia, Jewish Cinema Day, French Cinema Day, Latino Cinema Day), social events and galas, special screenings, a membership program, and educational events. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich, Valley audiences and beyond.

Official Website: www.sjiff.org

Official Website: http://www.sjiff.org/caldocfest/index.html