Film and cannabis lovers will gather May 3-4 for SPLIFF Film Festival at the Victoria Theatre, the oldest theatre house in San Francisco. Artists, filmmakers, animators and stoners have submitted short movies given a maximum 4 minute and 20 second running time limit, pun intended! SPLIFF is a film festival curating sinsemilla-fueled entertainment started by team Dan Savage. Savage’s team also organizes the HUMP! Festival which shares the same goal for sex as SPLIFF does for weed: normalization.
I’m going to make sure to pack my favorite edibles and munchies to get in the mood! Gotta love the encouragement of getting as baked as possible before the show (no on-site consumption will be allowed. Plan to get lifted ahead of time movie-goers!)
Speaking of munchies, I crossed paths with Oakland based artist Gabby La La who co-created participating SPLIFF submission “Candy Sandwich” with Sayuri Kimbell who is currently based out of Portland. The friends create vibrant and psychedelic ASMR crafting and cooking videos in a series called “ASMR with Sayuri and Gabby,” and thought the style would appeal to stoners. “We are really into self-healing and creating an intentional atmosphere for healing and relaxation,” said La La. “There can be fun and healing in the same experience.”
There is a balance of both comedy and seriousness in ASMR. La La and Kimbell love the juxtaposition of the two. ASMR is a whispering art that stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response” and can cause static tingling sensation in some listeners.
They attended the 4/20 SPLIFF showing in Seattle at the packed and sold out SIFF Cinema Egyptian. La La shared, “It was awesome to see it on the big screen since we only watched it on our computer or phones and to witness everyone’s reactions,” she added, “It was affirming to see how far we have come by being [part of a] real film festival.”
Since mid-April, SPLIFF has made pipe dreams a reality having premied in six legal cities. Out of 250 submissions, 24 short stoner flicks, including La La and Kimbell’s, have made a debut during the competition. Audience members receive paper ballots upon entry to cast their votes in the following categories: stupidest, trippiest, funniest and best in show. SPLIFF’s subjects cover a wide-spectrum of themes and all attendees must be 21+. The classic Victoria Theatre’s legacy boasts many film festivals. As we transition into legal cannabis, people could plan to supplement SPLIFF with a classy pre-show experience.
Why not go to a local connoisseur lounge in Downtown San Francisco, follow those munchies with a bite at a delicious Mission District eatery and then cruise down to the cinema on a sunset walk? Maybe you’ll be inspired to make a movie about it!
SPLIFF Film Festival:
Friday, May 3; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4; 7 p.m.
Victoria Theatre
2961 16th Street
Admission: $20
415-863-7576 or splifffilmfest.com
On public transportation one could take BART to 16th Street, the movie house is directly across the street.
MOVIE SUMMARIES PROVIDED BY SPLIFF WEBSITE
- O.P.E.
In this mid-90’s PSA, Billy and Charlie learn the hard way that even a single puff of marijuana will turn you into a crazy violent pervert. Not one puff ever! - Bloom
Flaming blunts, raging bowls, hot dabs. This is the sexiest smoke porn you’ve ever seen. - Fully Froggo
A frog eats too many gummies. Or does he? - Witch Weed
An expert stoner finds the ultimate high. Beware of the Devil’s lettuce. - Green
A magical trip to the bodega thanks to some green. - Bibbel the Dwarf Dwarf
One person. One peanut. One backyard. Only one can win. - BBHMM Blunt
An instructional video on how to roll a magical “Bitch Better Have My Money” blunt, in the style of Rihanna’s famous Fenty Beauty makeup tutorials. - Corporate Coitus
A Dada-inspired visual and aural collage made up of disembodied heads, colorful circles, and ominous eyes. - Grandpa Joe
So what if your new houseguest has a tiny green face, a cute lil astronaut helmet, and a motherfucking spaceship? He’s definitely NOT AN ALIEN. He’s just GRANDPA JOE! - Leaffolder House
A dealer must go deep in the woods to deliver the goods. But at the end of his journey is a hit that might be too intense for him to handle. - Harsh Tokes & Bong Jokes
A punk rock love letter to growing up, smoking weed at beaches, light-night parties, learning how to kiss, and how you shouldn’t mix liquor with weed. - Good Game Bud
Two dudes, a couch, and one game of spliff Jenga. - Smokescreen
When Olivia’s date takes a turn for the mediocre, she gets stoned and ends up trapped in the reality of online dating. - Hands
A spaced-out, bizarre ode to hands. - Kevin’s Proclamation
He’s Kevin, and he’s got something to proclaim. - Candy Sandwich
ASMR Crafting with Sayuri and Gabby La La make a fancy sandwich! - The Girl Who Couldn’t…
A mockumentary trailer about a girl who is struck with a tragic disorder and the devastating impact it has on those closest to her. - Switch Hitter Haze
Wyatt has a crush on his roommate Connor, who is very cute and very straight. When their dealer brings over a mysterious strain of weed, things that were fixed become fluid—and none of them will ever be the same. - Munchies Massacre
A bag of Doritos and Oreos commiserate over all the friends they’ve lost to late-night snacking when—Oh no! Run! Get out of the cupboard while you still can! The stoner’s got the munchies again! - Weed Art Process
This is the story of a magic seed. Through pure art, the seed frees the power of imagination. - Bagel Bite Fright Night
Stoned and alone, two women get caught in a 90s slasher nightmare when they experience a home invasion by a slew of celeb sex offenders. Or do they? - BOOBatary
Sometimes boobs have minds of their own. - You Wanna Order Pizza?
Two epically stoned Australians attempt to order a pizza. If only they could order pizza with their minds! Oh wait… can they? - Joint Heights
In this adorable stop motion animated film, joints do yoga, thrash to heavy metal music, and fuck in the afternoon. A candid look at how cannabis is a part of day-to-day life for the residents of Joint Heights.
Source: SPLIFF Film Festival: Reefer Rules the Screen | DOPE Magazine
