(BPRW) Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Lands West Coast Premiere as Centerpiece of 69th San Francisco International Film Festival
(Tech Zone Daily) San Francisco, CA — Recently, SFFILM announced the Centerpiece program of the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival with a hometown and West Coast premiere of Boots Riley’s latest feature film, I Love Boosters, at Oakland’s historic movie palace, the Grand Lake Theatre. Award-winning writer/director Boots Riley will be in person for an onstage conversation.
SFFILM’s Executive Director Anne Lai lauded Riley’s talent and Bay Area spirit as central to his work. “Whether music or film, Boots’ larger than life presence and revolutionary perspective emanates through his art. Witnessing and supporting his work up close for years has been a gift. To now celebrate him and I Love Boosters in the home and to the audiences that inspire his audacious imagination and political practice is an incredibly satisfying moment.”
Riley has long been a member of the SFFILM community as a filmmaker, community advocate, and mentor to emerging artists. Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming expanded about the selection of I Love Boosters and welcoming Boots back to the Festival. “It is such a privilege to showcase local talent in our festival lineup,” she said. “SFFILM has a long history of honoring local icons, and this is our third time featuring Boots Riley’s innovative work in the Festival. An honoree with the SFFILM Storytelling Award, a former FilmHouse Resident, and Rainin grantee of SFFILM, Riley’s visionary film Sorry To Bother You was the Festival Centerpiece in 2018, while his hilarious series I’m A Virgo closed the Festival in 2023. I deeply admire Boots and the way he deploys satire and surrealism as astute critiques of capitalism, institutional racism, and economic paradigms. His work is brave, bold, and wildly unexpected. We could not be more thrilled to anchor this year’s festival with the Centerpiece screening of I Love Boosters.”
Filmmaker Boots Riley added, “I’m hyped as hell to bring I Love Boosters to SFFILM since they were the first organization to recognize me as a filmmaker and to support me in my filmmaking journey. It’s going to be extra special to premiere in my hometown at Grand Lake Theater I’ve been going to since I was a kid. This film is my best work and it’s going to be special to see this movie, which is set in the Bay Area, play here.”
The Centerpiece program takes place on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with two screenings at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. The first screening will start at 6:30 pm followed by a moderated conversation, and the second screening will start at 9:30 pm beginning with a moderated introduction. Tickets wentr on sale exclusively for SFFILM Members on Monday, March 2, and to the general public on Wednesday, March 4. The San Francisco International Film Festival runs from April 24–May 4 in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland. The full program will be announced on April 1.
ABOUT I LOVE BOOSTERS
A fearless crew of inventive young women turns shoplifting into a radical act of defiance. Led by Corvette (Keke Palmer), they move across Oakland, boosting coveted goods as both survival and protest—challenging a system built on exclusion and excess. They even offer a community service, selling their stolen wares at deep discounts to make fashion accessible to all. When their exploits draw unwanted viral attention and their feud with fashion mogul Christine Smith (a hilarious Demi Moore) turns personal, the Boosters plan one final, audacious heist. Joined by unexpected allies wielding supernatural powers and time-bending technology, they discover a chance to ignite revolutionary change. Bursting with eye-popping visuals and razor-sharp social commentary, I Love Boosters is a brash, hilarious, and wholly unexpected joyride of friendship and style. – Jessie Fairbanks
Award-winning writer/director Boots Riley will join for an onstage conversation.
SPONSORS
This Centerpiece presentation of I Love Boosters is made possible with support from NEON.
TICKETS + MEMBER BENEFITS
Tickets went on sale for SFFILM Members on Monday, March 2, at 10 am at sffilm.org. The online box offices opened to the general public on Wednesday, March 4, at 10 am. Ticket prices for General Admission are $35, and $30 for SFFILM Members. Senior, student, and ADA are $32. All tickets are subject to a $1.50 service fee.
VENUE
The Centerpiece program of the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival will take place at the Grand Lake Theatre, a historic movie palace located at 3200 Grand Avenue in Oakland.
To learn more about their accessibility resources, parking, and transit, go to https://www.renaissancerialto.com/
ACCESSIBILITY
SFFILM is committed to providing accessible experiences at all events, whether in-person or online. Event pages will be updated with accessibility information as it becomes available, which may be after tickets go on sale. sffilm.org/accessibility
This screening will take place on the ground floor of the Grand Lake Theatre, which is ADA accessible. The Grand Lake is equipped with closed captioning, audio description, and assisted listening devices. To request ADA accommodations, contact ada@sffilm.org.
For more information about accessibility at specific venues or programs, please visit sffilm.org/accessibility or contact ada@sffilm.org.
About The San Francisco International Film Festival
Since 1957, SFFILM has brought global and independent film to the Bay Area in a gathering of curious and dedicated audiences, filmmakers, and partners at the San Francisco International Film Festival. As the longest-running film festival in the Americas, the program uniquely represents the endurance, and the future of film. At its heart are 11 days of expertly hand-selected films, world-class talent, premieres, early sneak peeks, and captivating talks. The Festival cultivates a vibrant Bay Area film culture with programs including a film industry summit, college days, and a schools program exclusively for local students and educators all focused on the next generation of filmmakers and film lovers. The 69th San Francisco International Film Festival will take place April 24–May 4, 2026.
ABOUT SFFILM
For nearly 70 years, SFFILM has been transforming the world through the creativity and inspiration of film. As the Bay Area’s premier film institution since 1957, SFFILM cultivates an enduring and vibrant film culture, expertly connecting singular storytellers with passionate audiences. With world-class festivals, accessible youth programs, and robust filmmaker support, SFFILM champions cinema as a force for connection, creativity, and change. Our annual film festivals include the San Francisco International Film Festival and Doc Stories. The SFFILM Presents series and Family programming give Bay Area audiences early, exclusive access to film events all year. SFFILM’s youth Education program empowers over 15,000 local students and educators with learning opportunities that foster media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. And, SFFILM propels the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond through vital grants, residencies, and diverse creative development services in our Artist Development initiative.
For more information visit sffilm.org
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