Actress Joan Chen will receive a special tribute at the Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF), where the West Coast premiere of The Wedding Banquet will serve as the grand finale on March 23. The event will honor the longtime San Francisco resident, who has been a prominent figure in the film industry for decades.
The Wedding Banquet, directed by Andrew Ahn, is a highly anticipated reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 breakthrough comedy. The film tells the story of a gay man who arranges a green card marriage with a woman, leading to a complex and humorous situation when his parents, unaware of his sexuality, plan a lavish wedding for the couple.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Chen, Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live, Wicked), Kelly Marie Tran (Raya and the Last Dragon), Youn Yuh-jung (Minari), and South Korean rising star Han Gi-chan.
Chen’s career took off with major roles in The Last Emperor (1987), directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, and the cult classic television series Twin Peaks (1990-91). Her recent performance as a mother in Sean Wang’s Dìdi, shot in Fremont, earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards last month. Chen also served as the grand marshal for San Francisco’s Chinese New Year’s Parade in February.
The SIFF will open with the world premiere of Sweet Störy, a documentary following Oakland chef Meg Ray’s journey to preserve a café on the remote Swedish island of Rödlöga.
This year’s festival will feature a diverse selection of films, including 39 narrative features, 16 documentaries, and 38 short films from over 21 countries. Culinary events will also take center stage, with highlights such as an Italian wine dinner honoring legendary food writer Marcella Hazan and a master class in Japanese cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii.
Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director, expressed excitement over the festival’s growth, stating, “After last year’s record-breaking festival, we’re thrilled to elevate the experience with a lineup of extraordinary films, visionary talent, and an exclusive culinary program. It’s a destination where world-class cinema, fine wine, and gourmet food create an unforgettable cultural experience.”
Additional highlights of the festival include the California premiere of On Swift Horses, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi; The Ballad of Wallis Island, featuring Carey Mulligan; One to One: John & Yoko, a documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono; and the North American premiere of Dreams, which won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival. The festival will also showcase the other two films in Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s trilogy: Love and Sex.
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