Press Release from San Francisco International Film Festival

The 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival is proud to present its "Persistence of Vision" Lifetime Achievement Award to Academy Award–nominee Don Hertzfeldt for his unique contributions to film and animation.  Over a long career, Hertzfeldt has remained fiercely independent and challenged the boundaries of his craft. Past receipients of the POV award include Errol Morris, Guy Maddin, Faith Hubley, and Jan Svankmajer.  At 33, Don Hertzfeldt is the youngest receipient since the award's inception in 1997.

Created traditionally with pen and paper, Hertzfeldt's work commonly features hand-drawn stick figures in stories infused with black humor, surrealism and tragicomedy. He uses antique 16mm or 35mm film cameras to photograph his animation and often employs old-fashioned special effect techniques such as multiple exposures, in-camera mattes and experimental photography. Hertzfeldt often single-handedly produces all aspects of his films, taking years to complete a single short. His animated films have received over one hundred and fifty awards and have been presented around the world - before the age of thirty, his work was already the subject of several career retrospectives.  His filmography includes Lily and Jim, Everything will be OK, Rejected, The Meaning of Life, Billy's Balloon, and I am so proud of you.

Hertzfeldt will be presented with the POV award and participate in an onstage interview during a special screening of his work at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Friday, April 23.  Advance tickets now available for SF Film Society Members at the following link and will go on sale for the general public on April 1.