The Friday Foreign Film Series returns in 2025 with four fantastic films !!!
Chosen as the “Best way to culturally globe-trot on Friday nights” by Diablo Magazine.
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Presented by the San Ramon Arts Foundation, Beau & Bella and Aki Lewis Realty
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This year the series will focus on cinema directed by women with films from
China, India, Japan, and Republic of Kosovo.
Each screening will be followed by a group conversation led by a moderator.
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The Front Row Theater at the Dougherty Station Community Arts Center
17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94582
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Movie starts at 7:00 PM
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Tickets can be purchased at
www.SanRamonPerformingArts.com or call 925.973.3343
Single Tickets: $15.95 (includes ticketing fees)
Season Ticket: $59.68 for all four films (includes ticketing fees)
Sweet Bean (Japan)
February 7
7:00 PM
Directed by Naomi Kawase, this movie tells of an endearing story about a struggling baker who hires a 76 year old woman and was pleasantly surprised how her skill and love for making dorayaki pancakes (a specialty in Japan) helps his business thrive.
Rated PG, 113 minutes Drama/Comedy
Japanese with English subtitles
MONSOON WEDDING (India)
February 21
7:00 PM
As the romantic monsoon rains loom, the extended Verma family reunites from around the globe for a last-minute arranged marriage in New Delhi. Directed by Mira Nair, this film traces five intersecting stories, each navigating different aspects of love as they cross boundaries of class, continent and morality.
Rated R, 114 minutes Comedy/Romance
Hindi with English subtitles
HIVE
(Republic of Kosovo)
7:00 PM
Based on a true story about widows struggling to support their families and had to fight all odds to make a thriving business happen. Directed by Blerta Basholli, the film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in 2021 and became the first film in Sundance history to win all three main awards – the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award and the Directing Award – in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Rated R, 84 minutes Drama/Narrative
Albanian with English subtitles
THE FAREWELL (China)
March 7
7:00 PM
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Billi struggles with her family’s decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time. This is based on the true life story of Lulu Wang, the director of the movie It received widespread acclaim from critics, with particular praise for Wang’s screenplay and the performances of Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen.
Rated PG, 100 minutes Comedy/Drama
Mandarin with English subtitles
THANK YOU to our Presenting Sponsors: Beau & Bella and Aki Lewis Realty
