You and a guest are cordially invited to join us in wishing Ken Foster a fond farewell after ten fabulous years as Executive Director of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. There will be testimonials from friends and colleagues, entertainment from some of our favorite local artists, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, loads of laughs, a few tears, and a surprise or two.

Jean Cocteau’s neo-romantic film La Belle et la Bête broke cinematic ground when it premiered in 1946. Its allegorical story, poetically evocative script and stunning visual effects established the work as a masterpiece of mid-century filmmaking. Philip Glass achieved a master stroke with his score for the film, bringing it to arresting new life for new generations of film-goers and music lovers.

*Special post-performance Q&A with Philip Glass at select concerts. Details coming soon.

Photo: Janus Films

Philip Glass in Conversation

Join us for a conversation with Philip Glass and Brad Rosenstein on Saturday, May 25, 6-7pm in the Lam Research Theater at YBCA. Mr. Glass discusses his works that will be performed in San Francisco (La Belle et La Bête, May 23-25 at YBCA and Koyaanisqatsi, May 26 at Davies Symphony Hall) as well as the culmination of his 75th birthday season.

Those who also have tickets to that evening’s performance of La Belle et La Bête will be asked to exit & re-enter the hall with that evening’s performance tickets (after the conversation and prior to the performance).

This event is on sale now to current Philip Glass La Belle et La Bête and Koyaanisqatsi ticket holders. It is on sale to the general public on May 10.

Photo: Raymond Meier

Join your fellow YOUers at CounterPulse for Performance Research Experiment #2, a work by Jess Curtis, French/German artist Jörg Müller, and Iranian neuroscientist Ida Mommenejad, which asks, “What can a performance make you feel (and how)?” The work investigates the effect of live art on the human body, colliding performance events into a scientific experiment. (Gather at 7:30pm the CounterPulse lobby.) More details »

Yellow Line by Teruo Ishii, 2 PM An exotic dancer is kidnapped by a killer on the run. When her newspaper reporter boyfriend finds her missing, he starts a search that leads him to Kobe and its teeming foreign “kasbah.” In this film, more than any other in his Shintoho period, director Ishii was able to create his own unique atmosphere, somewhere on the borderland between dream and reality, where the forbidden and unlawful thrill and threaten in equal measure. (1960, 70 min, digital)

Revenge of the Pearl Queen by Toshio Shimura, 3:30 PM When Shintoho's voluptuous new discovery Michiko Maeda undressed for Revenge of the Pearl Queen, she hit the screens with a seismic force and a new star was born. Not only that, a new genre was born—the female pearl diver film. The film’s central plotline is based on the true story of 19 Japanese men who were discovered on Anatahan, in the Marianas Islands, in 1951. Refusing to accept Japan’s defeat in the Pacific War, they had been scraping out a bare existence while scheming and fighting over the one woman in their midst. In this version, Maeda’s Natsuki becomes embroiled in a robbery and murder plot, falls off a ship to escape a would-be rapist, and finds herself a castaway among a crew of hungry-eyed men. When she discovers enough pearls to make a fortune, she sets in motion a scheme to trap the criminals who sent her overboard. (1956, 90 min, digital) More details »

The new film by maverick Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas is his most personal and challenging work to date. Post Tenebras Lux (“After darkness, light” in Latin) is a disorienting, kaleidoscopic, and visually stunning vision of a family torn between compassion and violence. It completely divided audiences at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where Reygadas was awarded Best Director. (2012, 120 min, DCP) More details »

Starring superstar Nora Aunor, Himala is the story of Elsa, a young woman whose visions of the Virgin Mary create hysteria in a poor, isolated village. Why are we starting a series called New Filipino Cinema with a film from 1982? First, Himala is unquestionably a masterpiece by one of the Philippines’ greatest directors, yet it remains unknown to most Western audiences. And the film is, in fact, “new” because it’s been digitally restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives from original master materials. Also, film restoration is itself a relatively new concept in the Philippines; countless important works from Filipino film history are in poor condition or have already been lost. Don’t miss this rare opportunity. (1982, 122 min) More details »

The end is near! In this haunting film, residents of a rural village are shocked when the sun rises in the West one morning. According to Islamic belief, this phenomenon signals the Apocalypse or Qiyamah. As the village confronts its secrets and myths, a family reconciles with its own dark past. With striking and stark black-and-white cinematography, Qiyamah comes from southern Mindanao, a region of rising independent film activity. (2012, 95 min) More details »

Florante Aguilar and producer Fides Enriquez in person. After its sold-out screenings at CAAMFest, Harana returns to San Francisco! Upon his father's death, Florante Aguilar (a classically trained guitarist from San Francisco) returns to the Philippines after 12 years of absence. He rediscovers the music of harana—an almost-forgotten tradition of Filipino serenading, when men sang under the window at night to declare their love for a woman. Led by award-winning director Benito Bautista, this riveting film contains a treasure trove of beautiful Filipino music waiting to be rediscovered. Intent on preserving vanishing customs, the film rekindles a connection with the past before it is irrevocably lost. (2012, 104 min) More details »

Tondo, Beloved... is an extraordinary documentary on the subjects of neocolonialism, birth, youth, adulthood, and death in the oldest port district of Manila. It’s an intimate portrait of the cycle of life in the notorious Tondo, a place of extreme poverty and one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The filmmaker (who lived in Tondo over a period of years while making the film) handles this complex subject matter with quiet, delicate grace, never editorializing or exoticizing. She is also co-creator and co-owner of Cinema is Incomplete, a free film-sharing and film conversation project based in Manila. (2012, 74 min) More details »

This daring work from Whammy Alcazaren follows in the grand tradition of Filipino experimental cinema. Alcazaren pieces together a document of grief by combining shards of Filipino history with one man’s emotional journey through space and time. This beautifully shot and scored film evokes a feeling of nostalgia, creating a longing for a time long past that one might not even be familiar with. (2012, 86 min) (2012, 74 min) More details »

Join your fellow YOUers at CounterPulse for an evening of Summer Special shared by Liz Tenuto and Justin Morrison, including works The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn (Uncut) and The Wicked Run Away When No One Is Chasing Them. (Gather at 7:30pm the CounterPulse lobby.) More details »

Director Vincent Sandoval in person. The nuns of Adoration Monastery seek nothing more than to live quiet lives of prayer and servitude. But outside the walls of the monastery lies a country in turmoil, and its violence can’t help but creep inside. The sisters are soon confronted with their sins, bringing their own beliefs into question. Vincent Sandoval delivers a powerful film that uses silence as its main weapon, a deadly quiet filling every scene with gothic dread. (2012, 87 min) More details »

During the American occupation, a young boy in the wilds of Mindoro is given daily doses of cod liver oil, and has his limbs stretched out to make him taller. He suffers these treatments for his parents, who wish him to become the poster boy for their cod liver oil business. Shot in intimate Super 8 film, Big Boy feels like an old home movie, capturing slices of life that expose the strange, unspoken turmoil inherent within the Filipino family as its members strive for a better life. (2012, 89 min) More details »

Beautiful and mysterious, this is the film that swept the 2012 Cinemalaya awards. Mes de Guzman is one of the Philippines’ most gifted directors; last year we presented his very different At the Corner of Heaven and Earth. In Diablo, an old woman who lives alone in a small town is visited by a dark figure every night. Is it the devil, her late husband, or a manifestation of her fears? The film unravels the story of a mother’s love, and her family’s journey to overcome the demons in their lives. (2012, 116 min) More details »

Director Marie Jamora in person. Teenager Gibson Bonifacio does not talk. He stopped speaking years ago after witnessing a terrible tragedy. He returns home from abroad for the holiday, back into a home that can only offer an illusion of family. Rather than deal with his family, he explores the local music scene and runs away into his very first romance. Director Marie Jamora eschews the high-strung dramatics of the typical family drama to reveal different shades of the Filipino family. (2012, 116 min) More details »

The Forum: Conversations at YBCA is a series of moderated conversations with artists, activists, and thought-leaders of national prominence. For our fourth program, YBCA is pleased to welcome Anna Deavere Smith, the MacArthur Award-winning actress, playwright, and educator. Her work has been described as “a blend of theatrical art, social commentary, journalism, and intimate reverie,” combining the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance. More info »

Dingdong Dantes stars as Makoy, who will do whatever it takes to win back his pregnant girlfriend Sonia (Lovi Poe), even though she’s fed up with his womanizing and laziness. But first he must battle a group of townsfolk who are actually man-eating creatures with a taste for fetuses that are still in the womb. They are known as "tiktik," and they’re angry and hungry for revenge. Who will win in this epic battle between men and monsters? (2012, 102 min) More details »

We showcase four emerging women directors in this diverse program of shorts.

Waiting to Whisper (Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong) by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo
In traditional Filipino culture, when a person dies you can whisper and send your wishes to the dead. This bizarre yet touching film depicts a grotesquely dysfunctional family who selfishly await the death of a relative. (2012, 17 min)

Aurora, My Aurora by Janus Victoria
A poetic meditation on random human connections set against the discordant urban rhythms of Manila. (2012, 15 min)

Vow of Silence (Imik) by Anna Isabelle Matutina
Starring the gifted young actress Mercedes Cabral, Imik examines the complexities of sexual relationships in an extremely patriarchal society. (2012, 40 min)

Last Strike (Katapusang Labok) by Aiess Alonso
With stunning imagery bathed in glorious light, the film portrays a fishing community north of Cebu who struggle to survive despite the devastation caused by coral harvesting. (2012, 20 min) More details »

YOUers are invited to experience YBCA’s New Filipino Cinema film series with an afternoon of discussion, food, and film! We’ll attend a panel discussion on the subject of Filipino cinema, enjoy Filipino refreshments with visiting directors, and attend the U.S. premiere of Kalayaan together in the screening room. More details »

Julian, a soldier stationed in the disputed, isolated Spratly Islands has completed his three months of service and is ready to leave. News of a pending coup in Manila forces him to stay on the island until further notice. He spends his days walking on the beach, cleaning his rifle, watching porn, doing anything to overcome boredom and loneliness. But someone is watching him... and his only options for survival are to cope with reality or to lose his own. Kalayaan stars Ananda Everingham, one of Thailand’s most prolific and popular movie stars. (2012, 115 min) More details »

U.S. premiere; Director Arnel Mardoquio in person. Two women, both born into conflict, attempt to leave behind their life as rebels in order to protect a young boy. To do so, they undertake a journey through a war-torn region, avoiding both the U.S. Army and their former comrades. Arnel Mardoquio paints a vivid portrait of life during wartime. This intensely quiet film strips away the noise of the conflict to reveal the modest dreams of those caught in between. (2012, 117 min) More details »

On the beaches of Kenya they‘re known as “Sugar Mamas,” European women who seek out African boys selling love to earn a living. In this raunchy, explicit film about a lesser-known type of sex tourism, Teresa, a 50-year-old Austrian, travels to this vacation paradise. She goes from one sexy beach boy to the next, from one disappointment to another, and finally she must recognize: in this world, love is a business. (2012, 120 min, DCP) More details »

The 35th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
The World United Through Dance


We celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival with a series of thrilling and inspiring performances honoring cultural legacies and highlighting the vibrancy of the Bay Area's world dance community.

Named as the 2012 "Most Valuable Player" in dance by the San Francisco Chronicle, this year's Festival features dances from Bali, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Congo, Egypt, Haiti, Hawai'i, India, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, the Middle East, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Senegal, Spain, Tibet, and the continental US. Each weekend's program is different, and includes innovative works by masterful dancers and numerous cross-cultural collaborations.

Weekends two, three and four of the Festival are at YBCA's Lam Theater. For more information about our opening weekend and other Festival events, click here.

Support the San Francisco Ethnic Festival with your donation today. More details »

Photo: RJ Muna, Pictured: Urban Jazz Dance Company

For Anna Maria, a single woman in her 50s, paradise lies with Jesus. She devotes her summer vacation to missionary work so that Austria may return to the path of virtue. On her daily pilgrimage through Vienna, she goes from door to door, carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary. After years of absence, Anna Maria’s estranged husband—an Egyptian Muslim confined to a wheelchair—comes home, and her life goes completely off the rails. (2012, 113 min, DCP) More details »

YOUers join brilliant editors Andi Mudd and Isaac Fitzgerald of McSweeney’s for this summer book club! June’s book club selection is Adam Johnson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Orphan Master’s Son. More details »

YBCA Community Engagement Artist-in-Residence Chris Vargas will host a YBCA:You exclusive slide show presentation for the imminent opening of MOTHA—Museum of Transgender Hirstory & Art, an as-of-yet unrealized arts and hirstory institution in the Bay Area. More details »

The third film in the trilogy tells the story of Melanie, an overweight 13-year-old, and her first love. While her mother, Teresa, travels to Kenya (Paradise: Love), and her aunt (Paradise: Faith) does missionary work for Jesus, the teenager spends her summer vacation with other adolescents in a strict diet camp in the Austrian countryside. Between sports, nutritional counseling, pillow fights, and a pathetic night out at the disco, she falls in love with the camp director, a doctor 40 years her senior. (2013, 91 min, DCP) More details »

Celebrate the opening of Migrating Identities with a night of exhilarating music and performance that embodies the exhibition’s themes of global mobility and cultural convergence. More details »

Post:Ballet presents Four Plays

Post:Ballet is turning heads with consistently daring collaborations that are “sophisticated and anything but risk averse” (San Francisco Chronicle). The company’s fourth season program boasts an ambitious World Premiere collaboration between choreographer/director Robert Dekkers and Bay Area architect Robert Gilson. The artists are teaming up with critically acclaimed violinist and composer Matthew Pierce, who will perform his new score live with accompanying violinists, to collectively design a work which gives the collaborators and dancers opportunities to make choices in real time during the show and influence the direction of the piece. Also back by popular demand is Colouring, featuring visual artist Enrique Quintero, photographer Natalia Perez, and an original score performed live by Daniel Berkman. For more information, visit postballet.org.

Special events:
Thursday, July 18: Post-Performance Talk with Robert Dekkers and the 2013 dance artists and collaborators. Ticket holders to either performance are invited to this special event at no extra charge.
Friday, July 19: Kick back and Post:Party with our dance artists and collaborators. Patrons who purchase a party price ticket for either performance are invited to join us on July 19 at 9:30pm in the Terrace Lobby for our annual Post:Party reception.*

*Patrons who purchase the party price ticket for the July 18 performance are asked to retain their performance ticket for admission to the Post:Party on July 19.

Photo: Tricia Cronin

The California Chinese Orchestra presents
Twilight 2013
20th Annual Chinese Music Fundraising Concert
Tickets: $50, $30, $15
Students, seniors, and YBCA members: 10% discount
To buy tickets please contact: Ng Hing Bookstore (415) 781-8330

This exciting concert features traditional Chinese music and Cantonese Operas performed by the California Chinese Orchestra and the Cantonese Opera Troupe. All proceeds will support the Orchestra's “Passing the Lineage” music education program. Through this program, the Orchestra offers low-cost Chinese music lessons to children and low-income adults.

This concert is sponsored in part by grants from Wells Fargo Foundation and Hop Wo Benevolent Association.

Photo: Louis Sun