The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle
Honoring excellence in film while uplifting the voices of the Bay Area's vibrant film community.
Honoring excellence in film while uplifting the voices of the Bay Area's vibrant film community.
The Marlon Riggs Award is given annually in honor of the late Bay Area filmmaker and activist Marlon Riggs. This award celebrates courage, innovation, and vision within the Bay Area film community. It recognizes individuals or organizations whose work embodies Riggs' legacy of social engagement, artistic integrity, and a commitment to diverse and inclusive storytelling.
Karen Larsen
Karen Larsen has devoted decades of distinguished service to the San Francisco Bay Area film community, championing independent films and world cinema with unwavering dedication. Through her tireless work as a publicist and advocate, she has elevated countless filmmakers and supported numerous local film festivals, enriching the cultural fabric of the region.
Her enduring commitment to amplifying diverse voices and fostering cinematic discovery exemplifies the spirit of the Marlon Riggs Award. We celebrate her extraordinary contribution by honoring her with this award.
Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, Cori Thomas, and the San Quentin Film Festival
One of the most inspiring film events of 2024 was the first San Quentin Film Festival — a groundbreaking festival held inside the facility and featuring work created by incarcerated men. The festival is the brainchild of Rahsaan "New York" Thomas and Cori Thomas, who together made the impossible possible and achieved something remarkable in every way.
Rahsaan is a filmmaker and award-winning podcaster whose work elevates conversations — much in the spirit of Marlon Riggs — about incarceration, humanity, and artistic expression. Their efforts opened eyes, expanded understanding, and showcased extraordinary talent within the prison walls.
H.P. Mendoza
For being such a Bay Area force and a beacon of creativity, inspiration, and expression. His last film attests to his versatility and deft comedic hand. It's been quite a year for the San Francisco native.
First, H.P. Mendoza transformed his 2021 art installation Attack, Decay, Release (2021) into a moving, raucous multimedia extravaganza melding a feature film with live performance. Then he premiered his latest feature, The Secret Art of Human Flight (2023), at Tribeca and toured with it through the festival circuit, collecting awards along the way.
His first film not made from his own script nevertheless continues his ongoing exploration of the ties that bind.
Phil Tippett
We are pleased to honor longtime Berkeley resident Phil Tippett for Mad God, his 30-years-in-the-making film, and for his legendary contributions to animation and visual effects. As the founder of Tippett Studio, he has kept the craft alive and thriving in the Bay Area.
Rita Moreno
We honor the longtime Berkeley resident's remarkable 2021, in which her Sundance documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (2021) not only summarized an extraordinary career but also addressed issues of mental health and aging. Her moving turn in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (2021) — a work with which she has a long history — further demonstrated her enduring artistic vitality, all in celebration of her 90th birthday.
Dawn Porter
Jimmie Fails and Joe Talbot
Boots Riley
The musician-turned-filmmaker Boots Riley made one of the most distinctive debut features of 2018: the crazy, shot-in-Oakland Sorry to Bother You (2018). The Oakland resident's influence extends throughout the Bay Area and beyond. His film generated big buzz at the Sundance Film Festival, where it debuted this year, and he's developing a new TV series.
Peter Bratt
Joshua Grannell (a.k.a. Peaches Christ)
Lee Tung Foo (a.k.a. Frank Lee)
Joel Shepard
Ryan Coogler
Peter Nicks
National Film Preservation Foundation
Elliot Lavine
In recognition of his two decades of film programming, his revival of rare archival and independent titles, and his role in the renewed popularity of film noir and pre-Production Code features.
Frazer Bradshaw / Barry Jenkins (tie)
Rob Nilsson
Lynn Hershman Leeson
Stephen Salmons — co-founder and artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival
Jenni Olson
Anita Monga -- former programmer for the Castro Theatre
Sam Green