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In a stunning new partnership, SFFILM has announced a strong collaboration with Bay Area icon Maria Manetti Shrem, who is best known for her dedicated philanthropy and advocacy for the international and local arts scene. Her efforts and mark in the area will now be recognized with SFFILM's renaming of the SFFILM Award for Acting as the Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting.
This award will be inaugurated at the SFFILM Awards Night on Monday December 5th at the YBCA Forum.
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Maria Manetti Shrem came to San Francisco in 1972 and has since been an integral part of both local and global history in the fashion and art spheres. Having helped launch iconic brands such as Gucci, Fendi, and Mark Cross, Maria also powerfully created the Villa Mille Rose estate in Napa Valley in the 1980s, which has hosted Sophia Loren, Kamala Harris, and so many more.
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The Manetti Shrems are also co-founders of their own Museum of Art at UC Davis, which opened in 2016. Maria's connection to her Italian heritage has remained an important aspect of her life, which she has strived to retain as an award-winning cultural ambassador.
Most recently Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem received “The Angels of the Arts Award" at Festival Napa Valley in the summer of 2022, which June 22 being announced as Manetti Shrem Day by San Francisco Mayor London Breed as a day to honor philanthropy.
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SFFILM's award renaming is the culmination of Maria's life work, from fashion, to charity, culture, and art. This Award for Acting has been active since 1996, and has been bestowed upon A-list legends such as Glenn Close, Adam Driver, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Robin Williams, and Jeremy Irons.
The SFFILM Awards Night will be the first to see this new award in action, which is an annual fundraiser that also celebrates the year's achievements in trailblazing filmmaking, compelling storytelling, and more.
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When asked about how she felt about the award specifically and her love for the festival, Maria elucidated, "Last year, during the SFFILM’s Awards Night, I realized that this very specific award didn’t have a supporting name yet. So, I thought I had a chance to contribute to one of the oldest festivals in the Nation, and specifically the film festival of my city, San Francisco, adding my name to such a special job."
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Maria's committed dedication and remarkably visionary efforts will truly be honored at the SFFILM Awards Night December 5th, with her name and local legendary status continuing to be remembered alongside the magical triumphs of modern cinema.
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Photography by: J. Henry Fair
