Bay's Best Film Festival day 1 of 5 | BraveMaker Film Festival 2026 SF Bay Area Film Events

I'm in Redwood City and it's time for the film festival. It's Wednesday, July 8th, 2026. But I want to give you a tour of Redwood City of where all of the events happen. I might even go to the bars as well where people can hang out if they want to. They're like listed in the program. When I say everything is walkable, it really is. Here is the entire map of everything. Most things are on Broadway. So, behind me is the Courthouse Square where there's a free screening. And then across the street from that is the Fox Theater. So, we're just going to go down Broadway, which is this street right here. That's the courthouse. And that is Broadway. And look at what's here. Cinear as well as Konasuk is right over there. and timber and salt. This block isn't even that long. It might take you like 30 to 45 seconds to walk between the theater to Konasukad or Timber and Salt. There's a lot of stuff going on right now. Let's [snorts] get back on Broadway. Here is the Oyster Bar and Grill. Ocean Oyster Bar and Grill. And this is where there's going to be a little reception for filmmakers and people with all access passes. The all access pass this year was $600. And yes, I think it's worth it because especially if you're going to be here for a lot of events, but also usually it gets you into things that might not even be on the program like in the physical program just because they might add things last minute or they just have secret things that they don't want as many people to go to. So today there's going to be um unlimited tacos there for filmmakers and all access passh holders. And then we're just still walking down Broadway and there's going to be a couple of places over there including the headquarters that we're going to look at. Now we're at the part of Broadway that is all pedestrian. So we were just in that corner right there. That's where the ocean bar was at. But now this Oh, I guess it's two blocks cuz it's this block behind me and this block are all pedestrian. And here's the next place, Cordomos. There's a party tonight at Cordomos with I think drinks and desserts. It's a pizzeria and they are so nice in there. The outside seating and the inside seating is super cute and vibby. Great place to like sit down and eat and just have some fresh air cuz most of the day we're inside at the festival. Great meatballs, great pizza. Cardamomos, a couple doors down, Nighthawk, which I believe they close at like 2:00 a.m. So, this is a place where when there's no parties, you can come here and potentially find a filmmaker. And then right next door is Mazda, which there's a few restaurants on the flyer where you can get 10% off, and Mazra is one of them. There's so many things on Broadway. Okay, I'm going to go stand in the middle of the street. Still look around because bikes can come. So, Nighthawk, Mazra, the headquarters right here, and then coffee bar, which there's a mixer every almost every morning, I think. Um, Thursday to Sunday, there's mixers here. So, we're going to be coming here a lot as long as I wake up early enough. I'm sure I will. Um, cute coffee shop. Let's Let's go inside really quick. Here's the headquarters. And this year, they have seating outside. You can see a little table there. and we can go inside really quick, but I'm pretty sure that they're not completely set up yet. Maybe we'll do another tour once they're completely set up. Some merch. I already have one. This is where a lot of the panels, workshops are going to happen. And there's Tony. Um, and just a bunch of volunteers setting up the headquarters, which you can come here pretty much anytime just to Hi. just to hang out. Step and repeat. And there is a sink right there as well as a bathroom in the back. Okay, so right next door to the headquarters. Oh my gosh. Also, look it. I'm on the poster. Me and Nicole are on the poster and you know so many other amazing people. Right next door, well almost next door, but on the corner is the Center for Creativity, the Sequoia Hotel. >> There are going to be some workshops and panels in here as well. Center for Creativity is right behind me. And then there's a Hamburg House over here, which I do not believe there's any official events happening there anymore, but it is a great place again to run into filmmakers and just get drinks. And we're on Main Street, which is this is the only venue on Main Street uh for the festival. Oh, yeah. And the World Cup, if you're still watching, they'll have it in here. Since I'm on Main Street, I'm just going to keep walking down opposite of uh Broadway because behind us over there is Middlefield, which is where the library is. No events are here, but Ghostwood Kitchen. Um that's where Breathe Maker hosts their monthly mixers and it is on Main Street. I might be coming there for some food cuz I've had their food before and it's pretty good. We're still walking down um Main Street towards Middlefield and then we're we're and then we're going to take a right and the library is going to be right there. So there's the library on Middlefield. There are a few shortcuts. So there's actually a parking lot right here that you can just cut straight through and then you get back to Broadway where the headquarters are. So I could have done that, but since I wanted to show you Main Street, I came this way. The closest thing to the library is the Dominique Hoskins Black History Museum. So we're going to keep walking down Middlefield. this way to get to the Black History Museum. We just did this. We were on Broadway and we looked at the courthouse and the Fox Theater. And then we went down this street adjacent to Middlefield to see all of these places like Cineark and Konasuka. And then we continued down Broadway. I showed you all of these including the headquarters coffee bar. Then we went down Maine to look at Alhambor House and Ghostwood Kitchen, which isn't on this map, but it is in the discounts. and then the library. And now we're gonna go to the Black History Museum and that'll be our last stop. But you see how walkable it is. I think at first glance, like this might be a little bit confusing, but everything is so close to each other. Even the library and the Black History Museum that are a little bit further. Not really. You know, it's just because it might take like 5 minutes from the headquarters, especially if you know all of the shortcuts. But that's it. That's everywhere we're going to be going to this week from Wednesday all the way till well I'm going home on Monday morning and that is Broadway over there. So this is Jefferson and then if you keep walking that way it'll be Broadway which is where I showed you that most of the um spaces are at. So, that was a museum and the workshop that's going to be there is Saturday. Sorry, it's loud. It's like traffic, but it's going to be Saturday at 4 p.m. and it's called uh it's a panel called Lights, Camera, Legacy, Black Creator Panel. Of course, there's a ton more restaurants and coffee shops. I'm going to try and make it a point to only eat and drink at places that support the festival so that other businesses in the future, if they want to support the festival, they're like more encouraged to, you know. So, actually, right before this, I had lunch at Mazda and I had a I already forgot the name of it. I'll look at my receipt, but it was like a a simple salad and then I added chicken and it was a lot of chicken. It was like a chicken kebab or schwarma. Chicken shwarma. That's what it was. It was delicious. Tangy, a little bit fatty from the chicken. So good. But, um, yeah, I'm almost already back at the Brave Maker headquarters. I'm at Cardamomos right now, which I 100% am going to eat there this weekend at least once because they were super sweet when we were filming the pilot uh called Nonprofiting, which I found out that there's going to be a trailer for it. Um it's a pilot, a TV show pilot that was created by Tony and Brave Maker. And um during the filming for that, Cardamom's donated a bunch of food for the cast and crew. So, I want to as a thank you, [music] I want to go back there and eat and support the business. What do I say every year for the film festival that I love the energy here? I love the people I meet and the films. And obviously, I can't show you the films in my vlog, but I can show you some of those people. So, I'm going to see if people want to chat with me and you can just get an idea of the vibe of the type of people that come to the fest. This is not what I'm gonna wear to the festival today. So, I should go change. Here I am. I don't know if the earrings are too much. I feel like they're fun, but um I'm going to pick up my passes. I haven't picked up my passes yet for everything, the all access pass. So, I am at the headquarters. Terra, what did you just give me? >> Oh, good. >> It's a little um retractable box cutter, a little useful prey for all my bread maker friends. >> Thank you. Yes. I like to, you know, spread the house peace and joy. [laughter] [music] >> I can't. >> And what's your name? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Jesse. >> Jesse. Nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you. I'm a photographer with my video. >> Oh, cool. Oh, you guys are having an event here? >> Yes, we are. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. I got my pass and I'm walking over to Ocean Bar for the little happy hour. I just of course run into so many people that I know and love. It's really cool to be able to talk to people that you trust that are also like your colleagues, your creative friends and people that have experienced more life than you so they can give you advice. Like that's all really great. Anyway, let's head in here into the bar. >> [music] >> Cute. >> Cute. Gabrielli, cut that. [laughter] >> Gabrielli just asked me, "What's my intention for this film festival?" My intention is actually to show the people that I meet because that's one of my favorite things is the energy at the festival. And I feel like I don't usually show it. and you're an example of like a really kind, hardworking person that I met through Brave Baker that we've done then like worked on set together and I want to continue to work on things together. So >> yeah, I love that. >> So cast us. So cast us as sisters. We would love to play sisters. [crying] >> Yes. >> What about you? What's your intention? >> So my role in the film festival is social media uh team lead. So like helping with local media and hosting >> and this year will be my second year in general like going to the film festival and like being the lead and so I think just having fun and taking things as they go not >> taking it to Yeah. Because I mean social media is important but it's still you want to like be able to do it in a happy way not in a stressed way. >> Yeah. Doing it all in love and that includes loving myself and taking care of >> 100%. >> Hi friends, my name is Kevin Hines. I'm a suicide prevention advocate, storyteller, author, and filmmaker. I made the film Suicide: The Ripple Effect, which we're screening tonight at the Brave Maker Film Festival by Tony Gapistone. It's going to be an incredible evening of hope, healing, and recovery from brain pain. I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me. Let's get in there. >> Excited to watch your film. Um, and it is about mental health. Seeing people that are able to create art with things that they've gone through is something that I've just recently experienced. What kind of advice do you have for me so that I can, you know, do it without crying. I'm [laughter] about to um every time I even think about it, >> you know, one of the things I learned a long time ago in doing suicide prevention work, specifically making films about it, writing books about it, making media about it that changes lives, >> is that you have to separate yourself from the people in pain that are around you. >> You have to compartmentalize yourself from what they're going through and what you're going through. >> Yeah. >> There's got to be that delineation. Back in the day when I would speak about this publicly um and hundreds of people would come up to me and tell me their stories, their harrowing, most difficult, most hardship stories ever felt, >> I would break down and I would cry. >> But I would cry. I would feel the feels that they were feeling. >> But then I realized that doesn't serve them. >> Yeah. >> You know, they're there to to unload. And when they're in so much pain, they need you to be strong and steadfast and and sturdy. and I learned to compartmentalize it and then offer hope, healing, a hug, a kind word, uh some wisdom. Um and and it it's been an incredible journey thus far. >> Uh it's it's been a beautiful experience making these films about suicide prevention, a very tough topic, >> but we make them with a lot of heart and a lot of hope. >> And when people walk out of this film, they don't feel pain. They feel enlightened and they feel like they want to go help save a life. Yes. Oh, I love that. Thank you so much. >> So, here I here. >> There you go. >> This is the first year of our eight that we are now 5 days of a film festival. So, we're slowly growing. Welcome to Ralph's vacuum shop formally, now Rave Maker headquarters. I know some people told me, "Can we stop focusing on the fact that it was a a vacuum shop, but it was since 1969, I think, was a vacuum shop up until 2024. It's been empty since 2024. We've been taking it over reluctantly cuz I don't always like that we're here cuz look, there is a bunch of holes. I'm just going to call it out cuz this [laughter] is the story. This is our story. Someday we'll be saying, remember those holes in the wall? Look at the stains. Look at the stains on the floor. We have a leak in the bathroom. There's only one bathroom works. This is independent film making. Sy can you come on up and sort of listen. [applause] She's putting out an album. She also has sung the national anthem of the Warriors. No big deal. Do not think you are going to go to Sundance and sell your film and then they will be set. It's not going to happen. And I don't say that because your films aren't good. I'm saying this about the films that go to Sundance. It takes forever for them to be sold. Often when they are selling, they are not going for any minimum guarantees. There is like there is there's that particular myth because it was such a glorious one is taking a really long time to die and it just breaks my heart every time I talk to a filmmaker and I ask what their plan is and they say, "I'm going to take my film to Sundays and hopefully sell it to Netflix." Netflix hasn't bought any of those films in years. >> I went to NYU film school in the late 90s. graduate film school. Spikeley was my directing teacher. We shot on film. Very few people made movies back then because people did not have access to film. So we went to film school to get access to equipment. >> Fire when you leave here to do good in the world cuz you are the story and great stories change the world. Right. >> Thank you Christina. [applause] We'll hear more from them over 25 days movie. But Kevin, we are going to go on this journey for the next 550 minutes with the ripple effect, which is many one of the the many documentaries that you have made maker crew that's making this happen. You are all beautiful people that I've met today and you're amazing and you've created something so phenomenal here uh in Redwood City. So, thank you. Uh, my name is Kevin Hines and people when they when they when they hear my story tend to focus on the bridge and the fact that I jumped off of it, which I did. Um, but I prayed on the way down that I would live. I had instant regret the moment my hands left the rail and I begged God to save me. >> To your next film called Death Bridge, that is very much about getting nets on the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent this. So, here's the trailer to Death Bridge. >> Some tiramisu from Cardamomos, which is the pizzeria that is right over there that I showed you guys earlier. I love tiramisu. The talk with Kevin Hines was incredible. We got to see the trailer for his new film and we got to see his documentary that was made what like 13 years ago and now there's I thought we were going to go to Cardamomos for this but they brought it to us and then we got somehow I lost it already but we got a drink ticket to Nighthawk to get one complimentary drink. I found my ticket. I found my drink ticket. I don't drink alcohol, but I'll probably still get like a mocktail or >> like a juice if they'll let me get it with this ticket. I want to talk to you about something very serious. >> Can we do it before the right camera rolls so I can know my answers? >> It's already rolling. Okay, >> it's already rolling. Do you have an intention for the film festival? Like every year I try to have something that I want. Like sometimes it's just to have fun. Sometimes it's like meet one person that works in TV so I can audition for them. So, my first intention was to be here all five days from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. Yeah. >> So, that's intention number one. I was able to plan ahead and I'm going to be here all five days soaking in all the experience. Um, I want to meet people. I want to be able to give back if any any way, shape, or form. I'm also volunteering to, you know, just be a part of the experience and soak it in and live the experience. That's my main intention. >> Yeah. And you helped with the headquarters, right? set up, put her posters up and things like that. >> And later I'm going to be interviewing her. >> Okay. >> Uhhuh. [laughter] Cuz you guys want to keep the team. [clears throat] >> And look at our outfits. We're like kind of matching. I It's getting dark, but his shirt is like light pink and I have light pink in my dress. >> Compliment each other, you know. [laughter] >> Thank you. I am feeling like I'm going to go home soon, but first I'm going to go to Nighthawk just for a teeny bit, see what the vibes are, and just say hello. >> I would like for somebody to get their head knocked off. That's it for day one of the festival. I am going home for the night. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning right here. A coffee bar for the mixer. >> [gasps] >> It's not even that late. It's 10:30, but I decided I want to go home um and rest because it's a long festival. So, I got to take it easy. Maybe tomorrow I'll stay up out a little later. Good night. I hope you enjoyed day one of the festival.