Sonoma

Sonoma International Film Festival 2025: A Celebration of Global Cinema and Culinary Delights

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Sonoma, Calif. – The Sonoma International Film Festival, an annual celebration uniting film, food, and wine enthusiasts from around the globe, concluded its vibrant five-day run on March 23. Spread across various venues in California’s picturesque wine country, the festival, now in its 28th year, showcased 93 films from 21 countries. The festival kicked off on March 19 with the world premiere of “Sweet Störy,” a documentary about a captivating café in Sweden, directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude. The centerpiece of the festival was the drama “On Swift Horses,” presented by Sony … Read more

Sonoma Hit-and-Run Leaves Pedestrian Seriously Injured; Suspect in Custody

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Sonoma, CA — A pedestrian suffered severe injuries after being struck by a fleeing vehicle in Sonoma late Friday evening, triggering a police search that culminated in an arrest the following day. The incident, which took place near the intersection of Leveroni Road and Fryer Creek Drive around 9:00 p.m., involved a local resident, Richard Ebert, who was walking along the roadway. Authorities reported that after hitting Ebert, the driver left the scene without stopping to offer help. California Highway Patrol officers launched an investigation immediately following the accident. Their efforts led to the apprehension … Read more

Sonoma County Trial Spurs Community Action on Reporting Abuse: A Call for Awareness and Change

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Santa Rosa, Calif. — In a recent Sonoma County criminal trial, jurors dealt with particularly disturbing allegations of child abuse. Steve Share, the jury foreman, witnessed firsthand the conviction of Jose Centeno on multiple counts of torture and abuse toward his three adopted children. The trial culminated in Centeno receiving six consecutive life sentences, an outcome described as unprecedented by Superior Court Judge Troye Shaffer. Share, deeply affected by the case, has since prioritized advocating for systemic change to prevent such atrocities. His concerns are underscored by the fact that Centeno’s wife, Gina, who was … Read more

Groundbreaking Sudanese Drama ‘Goodbye Julia’ Takes Top Prize at Sonoma International Film Festival

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Sonoma, California – “Goodbye Julia,” a Sudanese drama by director Mohamed Kordofani, emerged as the winner of the grand jury award for best narrative feature at the 27th Sonoma International Film Festival. The film tells the story of two women who form an unlikely bond, capturing the attention of the festival’s jurors. Meanwhile, Vanessa Hope’s documentary “Invisible Nation,” which explores the challenges faced by Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, claimed the top jury award in the documentary category. These films stood out among 107 films from over 25 countries that were showcased at the … Read more