Award-Winning Film about Forgotten “Father of Space Art” is an Official Selection at Sonoma International Film Festival

Sonoma, CA, March 10, 2019 --(PR.com)-- For decades, the breath-taking paintings of Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986) have taken people to planets and galaxies, long before space travel was a reality. Born in San Francisco and a resident of Berkeley and Carmel, California, Mr. Bonestell has been called "The Father of Space Art" and was even a quiet force behind the creation of America's space program. Not everyone has heard of Chesley Bonestell, but on March 28th and March 30th, lucky visitors to the 2019 Sonoma International Film Festival will have the opportunity to learn more about this amazing man when the multiple award-winning documentary Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future screens amidst the festival's celebration of film, food, wine and spirits.

"There isn't an artist that's painting today in the science fiction fantasy field who didn't start with Chesley Bonestell," says legendary science fiction author Ray Bradbury in the film's at http://www.chesleybonestell.com/trailer.html

Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future is the first film ever made about this visionary painter and features exclusive interviews with over 20 people who knew him or were influenced by his art, including four-time Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt, who created the famous "light saber" sound for Star Wars, the voice of E.T, The Extra- Terrestrial as well as the sound designs for Wall-E and the Indiana Jones films. Mr. Burtt will be participating in the March 28th Q&A session immediately following the film's screening.

Chesley Bonestell lived an extraordinary life. He not only survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake but helped rebuild the city afterwards with architect Willis Polk. He worked on landmark structures like the Hobart Building, the Halladie Building and the Filoli Estate. His renderings of the Golden Gate Bridge convinced doubting San Franciscans that it should be built. He also lent his design flair to the Chrysler Building in New York City. His architectural talents created movie magic when he moved to Hollywood to create iconic matte paintings for film classics like Citizen Kane, The Fountainhead, Destination Moon and The War of the Worlds. Mr. Bonestell also demonstrated his artistry as a mixologist, inventing his own personal cocktail called "The Bonestell." He would wryly warn: "Just one and you're finished."

Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future will have two screenings at the 22nd Annual Sonoma International Film Festival. The first screening is scheduled at the Vintage House on March 28th at 3:15pm and individual tickets can be purchased at https://sonomafilmfestival.eventive.org/schedule/5c7819558e42e9001df9c01d for $15.00. The second screening is a non-ticketed event at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art on March 30th at 6:00pm and requires a Festival Pass which can be purchased at this link (http://www.sonomafilmfest.org/page464.html). For more information, please visit this website (http://www.sonomafilmfest.org/film-festival-guide.html) or call the festival directly at (707) 933-2600.

More about the Film:

Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future was named Best Documentary in 2019 at 44th Annual Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and at the 2018 Comic-Con Film Festival in San Diego. The film won a coveted Audience Award at the 2018 Newport Beach Film Festival in the category of Art, Architecture and Design. On April 2, 2019, this award-winning film will be screened at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC as part of a tribute to the Apollo Lunar Program. The film's website is www.chesleybonestell.com