A sneak peek at Michael Moore's new film

Now in its 23rd year, the Wine County Film Festival is bigger than ever, finishing its four-day run in Sonoma County today (Sept. 20) and moving over to Napa for another week of cinema.

“There are eight venues, four in Sonoma and four in Napa,” said Stephen Ashton, the festival's director and founder. “There are 121 films that take you to 33 countries.”

But perhaps the biggest attraction in the long list of films is American: controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore's newest effort, “Capitalism: A Love Story.”

“We're getting the Michael Moore film right after the Venice and Toronto film festivals and before the New York premiere,” Ashton said.

And Wine Country cinephiles will be intrigued by the new Japanese version of “Sideways,” based on the Oscar-winning 2005 American film about a wine buff and his buddy on a tasting spree. The original was shot on location mostly in northern Santa Barbara County, but the remake comes a bit closer to home.

“This time, they actually manage to get to Napa,” Ashton said.

Ticket prices range from $8 to $125. For information, call 935-3456. For a full festival schedule, see www.winecountryfilmfest.com.

Here are some highlights, in chronological order:

The film: “Capitalism: A Love Story” (2009, U.S.)

The story: Michael Moore's new documentary examines the effects of corporate profiteering. As Moore puts it, “It is the perfect date movie. It's got it all — lust, passion, romance and 14,000 jobs being eliminated every day.”

When: 6:45 and 9 Sunday, Sept. 20

Where: Sonoma Cinemas 2, Fiesta Plaza Shopping Center, Highway 12 at Siesta Way, Boyes Hot Springs

The film: “No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos” (2009, U.S.)

The story: Director James Chressanthis follows the lives of renowned cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond, from their filming of the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary to the present day. As film students they shot footage of the brutal Russian invasion of Budapest and smuggled the film out of the country. They fled to America and settled in Hollywood, where they eventually moved to the forefront as cinematographers of the “American New Wave.” Zsigmond and Chressanthis will appear in person.

When: 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. (Zsigmond also will conduct a master class in cinematography Sept. 27.)

Where: Cuvée Napa, 1650 Soscol Ave., Napa

The film: “Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies” (2009, U.S.)

The story: Directed by Arne Glimcher, produced and narrated by Martin Scorsese, this documentary explores the influence of early cinema on the cubist paintings of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, matching archival footage with classic art.

When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26

Where: Cuvée Napa

The film: “16 to Life,” (2009, U.S.)

The story: Working At an ice cream shop, Kate (Hallee Hirsh) is surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, including disillusioned hippie Louise (Theresa Russell). The screening includes personal appearances by Hirsh and Russell, plus a jazz vocal performance by Russell.

When: 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27

Where: Merlot Hall at Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa

The film: “Sideways,” (2009, Japan)

The story: Two old friends — Michio (Fumio Kohinata) and Daisuke (Katsuhisa Namase) venture out on a weeklong road trip and end up in the Napa Valley. Directed by Japanese-American Cellin Gluck, from a script by Alexander Payne, who directed the first version of the film, starring Paul Giamotti and Thomas Haden Church.

When: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27

Where: Outdoors at Napa Valley Expo

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. See his ARTS blog at http://arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.