Meg Ryan brings her new film to the Sonoma International Film FestivalMeg Ryan brings her new film to the Sonoma International Film Festival

With more than 100 films from around the world screening at six downtown Sonoma venues, the 19th annual Sonoma International Film Festival promises to live up to its name.

“We are expecting over 200 filmmakers,” said Kevin McNeely, the festival’s executive director. “So far they represent 14 countries, but we have films representing 22 countries, from the Middle East to Russia to China to South America.”

The festival also will feature? a personal appearance by film ?star Meg Ryan, making her directorial debut with “Ithaca,”?a drama with a cast that includes Jack Quaid, Ryan’s son with her former husband, actor Dennis Quaid; and Tom Hanks, ?Ryan’s co-star in “Joe Vs. ?the Volcano,” “You’ve Got Mail” and “Sleepless in ?Seattle.”

“‘Ithaca’ is a slice-of-life period piece, set in the ‘40s,” McNeely said. “It’s about a messenger, a young boy, who has to deliver for the War Department these messages about fallen soldiers.”

The film will be shown at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma, followed by a question-and-answer session with Ryan, when the actress will be presented with the festival’s honorary Sonoma Salute Award.

Billionaire philanthropist, arts patron and composer Gordon Getty is also scheduled to attend the festival for the screening of the documentary “Gordon Getty: There Will Be Music.” It will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, at Sonoma’s Vintage House and again at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Andrews Hall in the Sonoma Community Center.

“It’s about this guy that is considered one of the richest men in the world, and is he a legitimate composer? This film goes into it,” McNeely said. “He and his wife Ann have been big supporters of the arts in San Francisco, particularly the opera and the symphony.”

The festival also features work by local filmmakers, including returning contributor Tim Wetzel’s three-minute short “Sonoma,” which screens as part of an 80-minute program of short documentaries.

It will be shown at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Building and at noon Saturday, April 2, at Andrews Hall.

“How can we not accept a film when it’s called ‘Sonoma?’” McNeely joked. “It’s about all the popular places in Sonoma Valley. It’s got incredible aerial shots.”

The festival schedule includes 57 full-length feature films, both fiction and nonfiction, with the rest of the fest devoted to short films.

“I think people look at us as a launchpad for indie films,” McNeely said. “We’re certainly not a market festival like Cannes or Toronto or Sundance, but we are a festival where a lot filmmakers get a start.”

There are several venue changes this year. The festival’s central “tent city” and hub, named the SIFF Village, has been moved from the Sonoma Plaza to the area adjoining the Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Building. Tents include La Tigre, hosting films in the daytime and live cabaret-style entertainment at night.

La Tigre will be the venue for Spanish-language films that in previous years have been shown at Sonoma Valley’s La Luz Center. This year, a new building is under construction at La Luz.

An Airstream trailer at the SIFF Village, with a full bar, will be available to high-level pass holders. The Village also will include an information booth and more food and beverage options.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.