Film Fest for Grownups

'Nine Good Teeth,' about a Sicilian American matriarch, is among the featured films. Photo courtesy Pacific Institute

Looking to see older adults as stars on the silver screen? Then the first International Film Festival on Aging in San Francisco is for you.

Organized by the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit group that offers new perspectives on issues of aging, the festival is set for Feb. 20 to 22 and includes more than 20 independent films showcasing older men and women participating vigorously and happily in romance, the arts, work and volunteerism. “Aging doesn’t mean decaying,” says Doris Bersing, CEO of the Pacific Institute.

Can’t make it to the fest? Some of the films are already available on DVD, such as Backseat Bingo, an animated documentary about the romantic lives of older people. See the film list and schedule.

Cathie Gandel is a freelance writer based in Bridgehampton, N.Y.