Anita Monga is a film programmer with an excellent international reputation and far-reaching influence. The Chronicle recently reported that she will receive the Mel Novikoff Award at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. This award is given in recognition of someone "whose work has increased the public's awareness and enjoyment of film."

Under Monga, the Castro hosted world-class events, such as the re-release of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy, with the original cast in attendance. Monga was able to persuade MGM to give the restored Yellow Submarine a theatrical release, rather than sending it straight to DVD. After opening at the Castro, the film toured repertory houses in other cities across the country. In addition, she has played a significant role in helping to program archival and other films for many of the Bay Area film festivals. With the assistance of a dedicated staff, Monga continued the legacy of Mel Novikoff who preceded her at the Castro.

Some highlights :

San Francisco premiere of Todd Haynes's Poison

Archival revival of The Bat

World premiere of the Club Foot Orchestra's new soundtrack to Metropolis

New 35mm print of Breathless

Chang, the restored lost masterpiece by the makers of King Kong

A t ribute to Philippine director Lino Brocka

San Francisco premiere of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

Studio vault print of North by Northwest

Benefit premiere of Vegas in Space

Restored version of L'Atalante

Premiere revival of F.W. Murnau and Robert Flaherty's Tabu accompanied by Castro's Mighty Wurlitzer

A tribute to writer/director Billy Wilder

A retrospective of German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger, presented in association with Frameline and the Goethe Institute

The list goes on..