"Joel and Ethan Cohen, the lauded and seemingly inseparable creators of films like ""Raising Arizona,"" ""The Big Lebowsky,"", ""Barton Fink,""and ""Fargo"" will attend SFIFF59 on Saturday, April 30 and screen their 1984 debut film, the neo-noir blood-soaked thriller, ""Blood Simple.""  This was the first film directed by Joel Cohen, produced by Ethan and co-written by the two.  They will appear on stage in conversation with Peter Becker and Jonathan Turell of Janus Films and the Criterion Collection, who will be awarded the Mel Novikoff Award.  Honoring the legendary San Francisco film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922–87), the Novikoff Award is given annually to an individual or institution whose work has enhanced film lovers' knowledge and appreciation of world cinema. Image: Stefano Paltera, courtesy SFFS."
{}