The KPFK Film Club - The Best Deal in Town for Cinema Fans!

 

What is the KPFK Film Club?

The KPFK Film Club is available to listener-subscribers who, for an annual pledge of $150 to the station, are invited to attend (with a guest) quality, topically diverse films, both contemporary and classic, which we believe will be of interest to the broad range of our listenership.

How do listeners join the Film Club?

Just call our Subscriptions Department at (818) 985-2711, extension 508, during weekday working hours to join the Film Club or make an online pledge of $150 to the station.

How do members find out about screenings?
Screenings are announced regularly on the air, listed online, and by calling the front desk at (818) 985-2711, Dial "0" for Operator, full descriptions and sign-ups are available at the reception desk.

Where are films shown?
Films are shown at various venues throughout the Los Angeles area, including Hollywood, West L.A., Pasadena, Encino, Ventura, Long Beach and Agoura Hills. We hope to expand our range of offerings to accomodate more and more of our Southern California listenership.

How are seats reserved?
By calling the KPFK switchboard -- (818) 985-2711, extension 0 -- during weekday working hours, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, giving your name and Film Club card number to the receptionist at the front desk. If the receptionist is busy, please call back. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A FILM IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO GO - PASSES ARE LIMITED!

CURRENT OFFERINGS NOW PLAYING:

AUGUSTINE is based on a true story about a 19-yr.-old kitchen maid in Belle Epoque Paris, who suffers inexplicable seizures which leave her partially paralyzed.  Shipped off to an all-female psychiatric hospital specializing in the then-fashionable malady of "hysteria", she captures the attention of Dr. Charcot, who uses her as his principal subject, hypnotizing her for is colleagues, in the process blurring the lines between doctor and patient.  Directed by Alice Winocour and starring singer-turned-actress Soko, in a breakout performance, AUGUSTINE is a darly sensual romantic drama of a woman's psycho-sexual awakening against a backdrop of social repression.  AUGUSTINE opens on Friday, May 17th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA, Town Center 5 in Encino and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

GISELLE presented direct from London by the Royal Ballet continues Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series.  One of the most influential romantic ballets of all time about the transcendental power of a woman's love in the face of betrayal.  One of the most technically demanding and emotionally challenging roles in all of classical dance, with Petipa's classic choreography and music by Adolph Adam, GISELLE screens on Sunday morning, May 19th at 10:00 am and once again on Tuesday evening, May 21st at 7:30 pm at Laemmle Theatres throughout Los Angeles.

THE GREAT GATSBY, F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel, is given a bold new treatment by Baz Luhrman, starring Leonardo De Caprio as the mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, with Carey Mulligan as Daisy, his irresisitable love, and Tobey Maguire at Nick, Daisy's cousin who chronicles the quintessential tragic tale of wretched excess and love at the height of the roaring twenties.  Opens on Friday, May 10th at theatres throughout Los Angeles.

MUD stars Matthew McConnaughey as a fugitive who befriends a couple of Arkansas teenagers who help him evade the law as he waits to be reunited with his love (played by Reese Witherspoon). Also starring Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland and Sam Shepard, it is a suspenseful, yet poignant coming-of-age story and snapshot of a region and culture which is rapidly disappearing.  Running AMC Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.

THE SOURCE provides an intimate, insiders' look at the counterculture movement, specifically The Source Family, a radical experiment in '70s Utopian living.  Known for their outlandish style, popular health food restaurant, rock band and beautiful women, all of which made them the darlings of the Sunset Strip, but their outsider ideals and unconventional behavior of their spiritual leader, Brother Yod, caused controversy and the Family met a dramatic demise after fleeing to Hawaii in 1975.  Through  interviews, photos, home movies and audio recordings, it plays this weekend only May 18th and 19th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

RECENT OFFERINGS IN 2013:

VENUS AND SERENA takes an unfiltered look into the lives of the indomitable Williams sisters, professional tennis' greatest sister act.  Dominating the women's game for over a decade, they broke new ground in a sport where they weren't initially welcomed, overcoming adversaries through drawing strength from each other.  With unprecedented access, VENUS AND SERENA tells the inspiring story of how these two women, with the help of their parents, made it to the top despite obstacles and career-threatening health problems. Opens on Friday, May 10th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA.

LEVIATHAN is a thrilling, immersive documentary which takes you deep inside the dangerous world of commercial fishing.  Set aboard a fishing trawler off of New Bedford, Massachusetts, it captures a harsh, unforgiving world in starkly haunting, yet beautiful detail with an arsenal of cameras offering a bird's eye view of the work, the sea, the machinery and the players, both human and marine.  Opens on Friday, May 10th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

SIGHTSEERS, directed by Ben Wheatley ("Down Terrace") follows Chris, who wants to show Tina his world and wants to do it his way on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved Abbey Oxford Caravan - through sentimental landmarks through a rolling countryside that separates the wonders of Chris' life. But the dream soon fades as litterbugs, noisy teenagers and pre-booked caravan sites, not to mention Tina's meddline mother, soon conspire to shatter Chris' dreams and send him and anyone who rubs him the wrong way, over a very jagged edge.  Opens on Friday, May 10th, at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.

ANDRE GREGORY: BEFORE AND AFTER DINNER, is Cindy Klein's exploration of the life of the daring actor, director, and artist (who also happens to be her husband) as he looks back on a career spanning decades, shattering boundaries and establishing him as a cultural icon.  Reflecting back on his theatrical career, as well as his collaboration with playwright Wallace Shawn and the remarkable Louis Malle-directed film, "My Dinner With Andre," he recalls the discovery that led him to question his own identity and life's work.  Opens on Friday, May 3rd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND from the Royal Ballet, part of Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series is "a dazzling affair, intoxicating and exceptional." Those familiar with the Lewis Carroll classic menagerie of colorful characters will enjoy the clarity of Christopher Wheeldon's portrayal through dance.  A fun, quirky myriad of characters from the twitchy White Rabbit to a tap-dancing Mat hatter, a sinuous caterprillar and, of course, the Queen of Hearts.  Screens on Sunday, May 5th at 10:00 am and again on May 7th at 7:30 pm at Laemmle Theatres throughout LA.

29th LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL, runs May 2 through 12 at the DGA, CGV Cinemas and Art Theatre of Long Beach.  A major showcase for Asian Pacific American cinema, a full roster of films is available at www.laapff.fest, it features a slate of films, panels, and workshops including:

ABIGAIL HARM, derived from a Korean folk tale, stars Amanda Plummer, as a woman who reads to the blind and the alien who becomes bound to her, focussing on the desperate need for companionship and the ability to deal with love;

THE HAUMANA, a visual and melodic treat chronicling the challenges of an unlikely teacher of a highschool boys' hula class;

WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? about an optometrist with a wife and son who has forgotten about his gay past as he approaches his 40th birthday, facing a crossroads in his life;

SAKE BOMB, a cocktail of sake and beer, is a metaphor for an explosive clash of cultures in this comedy fresh from its premier at South X Southwest;

KEY OF LIFE, about an aspiring actor frustrated with life, on the verge of suicide, who finds an unlikely opportunity to take on another's identity.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR is a vibrant, incisively crafted story of a young man's artistic awakening during the politically turbulent French student movement of the 70's, celebrating a thrilling evanescent time when young people felt the revolution in their grasp which captures, according to "Variety" 'how political zeal gives way to confusion, compromise, and a dawning of personal identity.'  Opens on Friday, May 3 at Laemmles Royal in West LA, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.

MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, based on Salmon Rushdie's acclaimed novel, follows the lives of two babies switched at birth on the day of India's declaration of Independence from Great Britain.  Over three decades, Saleem Sinai, the bastard son of a beggar woman and Shiva, the only son of a wealthy couple live the destiny means for the other, through the clash of class, politics and romantic rivalry amidst the shifting loyalties and borders between India and Pakistan.  MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN opens on May 3rd at Laemmles Royal, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center 5 in Encino.

PARIS-MANHATTAN follows a quirky, single young pharmacist who takes refuge in Woody Allen movies for advice on everything from work to love.  Much to the distress of her dysfunctional family, she meets the seemingly perfect guy, who changes her life for the better, at least until the seemingly wrong one comes along, turning her life upside down.  Opens on Friday, May 3 at Laemmles Music Hall 3 and on Friday, May 10th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.

DANCE CAMERA WEST kicks off its 12th Annual DCW Media Festival in the heart of the downtown art scene with the breathtaking "Get Wet: A Celebration of Screen Dance, Live Dance and Water" choreographed by Sarah Elgart and performed at the Music Center on Thursday, May 2nd.  The evening also features a shorts program of international dance films in the Grand Hall. Continuing through May 5th at various venues throughout LA. Further info available at www.dancecamerawest.org

18th ANNUAL INTL. FAMILY FILM FEST, runs May 1 through 5th at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.  Screening over 105 films from 37 countries, it celebrates the human condition by providing a nurturing environment and educational structure to teach and exhibit family-oriented films from around the world.  With industry panels and youth workshops and a screenwriters' showcase, this year's honorees include film and TV producer, Charles Floyd Johnson and J.G. Quintel, creator of the Cartoon Networks' "Regular Show." Further info is available at iffilmfest.org

8th ANNUAL SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FEST (SEE FEST) runs May 2nd through 6th, presenting films of the Balkan region exploring religious, ethnic and cultural crossroads from over 15 countries, at various venues including Writers Guild, UCLA James Bridges Theatre and Goethe Institut.  Opening night is a Romanian comedy, "OF SNAILS AND MEN". Further info available at www.seefilmla.org

IL TROVATORE, part of Laemmles' Ballet in Cinema series, is a bold new production from Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, of the Verdi classic tragedy of star-crossed lovers, complicated parents and mixed-up infants. Said to be a sure success, as long as you have the four best singers in the world singing it. Screens on Sunday morning, on April 28th at 10:00 a.m. and again on Tuesday evening, 4/30, at 7:30 pm at Laemmle theatres throughout LA.

WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS: FREE PRESS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE highlights four cases where whistleblowers noticed government wrong-doing and took to the media to expose the fraud and abuse.  Including interviews with whistleblowers and award-winning journalists, it exposes the worsening reality for both whistleblowers and the press alike. Opens on Friday, Aprl 26th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

LE PETIT SOLDAT is Jean Luc Godard's espionage riff, banned in France in 1960, it did not premier until 1963.  When an army desert is caught in the middle of a covert war between the French government and the Algerian Liberation front in Geneva, he must decide what he is willing to do to escape and lead a free life, as both sides resort to any means to achieve their clandestine ends.  With a new 35 mm print and new subtitles, it opens on Friday, April 26th at the Nuart in West LA.

GRACELAND is an unpredictable, high-paced thriller in which a chauffeur for a corrupt Filipino politician gets ambushed resulting in a kidnapping attempt gone awry, placing his own daughter in jeopardy and spiralling out of control in deceit and betrayal that leaves no one innocent.  Opens on Friday, April 26th at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and Laemmles Playhouse 7 on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.

ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL runs April 18th through May 2nd at Laemmles Music Hall and Town Center Encino, celebrating the best of Israeli cinema with over 30 award-winning films, premieres, thought-provoking documentaries, shorts and panels.  This year's honorees include Martin Landau and Sherry Lansing.  Other highlights include a Second Generation Holocaust Survivors program and a full roster of films is available at www.israelfilmfestival.com.

VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN is an unconventional biography of a deeply influential figure in world music and complex cultural icon of Chile's history, Violeta Parra, multi-faceted singer/songwriter and founding artist of the socially and politically committed nueva cancion folk music movement.  Adapted from Angel Parra's memoirs of his mother, VIOLETA follows under-appreciated musical genius from her childhood in rural poverty that is graced by music, the ground-breaking quest to revive Chile's traditional music, wild artistic success abroad and decline at home, the beginning and the end of love.  Opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA.

OCONOMOWOC is an absurdist comedy about Lonnie Washington, a confused adult who moves back in with his boozing mother and reluctantly joins his friend's mishandled T-shirt buiness in hopes of finding a little direction.  With differing priorities and illusions of success, their future begins to take shape when they meet a keen girl who diagnoses Lonnie's predicament as mere self-importance, sending the fledgling business reeling for answers to a business deal gone bad.  OCONOMOWOC opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

THE REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISTS is an award-winning documentary about four children from one of India's poorest slums who embark on a journey to build a better future, challenging the notion that marginalization is written into their destiny.  Critically acclaimed, it focusses on young activists finding solutions to global health and development issues.  Opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica.

BERT STERN:  ORIGINAL MAD MAN is a definitive voyage into the life of one of the greatest American photographers of all time, ad industry icon, Bert Stern.  After working alongside Stanely Kubrick at "LOOK" magazine, he became an original Madison Avenue 'mad man' helping to create modern advertising.  Stern's photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Twiggy and the infamous "Lolita" image from Kubrick's film, helped shape our images of 20th century pop culture.  From his boyhood in Brooklyn to his rise and dramatic fall, it is shockingly frank in its exploration of creativity, celebrity and desire through the eyes of a man who got everything he wanted - almost.  Opens on Friday April 19th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West LA.

NEW FILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES screens "Shadow Of Liberty" as part of the documentary portion of their one-night only program which includes Shorts Programs and Features,  featuring works by promising young filmmakers, on April 13th at Sunset Gower Studios. Further details at www.nfmla.org.

42, starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford tells the story of the brave stand of two men who changed the game of baseball forever.  Demonstrating the courage of restraint, the great Jackie Robinson let his talent on the field do the talking, ultimately winning over fans and teammates alike.  Putting himself at the forefront of history, legendary GM, Branch Rickey, broke the color barrier in Major League baseball by signing Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946, putting them both on the firing from press, the public, as well as players, and proving that "heroism" isn't always about the achievements ont he field of play.  "42" opens on Friday, April 12th throughout Los Angeles.

11TH ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES celebrates the best of Indian cinema. Running April 9th through April 14th at the ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 W. Sunset Blvd. Highlights include opening night's feature "Gangs of Wasseypur" and Mira Nair's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," along with closing night's feature "Midnight's Children", an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize-winning novel.  Other highlights include "Mohammed to Maya" about gender identification, Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey, a Bollywood tribute to Hindi cinema, as well as Shorts Programs, and Panels.  Selected screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members.

PAVILLION screens Fri. April 12th and Sat. April 13th only at the Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main Street in downtown LA.  Following the screening is a live music performance from Sam Prekop (of "The Sea and the Cake") who did the score to this story of the enigma of youth and the disintegration of an innocent way of life when a son leaves his lakeside home to join his father in suburban Arizona.  Deep and ethereal, a unique evening not to be missed.

EUGENE ONEGIN, the classic Tchaikovsky opera, continues Laemmle's Opera in Cinema series with a production from the Royal Opera House.  Poignant and full of sensitivity to the nuances of growing up and wrestling with emotions, EUGENE ONEGIN screens once on Sunday, April 14th at 10:30 a.m. and Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30 pm.

THE LOTUS EATERS, from Director Alexandra McGuiness, introduces us to a 21st century version of the Lost Generation.  Young, restless, and beautiful, these bright, distracted Londoners lead an excessive lifestyle which allows them to luxuriate in their own self-destruction, while love triangles wreak havoc on impressionable hearts and distract them from commitment.  THE LOTUS EATERS running April 12th through April 18th at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood

RADIO UNNAMEABLE is a visual and aural collage drawn from the immense archives of free-form raido pioneer, Bob Fass, of Pacifica station WBAI in New York.  On-air since 1963, Fass revolutionized late-night FM radio as host of "Radio Unnameable." Long before innovations in social media, he utilized the airwaves for mobilization, encouraging luminaries from Abbie Hoffman to Joni Mitchell, as well as ordinary listeners to talk openly, connecting in profound and surprising ways.  Produced and directed by Paul Lovelace and Jessica wolfson, RADIO UNNAMEABLE runs April 5th through April 11th at the Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood.  Opening night, April 5th, is a benefit for the Pacifica Radio Archives.

NEIGHBORING SOUNDS is a thrilling depiction of the unease within a single city block in a prosperous Brazilian coastal community haunted by its past and ruled by an aging patriarch and his sons.  When a security firm is brought in to protect the residents from a string of petty thefts, the fears, anxieties and resentments of a divided society are unleashed.  Plays at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave. in LA from April 5th through April 11th.

ROOM 237 examines Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" through the voices of fans and schlors who've concocted captivating, provocative theories of hidden symbols and messages in the filmmaker's compelling, horrifying vision of Stephen King's classic.  Outrageous and engaging, the interviewees rework the film to match their ideas, intercut with layers of dreamlike imagery illustrating their streams of consciousness suppositions.  ROOM 237 opens on Friday, April 5th at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.  Passes good Mon, April 8th through Thursday, April 11th ONLY.

"M," Fritz Lang's masterpiece and his first use of sound, stars Peter Lorre in a superb performance as a recently released asylum inmate with a compulsion to kill young girls.  In an attempt to capture the killer, police pressure the city's criminal underworld which, in turn, tries to find the killer themselves with a network of prostitutes, pick-pockets, and thugs.  In a stunning new restoration from the Munich Film Archive, "M' opens on Friday, April 5th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A. and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

BABE'S AND RICKY'S INN brings to life the legendary music club in South Central, home to musicians for over 50 years, regardless of race, age, or gender - a place where only the music mattered.  Created by Laura Mae Gross, "Mama,"the charming force behind the unique club where newcomers traded licks with some of the greatest blues artists around, including John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Albert King and others.  Featuring original music, musicians share their experiences, music, and their memories of "Mama," BABE'S AND RICKY's INN opens on Friday April 5th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St. in Santa Monica.

THE SAPPHIRES is a joyful, inspirational , triumphant celebration of music inspired by the true story of four young Aboriginal sisters from a remote mission in Australia whose lives are forever changed when they are discovered by a kind-hearted, but rhythmically-challenged talent scout.  Billed as Australia's answer to The Supremes they secure their first gig, singing soul tunes for American troops in Vietnam.  Opens March 22nd at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd in Los Angeles.

THE WEDDING PARTY follows a failing Melbourne businessman who has two women in his life - his true love frm whom he is temporarily separated, and a dazzling, glamorous russian immigrant seeking permanent residency for herself (and ultimately her Russian boyfriend).  Burdened with massive debt, he makes a deal to secretly marry in exchange for cash, but when his plan is discovered by a nosey neighbor, his family and friends are swept up in wedding fever.  Part of Film Festival Flix, THE WEDDING PARTY screens on Wed., April 3rd at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and on Thursday, April 4th at Laemmle's NoHo 7 in North Hollywood.

SILVER CIRCLE tackles the issue of monetary policy and the role of the Federal Reserve in a fun and unique way - through animation reminiscent of video games. Set in the near future, it focusses on a group of underground rebels who attempt to outmaneuver the Federal Reserve while creating a guerilla currency based on silver.  SILVER CIRCLE opens on Friday, April 5th at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim in North Hollywood.

STARBUCK follows a habitual sperm donor's attempts to take control of his life when he discovers that he's the biological father of 533 children (142 of which are trying to force the fertility clinic to reveal the true identity of the prolific donor - code name "Starbuck"). With a pregnant girlfriend who is reluctant to share parenthood with the unreliable father, his longtime friend and attorney takes on his case while trying to disabuse him of the joys of parenthood.  Opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.

GIMME THE LOOT follows two determined graffiti writers from the Bronx who hatch ambitious plans to be the first ever to tag the Big Apple sign at Shea Stadium which rises up whenever a Mets homerun is hit. Over two whirlwind summer days, their epic urban adventure traverses black market spray cans, illicit bodegas, stolen sneakers, a high-stakes heist and a necklace.  Recipient of the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW Film Fest and one of Film Independent's "Someone to Watch" Spirit Award, GIMME THE LOOT opens for a limited engagement on Friday, March 29th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West L.A.

BLANCANIEVES is a breathtakingly beautiful re-working of the classic fairytale, Snow White, in an homage to the Golden Age of Europe's silent cinema.  Set in 1920's Sevelle, the daughter of a famous bullfighter living under the tyrannnical rule of an evil stepmother, escapes and joins a troupe of bullfighting dwarves where her rave notices make her a legend.  Opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.

RESCUE IN THE PHILIPPINES: REFUGE FROM THE HOLOCAUST is a meticulously researched documentary which depicts a real-life Casablance set in pre-war Manila, in which a high-profile group of poker buddies, including then-Colonel Dwight Eisenhower, who devised an intricate international plan of rescue and re-settlement, saving 1300 Jews from certain death in Nazi concentration camps.  In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Month, RESCUE IN THE PHILIPPINES opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmles Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special one-night-only benefit screening at Laemmle theatres throughout LA.  Agape Intl. Spiritual Center's Youth & Family Ministry  present the original film, starring Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson in their iconic roles.  Proceeds go to benefit the Carl Anderson Scholarship Fund.  JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR screens one night only on Thurs., March 28th at 7:30 pm at Monica 4-Plex, Town Center 5, The Royal, Playhouse 7, NoHo 7, and Claremont.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES deals with the withering loss of innocence that can result from hard times and how the eagerness to make a better life can often lead to tragic circumstances.  From the director of "Blue Valentine," Ryan Gosling stars as a down-on-his-luck motorcycle stunt rider dealing with the monetary strain of starting a family.  Turning to a life of crime, he encounters an equally ambitious rookie cop (played by Bradley Cooper) along with the discovery of widespread corruption.  A sneak preview of THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES screens on Wed., 3/27 at 7:30 pm at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd.

BLANCANIEVES is a breathtakingly beautiful re-working of the classic fairytale, "Snow White," in an homage to the Golden Age of Europe's silent cinema.  Set in 1920's Seville, the daughter of a famous bullfighter living under the tyrannical rule of an evil stepmother, escapes to join a troupe of bullfighting dwarves, where her rave notices make her a legend and head for a showdown.  BLANCANIEVES opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.

DETOUR follows a smooth-talking ad man on his way to a power lunch who, while brainstorming his next big pitch, is swallowed up by a devastating mudslide.  Awakening alone underneath an avalanche of mud with hope of rescue giving way to the horrifying reality that no one is coming, he clings to the unfinished life he left behind, pushing himself beyond physical and mental boundaries to sruvive.  A sneak preview of DETOUR screens on Thursday, 3/28 at 7:30 pm at TCL Chinese Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

EVERY EMOTION COSTS, part of LA SKINS FEST WOMEN'S NIGHT,  at the Autry National Center, is an exploration about the reality of returning home to the reservation to face family, community, and death.  A reception and Q&A with filmmaker follows the screening on Thursday, March 28th at 7:30 pm.

THE WE AND THE I, Michel Gondry's most personal film to date, follows a group of Bronx high-schoolers on a city bus making their way home on the last day of the school year.  Oblivious to the grown-ups around them, they are unapologetically themselves - gossiping, bullying, confiding their truth and telling tall tales in a script set entirely on the bus, an artful vision of the life they lead and the futures that await them, without moralizing or condescension.  Opens at the Nuart on Friday, 3/22 for one week only.

HUNKY DORY stars Minnie Driver as a high-school drama teacher determined to fire-up her hormonal, apathetic students with a glam, rock-infused musical production of "The Tempest," heating up the Welsh summer of 1976 with the songs of David Bowie, The Byrds, ELO and The Beach Boys.  Opens on March 22nd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

DORFMAN IN LOVE stars Elliott Gould and Sara Rue in a romantic comedy about a young, single suburbanite trapped in her role as caretaker of her unappreciative family.  When she volunteers to cat-sit at her unrequited love's downtown loft, she meets another man who helps transform her life in a journey toward self-discovery and true love.  Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center 5 in Encino.

THE HAPPY POET is a comedy about a guy who starts a vegetarian food stand, but it could be about anyone with a dream - survival versus kindness, generosity, and idealism - and how life is often a balancing act between those elements.  Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex in Santa Monica.

SILVER CASE is a tinseltown crime drama in which a scheming, powerful producer hatches a plan to undermine the success of a shady arch rival.  When a silver briefcase goes missing, an unexpected chain of events is set in motion involving a tenacious duo of thugs who possess the mystery prize.  Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood.

BOB'S NEW SUIT is a deftly woven, whimsical comedy about love, family, the '60s and the unexpected - including radical politics, gender identity, the joy of books, rare orchids, a couple of beers and one lonely Italian suit.  when gardener/handyman Bob proposes to his longtime love and his cousin proposes a get-rich-quick scheme, family secrets are revealed and their lives are changed forever. Opens on Friday, March 22 at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., in Hollywood.

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS continues Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series. Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic story of the hunchback Quasimodo and the beautiful Esmeralda, NOTRE DAME DE PARIS returns to La Scala after more than 10 yrs.

A FIERCE GREEN FIRE tells stories of environmental activism, unfolding in five acts and chronicling grassroots and global movements over 5 decades - how we got here and where we're going.  From halting dams in the Grand Canyon to battling toxic waste at Love Canal; from Greenpeace saving the whales to Chico Mendes and the rubber-tappers saving the Amazon, the film tells vivid stories of fighting and succeeding against enormous odds.  Narrated by Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Isabel Allende, and Ashley Judd, it is the first film to create a big picture overview of the environmental movement.  Opens on Fri., March 15th for a limited engagement at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, in West LA. Passes good Mon - Thurs. only.

HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE) is a documentary romp through history, mystery, and meaning of the great Jewish standard.  Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy, Connie Francis, Glen Campbell and Regina Spector, it follows the ubiquitous party song from the shetetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine.  Surprisingly profound, it tapes into the universal themes of the importance of joy, the power of music, and the resilience of a people.  Opens on Friday, March 15th at Laemmle's Royal, Town Center 5, Playhouse 7 and Claremont.

IF I WERE YOU stars Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden in a comedic turn as a women who accidentally learns of her husband's infidelity when she saves his sexy young mistress from a bungled suicide attempt.  Also starring Aiden Quinn, it's an entertaining look at the unexpected places that life can take us to. Opens on Friday, march 15th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.

THE LANGUAGE OF A BROKEN HEART tells of a neurotic, bestselling author who can write eloquently about love and yet women keep leaving him.  finding his fiance with another man, he seeks out his long-time therapist, but finds that he's even more mix-up.  Juddy Talt writes and stars, along with Julie White, Oscar Nunez, Kate French and Ethan Cohn in this fresh, romantic comedy about love's inherent possessiveness and the realization that it'snot how you love, but whom you love.  Opens on Friday, March 15th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

MY AMITYVILLE HORROR revisits the 1975 haunting of the Lutz home in Amityville, Long Island, made famous by a bestselling book and motion picture.  Thirteen months prior to the Lutz' taking up residence, the former owner, Ronald DeFeo, massacred his family. Subject to ghostly hauntings and a full array of terrifying paranormal phenomena, the Lutz family fled after only 28 days.  Through the reminiscences of one of now-grown children, Daniel, the film examines whether his account is the stuff of truth or delusion.  Opens on March 15th at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue, in Hollywood.  KPFK Film Club passes good Sun., March 18th - Thursday, March 21st.

GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS is a documentary about the photographer's 1-year quest to create a series of haunting, surreal and stunningly elaborate portraits of small town American life, moviescapes crystallized into a single frame.  Inspired by his own dreams and fantasies, as well as the worlds of Hitchcock, David Lynch, Edward Hopper and Diane Arbus, his imagery has infused the pop culture, including his "Six Feet Under" ads and album art for Yo La Tengo.  The film beautifully bares the artist's process, as mesmerizing as the images themselves.  Plays at Laemmle Music Hall 3.

THE SILENCE is an icy, gripping police thriller which begins 23 yrs ago when a young girl is brutally murdered in a wheatfield.  Now, in the present day, on the exact same date, a 13-yr old is missing, her bicycle abandoned int he same spot, leading police to suspect the same killer might be at work again.  As detectives struggle to solve the parallel crimes, the parents are trapped in an agonizing period of waiting and uncertainty, as old, unhealed wounds resurface.  Played at The Nuart in West LA.

BEYOND THE HILLS is a starkly beautiful film set in an isolated Orthodox convent in Romania where two childhood friends are reunited. Alina wishes to return to Germany, while her friend finds refuge in faith and her family of nuns. When Alina challenges the priest and the order, she is suspected of being possessed. Based on a case of alleged demonic possession that occurred in a Romanian monastery in 2005, BEYOND THE HILLS was the winner of Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and was also the Romanian entry for the 2012 Academy Awards. Opens on Fri. March 8th at Laemmle's Royal in Santa Monica.

GREEDY LYING BASTARDS investigates the reasons behind stalled efforts to tackle climate change, despite consensus in the scientific community that it is not only a reality, but an urgent problem placing us on the brink of disaster. Revealing the organizations casting doubt on climate science, it documents the impact of industries that put profits before people. Playing at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

A PLACE AT THE TABLE reveals that hunger is not just a third world problem. Forty-nine million people in the US (one in four children) don'tknow where their next meal is coming from. The issue is examined through the lens of 3 people struggling with food insecurity: Barbie, a single mother who grew up in poverty and is trying to provide a better life for her kids; Rose, a 5th grader who often has to depend on friends and neighbors to feed her and has trouble concentrating in school; and Tremonica, a 2nd-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by the empty calories her hardworking mother can afford. At Sundance Sunset Cinemas.

2nd ANNUAL TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL runs Feb. 28th through March 3rd at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Highlights include "A Butterfly's Dream"; "Mold"; "Inside" and "Beyond the Hill, also a Shorts competition currated by Elvis Mitchell.

MUMIA: LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY creates an inspiring portrait of a man whose existence tests our beliefs about freedom of expression. Before he was convicted of murdering a policeman in 1981 and sentenced to die, Mumia Abu-Jamal was a gifted journalist and writer. After more than 39 yrs in prison and despite attempts to silence him, Mumia continued to report, educate, and provoke, authoring several books from Death Row. Stephen Vittoria's new feature documentary utilizes archival footage and dramatic readings and features Cornel West, Dick Gregory, Angela Davis, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, among others. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

KOCH chronicles the personal and political toll of running the Big Appel in a time of upheaval and re-invention. Popular and polarizing, former NY Mayor Ed Koch was the quintessential New Yorker - ferocious, charismatic, and hilariously blunt. With candid interviews and rare archival footage, first time filmmaker Neil Barksy crafts an intimate and revealing portrait of this intensely private man, his legacy and the town he helped transform during his tumultuous three terms. Ironically, Ed Koch passed away on Feb. 1st, 2013, the day the film opened in NY. KOCH opens in LA on Friday, March 1st at Laemmle's Royal, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.

AMOUR, winner of this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, the Palm De 'Or at Cannes, the Golden Globe and Independent Spirit award, is the story of an octogenarian couple's abiding love for each other, which isput to the test when one suffers a stroke and is left partially paralyzed. AMOUR plays at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER is an epic adventure in 3D with an all-star cast directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bryan Singer. An ancient war is re-ignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway betwen our world and a fearsome race of giants. Fighting for a kingdom and its people and the lvoe of a brave princess, Jack comes face-to-face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend.

WAYNE FEDERMAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL runs Feb. 28th through March 2nd at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax in Hollywood. Featuring a slate of comedians who select films that have inspired them, this year's participants are Sarah Silverman, The Sklar Brothers, Dana Gould, Nick Kroll and Bill Burr. They introduce the films and take questions afterward about the films they've selected - "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Raising Arizona," Dr. Strangelove," "Breaking Away, and "The Dirty Dozen."

THE BERLIN FILE, Korea's biggest release of 2013, is a stunning spy thriller which brings North-South Korean tensions to the streets of Berlin with an intensity not seen since the Cold War. Loyalties are questions when an illegal arms deal descends into mayhem after a "ghost" agent appears on the scene, leaving the North Koreans and CIA wondering if there's a more insidious plot at hand. In a tale of redemption where human beings are defined by the dangerous secrets bigger than their own lives. Played at CGV Cinemas, 621 S. Western Ave., in LA.

BESTIARE is a breathtaking exploration of interspecies observation. Shot in Quebec's Parc Safari animal sanctuary over several months, BESTIARE captures a tableau of creatures and their human handlers. In a visually stunning montage with no agenda, no interviews, no narration, and no sentimentality, it is composed like a painting, deep and mysterious, the subjects linger and drift into each other in a startling way. Played at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles.

TRISTANA, Luis Bunuel's controversial 1970 masterpiece, stars Catherine Deneuve as an orphaned young woman who becomes the ward of a nobleman (played by Fernando Rey), who seduces her. Leaving him for an artist (played by Franco Nero), she returns to her aging benefactor to calculatingly hasten his demise. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971, Vincent Candy called it "nothing less that the quintessential Bunuel film of all time." Newly restored, played at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.

THE BITTER BUDDHA, aka comedian Eddie Pepitone, is a man at war with himself. This humorous documentary takes an unconventional look at an unconventional man as he struggles with career, the past, and the world around him. Through animation, stand-up comedy and interviews with Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, and Marc Maron, among others, Pepitone, one of the best kept secrets on the comedy scene, is revealed in an unhinged portrait of creativity, enlightenment, and rage. Robin Williams calls him "an extraordinary hybrid" with "the comedic content of George Carlin and the vocal volume of Ethel Merman." THE BITTER BUDDHA opens on Friday, Feb. 15th for one week ony at the Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA.

HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA is acclaimed director Werner Herzog and Russian co-director Dmitry Vasyukov's journey to an unforgettable, visually stunning wilderness in the heart of Siberia where 300 indigenous people live in a culture virtually untouched by modernity. It follows a trapper through all four seasons through remote and extreme natural landscapes. Played at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West LA.

SHANGHAI CALLING is a romantic comedy about modern-day American immigrants in China. An ambitious NY attorney is transferred to Shanghai on assignment (partially because he's Chinese-American). A fish-out-of-water, he stumbles into a legal mess that could spell the end of his career, but with the help of a beautiful relocation specialists, a well-connected foreign businessman, a clever by unassuming journalist, and a street-smart assistant, he just might save his job, discover romance, and learn to appreciate the many wonders Shanghai has to offer. SHANGHAI CALLING opens Feb. 15 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

MUGABE: VILLAIN OR HERO? Part of the 21st Annual PAN AFRICAN FILM FEST (running Feb. 7th through 18th at AMC Baldwin Hills, 4020 Marlton Ave., 90008. A British filmmaker's personal journey into the world of the infamous leader, from Mugabe's entourage to Mohmar Gaddafi's private jet, surrounded by a host of prominent African leaders. What began as a 3-month mission became a 3-yr. life-changing project, culminating in a rare interview with one of the world's most controversial, reviled leaders, revealing more than we see on our television screens.

56 UP, chronicles the lives of 14 British schoolchildren from diverse backgorunds, asking them about their lives and dreams for the future. Michael Apted's acclaimed series returns to the subjects every 7 years to examined the progression of theirs lives. From cab driver Tony, to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan, and the heart-breaking Neil, more life-changing decisions and surprising developments are revealed - successes and disappointments, marriage, divorce, childbirth, poverty and illness - nearly every fact of life is discussed with the group as they assess whether their lives have ultimately been ruled by circumstance or self-determination. The 7 UP series, which Roger Ebert calls, "an inspired, almost noble us of the film medium, Apted penetrates to the central mystery of life." Played at the Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., in Hollywood.

SAVING LINCOLN tells the story of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's self-appointed bodyguard and the only friend the newly-elected President brought to Washington with him. A banjo-playing, joke-telling former law partner and confidante, Lamon was also handy with a gun, serving Lincoln faithfully throughout the Civil War years, witnessing every aspect of the military & political pressure, as wel as the personal losses of family and friends. Not present on that fateful night at Ford's Theatre, his perspective redefines that tragic event in a surprising and uplifting manner. Starring Lea Coco as Lamon and Tom Amandes as Lincoln, it also features Penelope Ann Miller as Mary Todd Lincoln and Bruce Davison as William Seward. SAVING LINCOLN opens Friday, Feb. 15th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

QUARTET, Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut stars Maggie Smith, Billie Connolly, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins as retired musicians confronting age and the past in a retirement home for once illustrious performers. With the arrival of a well known operatic soloist, old emotional wounds surface as they prepare for a gala concert. Adapted from a play based upon the documentary "Tosca's Kiss," QUARTET played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

PORT OF SHADOWS, lauded as one of Marcel Carne's finest films, established the genre of poetic realism, exploring the fog-shrouded zone between past and future, life and death, and the impossibility of escape. The 1938 classic is presented in a new restoration featuring an all-new translation and subtitles and follows a deserter from the Colonial Army in need of a new life and haunted by his past, wondering if he can leave to a disastrous fate the only person who has made him happy. PORT OF SHADOWS opens on Friday, Feb. 1st at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATION SHORTS will screen for two weeks at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., beginning Feb. 1st. Get a jump on the the office Oscar pool by catching this year's nominees. This year's program will be hosted by last year's winners: William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, directors of "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore."

STAND-UP GUYS stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in a tough, but touching action comedy as retired gangsters who reunite for one last epi night. Three former criminal associates reflect on their glory days and freedom lost and who, despite their age, find their capacity for mayhem is still alive and well. When a dangerous secret is revealed, they are faced with an impossible quandary by a former mob boss, forcing them to confront their past once and for all.

NIGHT is a documentary which celebrates the night with stunning city views, country vistas and interview with people from all walks of life about their nocturnal experiences. while some regard the night with fear and the unknown, for others it signals hearth, home, and freedom from the stresses and worries of the workaday world, while for others it is a time to dress up and step out with friends. Part of Film Festival Flix, NIGHT screens ONLY on Feb. 6th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 and on 2/7 at Laemmle's NoHo 7, followed by a Q & A with Australian filmmaker Lawrence Johnston.

2013 SHORT DOC OSCAR NOMINEES include a rich variety of films - "Kings Point" about a senior retirement resort in Florida; "Open Heart" which follows the journey of Rwandan children to get heart surgery at a free Emergency hospital in the Sudan; "Redemption" about New Yorkers who find treasure in trash; "Inocente" in which a young undocumented immigrant dreams of becoming an artist; and "Mondays at Racine" about a hair salon providing free services for women undergoing chemotherapy. OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT DOCS opens on Feb. 8th at Laemmles Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.

LORE, a 14-yr old German girl, is left to fend for herself when her SS officer father and her mother, a staunch Nazi believer, are interred by the Allies at the end of WWII. Leading her four siblings on a harrowing journey across a devastated country, she meets a charismatic, mysterious young refugee, she finds she must put her trust in the very person she was always taught to hate in order to survive. Played at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5, Encino.

LET FURY HAVE THE HOUR looks at the last 40 years of social history to make the case for activism and creative solutions as an antidote to modern cynicism. An exuberant, mixed media collage of music, art, animation and spoken word, it brings together 50 artists, writers, musicians, skateboarders, dancers and rights advocates, including Eve Ensler, Tom Morello, Billy Bragg, Shepard Fairey, Chuck D, Lewis Black and Van Jones, who claim we can re-image the world we live in and take an active role in making that a reality. LET FURY HAVE THE HOUR played at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5140 Lankershim Blvd.

IN ANOTHER COUNTRY is a laugh-out-loud comedy that plays like a lost French Wave classic. Starring Isabelle Huppert in overlapping stories in which three different French women (all played by Huppert) visit a resort town and encounter a flirtatious director, a love-struck lifeguard and too much soju in a tale of love, lust, and misunderstanding. Opens Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Town Center 5, Royal and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

GANGSTER SQUAD chronicles the LAPD's attempts to keep East Coast gangsters out of LA in the '40s and '50s. Starring Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen, it features an all-star cast including Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Nick Nolte.

TABU, from Portugal with English sub-titles, is a sumptuous, eccentric two-part tale centered on Aurora, an impulsive, cantankerous elderly woman hospitalized with a grave condition. When her neighbor, Pilar, attempts to contact a mystery man from Aurora's past, it becomes a journey back in time 50 years before the start of the Portuguese Colonial War. A poetic, moving tale of forbidden love, it features a soundtrack of Phil Spector songs. TABU opens on Friday, Jan 25th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

LET MY PEOPLE GO! is a sweet, hilarious fusion of gay romantic comedy, Jewish family drama and French bedroom farce which follows the travails and daydreams of the lovelorn Reuben, a mailman living in Findland with his Nordic boyfriend. When a series of mishaps and a lovers' quarrel exile the heartbroken Reuben back to Paris and his zany family, the result is a heartwarming, fabulously kitschy and funny celebration which upends stereotypes with wit, gusto, and style. LET MY PEOPLE GO! played at Laemmle's Town Center 5 in Encino and Royal in West LA.

FACE TO FACE, an Australian drama directed by Michael Rymer (of "Battlestar Gallactica" fame) deals with restorative justice in a mediation case involving a fired construction workers, his boss, family, friends and co-workers. What seems to be a simple case of vehicular assault is revealed to be the culmination of toxic work environment, sexual harassment, infidelities and racism, which bring the defendant to the breaking point. Part of the Film Festival Flix monthly screening of award-winning films, it seems one night only on 1/9 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and one night only on 1/10 at Laemmle's NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. Followed by a Q & A.

RESOLUTION is a new horror thriller in which two friends confront their personal demons, the consequences of past actions and forces beyond their control. Combining dark humor with thrills and unexpected pathos, RESOLUTION runs Mon - Friday at 7:30 pm and 9:20 pm at the Arena Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood.

MAX AND THE JUNKMEN is a restoration of the Claude Sautet classic in which Max has only one thing on his mind: putting away criminals, knowing that the way to catch a thief is to catch them in the act. When he runs into an old army buddy, he hatches a plan to trick a group of amateurs into committing a major crime by posing as a client of a prostitute, never suspecting that he'd fall in love with her. Opens on Fri. 1/11 at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.

UPRISING tells the inside story of the Egyptian revolution from the perspective of its principal leaders and organizers, depicting their struggle against all odds. From the producing team behind "Taxi to the Dark Side" and the editor of "Inside Job," UPRISING tells the story includes never-before-seen footage, along with interviews with Nobel Peace Prize nominees, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers and presidential candidates and US ambassadors. UPRISING opens on Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

FRACKNATION explores economic, personal, scientific, political, and historical factors involved in hydraulic fracturing, claiming to uncover facts suppressed by environmental activists and speaking with rural American whose livelihoods are affected by it. With a decidedly different view than "Gasland" or "Promised Land," it claims to ask tough questions and challenge general assumptions telling a story they feel has been ignored. Sure to be controversial, FRACKNATION opens on Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

RUST AND BONE tells the rocky love story of two independent, strong-willed souls who bond in the aftermath of a tragic accident. Starring Marion Cotillard as a killer whale trainer who loses her former sense of self in order to be reborn. Played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THESE FABULOUS FILMS, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS WHAT'S COMING UP!

MOVIE TRIVIA QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I AM BIG. IT'S THE PICTURES THAT HAVE GOTTEN SMALLER."

2013 Previous Films Part 1

2012 Previous Films

2012 Part 2

2011 Previous Films Part 1

2011 Previous Films Part 2

2011 Previous Films Part 3

2010 Film Club Previous Offerings

 

Here are some more of the films KPFK Film Club members were able to see in 2012

 

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SINGALONG, a Christmas Eve tradition, is Norman Jewison's adaptation of the Broadway musical, set in the Ukrainian village of Anatevka, starring Topol in his legendary portrayal of Tevye, the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by poverty, prejudice, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters.  Played at Laemmles NoHo7, Town Center 5 and the Royal in West L.A.

THE NUTCRACKER, presented in 3D by the Russian Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, which was its original home in 1892.  Screening throughout LA on one night only.

THE PHAROAH'S DAUGHTER, presented as a part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series, was originally a hit in 1862, but fell out of favor with the Soviet regime.  Resurrected by the Bolshoi Ballet in 2000, it became a favorite once again.  A young Englishman travelling through Egypt meets a caravan of Arab merchants at the foot of a pyramid.  when a storm breaks out, they take shelter where the daughter of one of Egypt's most powerful Pharoahs lies in a tomb nearby, relaying her story through the dreams of an opium pipe.

IN THE HOLY LAND OF TYROL focusses on a Bavarian woman married to a Tyrolean furniture maker who accidentally kills a French soldier during the Occupation. Fleeing to her husband's family farm, she finds herself despised by his Catholic family, eventually earning their respect by concocting a drastic plan to keep her husband from returning to the war. Part of Film Festival Flix, played at Laemmles Playhouse 7 and Noho7.

THE NUTCRACKER presented by London's Royal Ballet, a holiday favorite the world over, screens as part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinemas series. A magician's secrets, an enchanted gift, a guiding angel and a visit through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets, Tchaikovsky's classic is a must-see for audience of all ages.  Played at Laemmle Theatres througout LA.

WALTER AND TANDOORI'S XMAS is a 3D animated comedy in which Walter, endearing, compulsive and funny, travels the world with his faithful sidekock, Tandoori, a hyperactive chicken, confronting environmental wrongs which need righting.  Played at the Regency, Van Nuys Plant 16.

BARRYMORE stars Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer, re-creating his tour-de-force Tony Award-winning role as the acclaimed actor John Barrymore.  Set in 1942, no longer a box office star, Barrymore reckons with the ravages of a life of excess.  Renting a theatre to raise money for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in "Richard III," he reflects on the highs and lows of his stunning career.  Played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.

A ROYAL AFFAIR, Denmark's official entry for the Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, is the true story of an ordinary man who wins the h eart of a queen and starts a revolution.  Centering on the love triangle of queen Caroline Mathilda, it is the gripping tale of not only a passionate and forbidden romance, but the brave idealists who risk everything in their pursuit of freedom for their people.  Played at the Landmark.

2012 AFI FILM FESTIVAL, running Nov. 1 through 8 at Mann's Chinese Cinemas at Hollywood and Highland:

KON-TIKI,Based on a true story, Thor Heyerdahl, alone in his belief that Polynesia was first populated by settlers from South American rather than by men from the East, is determined to raise funds for an expedition to prove his hypothesis. Epic in amibition and scale, with stunning cinematography and first-class special effects, the extraordinary journey pits man against shark and storm.

THE HUNT, is about the witch-hunt that ensued when a daycare worker is accused of sexually abusing the young daughter of one of his closest friends. Featuring an extraordinary performance by Mads Mikkelsen, winner of Best Actor at Cannes, as a man whose life is on hold, including his ability to retain friends and family.

THE SAPPHIRES, from the Land Down Under, an inspiring ahd thrilling true story of a later 1960's girl group caught up in the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Taking their music on the road, battling prejudice against their aboriginal heritage, with a screenplay by the real-life son and newphew of the four incredible women discovered in an outback pub by an Irish manager with a ear for soul.

CITY PARKING, follows two disparate LA lives which come together in a parking garage late one night.  A frustrated graffiti artist and a heartbroken Westside girl break into cars as they get to know each other, scare off her ex-boyfriend and finish a mural.  Screens as a part of AFI Fest at Mann's Chinese 2 on Wed. Nov. 7th.

CLOUD ATLAS stars Academy Award winners Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent, based on David Mitchell's bestselling novel where everything is inter-connected across time and space.  A single story unfolds in multiple timelines over a span of 500 years with characters meeting and reuniting from one life to the next, born and reborn, having an impact on their past, present and future.

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, winner of Best Director at Sundance, Ava Duvernay's story of a bright, young medical student who suspends her own hopes and dreams of a medical career when her husband is incarcerated. Caught between two men and two worlds, she struggles to keep body and soul together.  Featuring music by KPFK's own Morgan Rhodes, it plays at Laemmles NoHo 7 in North Hollywood.

ARGO, based on true events, chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis - the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. In Nov. 1979, as the Iranian Revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage, but six Americans find refuge in the hom of the Canadian ambassador as a CIA "exfiltration" specialist concocts a risky plan to get them out safely.

HOLY MOTORS is an audacious and fantastical cinematic vision in which the City of Light is the backdrop for nearly a dozen surreal adventures throughout Paris in a ravishing, shape-shifting fever dream.  A conventional businessman is transformed into a motion-capture acrobat, a sewer-dwelling leprechaun, an assassin and the leader of an accordion marching band.  A potent allegory for movie magic itself, it ran at the Nuart in West LA.

TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES REFORGED celebrates the strength and courage of seven burn survivors who, with the support of their caregivers and families, reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire.  Challenging us to look beyond the superficial and redefine our concept of true beauty, it follows the journeys of ordinary people who rise above their injuries and pain to discover new dreams through unexpected insights and a transformed worldview. Featuring actor J.R. Martinez, it was part of DocuWeeks.

THE OPTIMISTS, a universal story, it explores how different communities of ethinic and religious backgrounds stood by each other during the Holocaust offering insights into building bridges and defending human rights.  In Bulgaria, 50,000 Jews survived the Holocaust with the help of Bulgarian Christians, as Sephardic Jews were helped by Christians and Muslims from all walks of life. Ran at Laemmles Music Hall and Town Center.

ALL TOGETHER, starring Jane Fonda, in her first French language film since Godard's 1972 "Tout Va Bien," it follows five aging friends who decide to move in together. A crowd-pleasing comedy about the joys of "communal" living, it also stars Geraldine Chaplin and Calude Rich. Playing at Laemmle Town Center 5.

12th ANNUAL HUNGARIAN FILM FEST, which ran Nov. 16th through 22nd at Laemmle's NoHo 7, showcases the richness of Hungarian cinema with this year's highlight "The Door," starring Oscar-winer Helen Mirren and "The Tragedy of Man" winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes and Oscar entry "Just the Wind."

AN EVENING WITH KYLIAN/INGER/WALERSKI, danced by the Nederlands Dans Theatre, "the most balletic modern dancers in the world." The NY Times says, "If you see one live performance this year, Nederlands Dans Theatre in the one to see." Part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.

MAN AT WAR takes a provocative look at computer gamers who continue to fight WWII European air battles in the virtual world, trying to change the course of history. For some it's a hobby, but for many it's an addiction consuming most of their time at the expense of family life and social contacts. The film follows the players and their lives, including training courses and rallies. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

GENERATION P is a political satire centering on a cynical Russian poet who becomes caught up in the world of high-stakes advertisting shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, in a world populated by gangster, new millionaires and advertising gurus.  Exploring man's identity in a modern, branded world, it played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.

SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES is a trenchant expose that reveals how the public has been misled by government agencies and corporate interests disregard laws designed to protect the public, the horses and the environment.  Set against sweeping, pristine landscapes, it is deeply passionate look into the world of wild and domestic horses, their connection to history and the future of the nation, offering compelling expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories to highlight imminent health risks to humans and environment caused by the capture, removal, transport and stockpiling of horses to be slaughtered.

THE REVISIONARIES follows the rise and fall of some of the most controversial figures in America education through some of their most tumultuous battles, including an avowed Creationist of the Religious Right, a Houston attorney and law professor at Falwell's Liberty Unviersity and an anthropology professor from Southern Methodist University, as the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education rewrites teaching and textbook standards for its 5 million schoolchildren. At Laemmles Playhouse 7.

BALLET IN CINEMA, continues with "L'ALTRA META DEL CIELO," a contemporary ballet by MacArthur "Genius" Grant winner, Martha Clarke, set to the music of controversial Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, a man known for drug use, racism and misogyny.  A groundbreaking piece which transforms hatred into a piec which glorifies the feminine rather than tear it down.  Screened at Laemmle Theatres.

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO is one of the finest jewels in the operatic repertoire.  Mozart's masterpiece is presented by the Royal Opera House in an illuminating production as part of Laemmle's Opera in Cinema series, revealing the tensions between masters and servants on an estate in the 1820's.

SPLIT: A DEEPER DIVIDE is a riveting investigation into the partisanship paralyzing our politics which looks beyond the rancor to reveal the truth of why our cuntry is more divided and our politics more gridlocked than ever, with unparalleled access to some of the most insightful and recognizable figures in politics and society - ranging from Senators Evan Bayh and Chuck Hagel, Lawrence Lessig, Noam Chomsky, Robert Putnam, Tucker Carlson and Amy Goodman.  Played at Laemmles.

ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, ran Oct. 19th through 21st at the Writers Guild, featured films from both emerging and established directors, which provided alternatives to stereotypical images of Arab culture, politics and art.  Opening Night's feature was "Man Without a Cell Phone."

5th ANNUAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL, ran Sept. 26th through Sept. 30th at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, with Opening Night at Linnwood-Dunn, screening of "Jump" a modern fairytale of a New Year's Eve in Derry.  Other highlights were "Let the People Sing" a gritty tell-all documentary charting the rise of the legendary music group The Wolfe Tones, and special evening hosted by Fionnula Flanagan, honoring filmmaker Lelia Doolan, director of "Bernadette" Notes on a Political Journey" about Bernadette Devlin, the face and voice of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland.

LEAST AMONG SAINTS, movingly illustrates a veteran's hard-fought road returning from war to face a broken marriage and a broken life.  When a troubled ten-year-old calls out for help, he can't turn away and, much to the dismay of an embattled social worker (played by Laura San Giacomo), it transforms his life.  At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS, based on Emily Bronte's classic of star-crossed lovers, receives a radically distinct re-telling in filmmaker Andrea Arnold's adaptation of the epic story of Heathcliff and Cathy, spanning childhood to young adulthood. With a sweeping score, stripped down to its roots of heart-stopping beauty, cruelty, and impulsiveness.  Played at the Nuart.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is the touching story of a family tragically divided.  A trouble teenager in the 1980's in New York, struggles to discover a sense of self and strength while grappling with her tumultuous relationship with her mother while dreaming of reuniting with her father in Guyana, whom she hasn't heard from in 13 years.  Spanning two continents and three decades, it offers a nuanced lense into the plight of displaced immigrant families struggling to create a better future.  Played at the Nuart.

WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACTIVISTS, takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the "hactivist" collective which has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. Exploring its historical roots as it becomes a worldwide movement with the reach and power to transform our time.  At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

VERSAILLES '73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION is a documentary about the legendary fashion show, nicknamed the "Battle of Versailles" pitting French haute couture against innovative American ready-to-wear designers, in front an audience of the era, which included Princess Grace of Monaco, Andy Warhol, Christina Onassis and Josephine Baker.  Playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.

THE AMBASSADOR is a darkly comic, genre-bending documentary which rips the lip off political corruption and exploitation in the Central African Republic.  Danish filmmaker Mads Brugger, whom the Huffington Post calls "the most provocative filmmaker in the world,"  transforms himself into an outlandish caricature of a European-African consul immersing himself in the life-threatening underworld of nefarious bureaucrats where he encounters blood diamong struggling, bribery, and murder.  Playing for one week only at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 Fairfax Ave., in LA.

THE HOUSE I LIVE IN follows the policy failure in the war on drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, to the narcotics officer, the inmates and senators, these heart-wrenching stories encapsulate the tragic errors which have earned the US the dubious distinction of being the world's leading jailer and a system of mass incarceration which disproportionately affects the poor.  At Laemmle Theatres.

SIMON AND THE OAKS, based on the Swedish bestseller, is an epic drama spanning the years from 1939 to 1952 offering a unique depiction of fate, destiny, and freewill.  In a vivide portrayal of the situation for Jews in Sweden during WWII, it is the griping story of an intellectually-gifted, working class boy befriended by the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who fled Nazi persecution.  At The Landmark.

WAKE IN FRIGHT, one of the seminal films in Australian cinema, tells of a British schoolteacher's descent into personal demoralization at the hands of drunken, deranged derelicts while stranded in a small town in the outback. Winner of the Palm D' Or in 1971 at Cannes, it is one of only two films to be shown there twice. Called by Nick Cave "the best and most terrifying film in Australian existence," Roger Ebert deemed it "powerful, genuinely shocking, and rather amazing." Play at the Nuart.

SAMSARA, from the Sanskit word meaning "the ever-turning wheel of life" is a stunning visual meditation inspired by breathtaking images and natural wonders.  Filmed over 5 years in twenty-five countries on five continents, with no narration or dialogue this non-traditional documentary from the award-winning filmmakers of "Baraka" and "Chronos," encourages the viewers' own interpretation, with transcendant music from Lisa Gerrard and Michael Stearns.  Playing at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd in LA.

LIFE IS STRANGE is a documentary which evokes the vibrant life of Jewish families in pre-World War II Europe, through childhood memories of survivors.  Intimate conversations are presented against a tapestry of rare footage that takes us to the heart of pre-war Yiddish culture, as well as a universal experience of carefree childhood and how memory of the past can be retained when the world that created it no longer exists.  Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills and Town Center 5 in Encino.

SUPERCAPITALIST is a financial thriller about a maverick New York hedge fund trader who moves to Hong Kong and orchestrates a mega-deal that switfly escalates beyond his control.  Caught between competing American and Asian cultures of profit-at-all-costs, he takes the ultimate risk when his life and Hong Kong's future are staked on a corrupt billion dollar deal.  Playing at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood.

DOWNTOWN EXPRESS is a classic story of youthful rebellion set in the world of Russian immigrants in NYC.  Told with a unique voice through music, it explores the clash of old world values with the lure and excitement of a new country as a virtuoso violinist and Julliard student prepares for a recital to launch his career. He careens between the two worlds as he encounters and falls in love with a singer-songwriter.  Starring acclaimed musicians Quint and Nellie McKay, DOWNTOWN EXPRESS opens on Fri. August 24th at Town Center 5 in Encino.

SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN, a remarkable documentary of fame-deferred, follows the mystery and mythology of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s US rock icon who never was.  Considered by some a "Chicano Bob Dylan," his masterpiece album, "Cold Fact" sank into oblivion in the US, but through a simple twist of fate resurfaced in South Africa to provide a meaningful soundtrack to thelives of young anti-apartheid activists.  Amidst rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide, his parallel life of acclaim and success a continent away is revealed when two South African fans set to find out what happened to their hero.  Opens on Friday, July 27th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.

LITTLE WHITE LIES, starring Oscar winners Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin, follows a close-knit group of friends whose bonds are tested and strengthened over a summar holiday when one of their colleagues meets with an unfortunate motocycle accident.  A heartfelt French spin on "The Big Chill" with a soundtrack ranging from Creedence Clearwater Revival, to Nina Simone, Bowie and Janis Joplin, it's a generational statement of youthful frivolity giving way to middle-aged pleasures and sorrows amid the intricacies and indulgences of contemporary relationships.  LITTLE WHITE LIES opens on Friday, August 24th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.

DEATH BY CHINA, from bestselling author and filmmaker Peter Navarro, tackles the destructive economic trade relationship with China.  Continuously flooding US markets with illegally subsidized products since 2001, over 50,000 American factories have disappeared, more than 25 million Americans can't find a decent job and America now owes more than 3 trillion dollars to the world's largest totalitarian regime.  Through compelling voices across the political spectrum, the US-China relationship is broken and in urgent need of repair in order to further world peace and prosperity.  Playing at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

COMPLIANCE, inspired by a chilling true story, it explores just how far one might go to obey an authority figure. When the high-strung manager of a local fast food joint receives a phone call saying her employee has stolen money from a customer, she follows the officer's step-by-step instructions for investigation, no matter how invasive, as the line between legality and reason becomes hauntingly blurred.  Screens for one-week only at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd.

THE WELL-DIGGER'S DAUGHTER is an exquisitely-crafted melodrama in which a father in pre-WWI France is torn between his sense of honor and his deep love for his daughter when she gets in trouble with a wealthy pilot.  A remake of the 1940's classic, it opens on Friday, July 27th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, Town Center 5 in Encino and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

16th ANNUAL DOCUWEEKS presents an exceptional lineup of worldwide documentary films over the course of three weeks.  This year's highlights include: "Digital Dharma," about Eugene Smith's mission to preserve ancient Tibetan texts; "Once in a Lullaby," about the YouTube sensation choir in the journey to perform at the Oscars, "Garden in the Sea," an artists ecological vision inthe Sea of Cortez, "Holy Man", "La Source," narrated by Don Cheadle, about a Princeton janitor's efforts to bring water to Haiti; at Laemmle's NoHo 7 through August 30th.

WE WOMEN WARRIORS, screening as part of DocuWeeks through Aug. 30th, follows three native women caught in the crossfire of Columbia's warfare, using nonviolent resistance to defend their people's survival.  One-third of Columbia's 102 aboriginal groups face extinction, trapped in a protracted predicament financed by the drug trade.  WE WOMEN WARRIORS bears witness to neglected human rights interweaving stories of female empowerment, unshakable courage, faith, and endurance.

HEIST: WHO STOLE THE AMERICAN DREAM? exposes the roots of the American economic crisis and the destruction of the American dream.  With clearn, fact-driven storytelling, HEIST unflinichingly reveals the results of four decades of de-regulation, massive job outsourcing and tax policies favoring the mega-corporations and wealthy elites.  From the New Deal of FDR to trickle down Reagonomics and class warfare, it is a political thriller which posits that those responsible should be accountable with rigorous reform and dismantling entities too big to fall. Played at Laemmle's NoHo 7.

NUIT #1 is Anne Emond's award-winning feature debut in which two strangers meet on a packed, sweaty dance floor at a rave, end up spending the night together, baring their emotions as well as their bodies, with epic conversation, exploring and revealing, attaching and embracing in a powerful, intimate portrait of a one-night stand.  An exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.

YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED is a David-and-Goliath tale of Scottish homeowners who take on real estate mogul Donald Trump, despite legal threats and police harrassment , when he attempts to build a luxury gold resort through one of Britain's last stretches of coastal wilderness.  Told without narration, YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED captures the cultural schism between the media-savvy Trump and a deeply-rooted Scottish community.

UNTIL THEY ARE HOME brings to light the dedication of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team members who returned to the island of Tarawa in 2010, the site of one of the most horrific battles of WWII in order to recover the remains of fallen heroes and fly them back to American soil.  Narrated by Kelsey Grammer.  Played at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

IT IS NO DREAM:  THE LIFE OF THEODOR HERZL follows Herzl, as assimilated Jew from Budapest, who, until his late wenties wanted only to be a successful playwright, but after witnessing the court proceedings of the Dreyfus trial in Paris and rampant anti-Semitism, he pursued his vision for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, advocating peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs.  Initially ridiculed for his political treatise "Der Judenstaat," it later became the foundation for a grass-roots movement of oppressed Jews to join Herzl's Zionist movement leading to the establishment of the modern state of Israel.  Featuring rare archival footage, interviews and never-before-seen stills, IT IS NO DREAM played at Laemmle's Town Center 5.

CO-DEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME, a tongue-in-cheek cult favorite at Sundance, is a wryly funny romantic comedy mash-up and 1950's sci-fi spoof in which three extra-terrestrials from the planet Zots are sent on a mission to rid themselves of romantic emotions, which are considered toxic to their planet's atmosphere, by having their hearts broken on Earth.  Meanwhile, government agents seek to find the spaceship and cover-up the aliens' existence.  Deemed by The Hollywood Reporter as "a hilarious date movie for couples of all orientations," it played at the Downtown Independent Theatre.

DARK HORSE, Todd Solondz' examination of the irretrievability of youth and the mercilessness of time passing.  An unexpectedly tender, dark comedy starring Mia Farrow, Christopher Walken and Jordan Gelber of "Boardwalk Empire," it depicts the arrested development of a Jewish man in his thirties, in a poignant portrait of a man-child who finally glimpses a chance for true love. A special one-night screening presented by the American Cinematheque, followed by Q&A with the director, at the Egyptian in Hollywood.

LA FOLIE ALMAYER, co-presented by American Cinematheque and the Consulate General of Belgium, freely adapted from Joseph Conrad's first novel, this hypnotic drama follows a European trader's faded dreams of finding fortunate in Malaysia. Gorgeously shot in the dense, lush jungles, it showcases an aesthetic spontaneity through long takes. The screening was followed by Belgian beer reception.

CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, from the Award-winning director of "Up the Yangtze," comes a riveting documentary on China's ever-changing economic landscape through the lens of sports.  Following a charismatic, former boxing star and coach as he recruits young fighting talent from impoverished villages across Sichuan province, with the hope of discovering China's next Olympic heroes, it is not only sports drama, but astute social commentary and a beautifully crafted portrait of an athlete.

TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN is a new documentary about a national security whistleblower, former Customs & Border Protection Office, Julia Davis, who was falsely declared a domestic terrorist and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Dept of Homeland Security.

PATANG: THE KITE is a poetic journey to the old city of Ahmedabad, weaving together the stories of six people transformed by the energy of India's largest kite festival.  Music & fireworks, food and laughter provide healing and renewal when a Delhi businessman takes his daughter on a surprise trip back to his childhood home, an entire family has to confront its own fractured past and fragile dreams.  Originally screening at the Intl. Indian Film Fest, it opened theatrically at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.

BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS is a cautionary tale of corporate bullying and media spin by Swedish documentarian Fredrik Gertten asking "What is a big corporation capable of in order to protect its brand?" Following his previous film, "Bananas," which recounted the lawsuit of 12 Nicaraguan plantation workers brought against Dole, the filmmaker was threatened with defamation suits and PR scare tactics.  Utilized by law schools and legal experts to teach defense of freedom of speech, it reveals a corporate mindset which believes "It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than a bad reputation."  Played at Laemmles Pasadena 7.

AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY is a fascinating close-up lok at renowned Chinese artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei and his ongoing battle with the Chinese government.  Having helped to design Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, he denounced the Games as party propaganda and disappeared into police custody for three months.  With unprecedented access to the charismatic artist, his family and friends, first-time director Alison Klayman filmed when authorities shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozed his studio and held him in secret detention.  A compelling portrait of this passionate dissident for the digital age who blurs the boundaries of politics and art.  Played at Laemmles Town Center 5 and Playhouse 7.

THE GREEN WAVE is a powerful documentation of populist protests in Iran following the suspicious victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential election of June 2009.  Cell phone videos posted on the internet, Twitter messages, as well as animate blog posts and interviews with human rights advocates and exiled Iranians bear witness to the brutal attacks by government militias to repress a rebellion.  Played at Laemmles Music Hall 3.

THE IMPOSTER is based on a true story with the twists and turns of a riveting thriller. In 1994, a 13-yr-old boy disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas only to resurface several years later in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture.  His overjoyed family finds that all is not quite what it seems when an investigator delves into this strange tale, challenging perceptions at every turn.  Played in an exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.

NOOR FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3 through 8th at Laemmle's Music Hall, celebrating cinematic works by and about Iranians around the world.  "Changing perceptions one frame at a time," it reaches out to the non-Iranian community and promotes Iranian-American artists in Hollywood.  Highlights included, "The Iran Job," "A Very Close Encounter," and the Oscar-winning "A Separation."

KUMARE is an insightful look at faith and belief in which a seemingly wise guru from the East indoctrinates a group of followers in the West, but who, in actuality, is the alter ego of American filmmaker Vikram Gandhi impersonating a spiritual leader for a social experiment designed to challenge one of the most widely accepted taboos, that only a tiny 1% can connect the rest of the world to a higher power. Asking if illusion can reveal a greater spiritual truth, he must confront difficult questions about his own identity and whether or not his disciples will accept his final teaching.  An exclusive one-week engagement ran at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood.

1st KOREAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 9th through 11th at the Korean Culture Center in LA, featuring themes and talents across the Korean-American diaspora.  Highlights include: THE LA RIOTS: REFLECTIONS ON OUR FUTURE, "WEDDING PALACE: BEHIND THE SCENES, a documentary of the triumphs and struggles of financing the first independent US-Korean film co-production, SHOULD'VE KISSED, set in the cut-throat audition world of NY following a confident Korean actor who struggles to find work and "ULTIMATE CHRISTIAN WRESTLING about a group of traveling evangelical pro-wrestlers from rural Georgia.

UNION SQUARE follows the troubled relationship between two estranged sisters on the verge - one of marriage, the other of a nervous breakdown, as they reunite in NY's Union Square.  Starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, Tony/Grammy winner Patti Lupone, and Tony-nominee Tammy Blanchard.  Opening July 13th at Laemmle Theaters.

TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, running July 26th through July 28th in the heart of beautiful Topanga, features a unique roster of socially conscious films. Opening night kicks off with "On Day on Earth", an epic time capsule created from footage collected by amateur videographers around the world on a single day, Oct. 10, 2010; Friday evening, the 27th, celebrates 100 years of dance; Saturday's "Friendship and Community" program features United Nations Shorts Showcase, along with "The Welcome" about a healing 5-day retreat for vets & their families, suffering from PTS; Sunday's "Sea and Sensibility" concludes with "Minds in the Water," a doc which follows a professional surfer's quest to protect dolphins, whales, and creatures of the sea, and Closing Night film, "Gidget: An Accidental Icon," with the real-life Gidget in attendance.

THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3rd through August 5th at Laemmle's NoHo 7 celebrating the happy ending with films taht are humorous, inspirational, optimistic and capturing the beauty of our world.  Some of this years highlights were "Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey," about a Buddhist monk's eco-pilgrimmage in the Himalayas; "Beast Wishes" about a unique couple's, love affair with monster movies; and "La Ultima Isla" about a young girls magical life on a remote island with her estranged aunt.