Reel World

Short Shorts—The Southwest Film Center at UNM is looking for a few good shorts. The First Annual SWFC Short Film Festival is a chance for aspiring young filmmakers to show off their talents. Organizers are looking for films/videos in four categories: Narrative, Music Video, Experimental and Documentary. Films should be no longer than 20 minutes and must be accompanied by a $20 admission fee. Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 15. Winners will be showcased in a series of public screenings beginning Thursday, April 29, and awards will be handed out on Saturday, May 1. For complete info, including a submission form, log on to swfc.unm.edu/filmfestival.html.

Cartoon Confab—To help celebrate the opening of the Japanese animated film Tokyo Godfathers, Madstone Theaters will be hosting a special discussion this Friday, April 9, following the 7 p.m. debut screening. Cartoonist, illustrator and frequent Alibi cover art contributor Ted Slampyak will be on hand to relate the film's creative process and story line to his own online creation Jazz Age Comics. Like the film, Slampyak's work mixes nostalgic whimsy with historical realism. You can log on to www.jazzagecomics.com to learn more about Slampyak's weekly Web-based comic strip, or on to www.madstonetheaters.com for find out more info on this special screening.

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Let's All Go to the Lobby—Speaking of Madstone Theaters, photographer and installation artist Terry Sherlock will debut a new installation titled Please Turn Off All Cell Phones and Pagers—A Slide Exhibition in Seven Theaters at the Albuquerque Madstone Theaters. A public reception for the opening will be held on Friday, April 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the theater lobby. The installation will be in place for three months following the opening. Before each movie screening, seven of Madstone's theaters will feature a unique slide show Program by Terry. Terry's work is designed to provide an exploration of cinema and the movie-going experience.

Insider Screening Scoop—Continuing to speak of Madstone, the theater will kick off its spring 2004 Insider Screening Club on Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. This special series will feature seven screenings over the next few months. Each screening will introduce audiences to a sneak preview of a brand new—and as yet unreleased—independent or foreign film. Following the screenings, audiences are invited to participate in an interactive discussion about each film hosted by Alibi film editor Devin D. O'Leary (yes, that's me). For more information on joining this elite, enlightening film club, log on to www.madstonetheaters.com.