Go Native on the Big Screen– The Native Cinema Showcase at the CCA Cinematheque in Santa Fe will kick off its sixth year this Thursday, Aug. 17. This celebration of indigenous media arts features groundbreaking films and videos by and about Native people. Thursday night begins with a focus on producer/writer/director Paul M. Rickard at 7 p.m. at CCA. Following a screening of two shorts (”Winter Chill,” “Aboriginal Architecture, Living Architecture”), author Beverly Singer will conduct an on-stage interview with the filmmaker. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a free screening of Native shorts at the Gary Farmer Gallery. At 8:30 p.m., it’s an opening night party at CCA Warehouse. Screenings will take place at the Farmer Gallery (131 W. San Francisco) and the CCA (1050 Old Pecos Trail) throughout the weekend. Highlights include The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros from the Philippines, Mohawk Girls and Johnny Tootall from Canada, Waterbuster and The Snowbowl Effect from America and Views from Maori Country from New Zealand. Log on to www.ccasantafe.org for a complete schedule of films and events. Tickets are $8 general admission, $6 CCA and NMAI members, $5 student and senior members. A $75 Patron Pass includes priority admission to all events and the Filmmaker Brunch. A $40/$35 Festival Pass includes priority admission to all films and the opening night party. For box office info, call (505) 982-1338.
Reel World
Education on TV– On Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 7 to 8 p.m., KOB-4 will air the local documentary “Opportunity to Succeed.” The film examines New Mexico’s recent effort to close the achievement gap in education through a holistic approach that involves “community schools.” What does this entail and how will it work? How will communities engage? How can diverse issues such as culture, language, poverty, hunger and domestic violence enter into the conversation about test scores and educational standards? The documentary, directed by Emmy Award-winning producer/director Chris Schueler, seeks to answer these questions by highlighting programs across the state that have successfully responded to the challenges of these educational issues. From a Pre-K program in Albuquerque’s South Valley to the only bilingual middle school in the state in Las Cruces, “Opportunity to Succeed” points out tangible examples of ideas that are changing education in our state. The program was made possible by Youth Development Inc., the New Mexico Public Education Department, the New Mexico Human Services Department and Orion International Technologies.
