The 4 th annual SouthWest Indian Film Theater (SWIFT) will present two days worth of short and feature films by Native American filmmakers at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (2401 12th NW). Among the films to be shown are Shonie & Andee De La Rosa’s Navajo drama Mile Post 398 and Mia Boccella Hartle & Marley Shebala’s inspirational documentary When Our Hands Are Tied. There will also be a special block of animated shorts. Screenings will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12. Admission is a mere $3 for an all-day pass. Log on to www.indianpueblo.org for a detailed schedule of films and times.
Home Movies
Did you know Saturday, Aug. 11, is International Home Movie Day? Neither did I. Home Movie Day is a celebration of amateur films and filmmaking held annually at local venues worldwide. Home Movie Day events—now in their fifth year—provide the opportunity for individuals and families to see and share their own home movies with an audience of their community and to see their neighbors’ in turn. It’s a chance to discover why we care about these films and to learn how best to care for them. (Keep in mind that the infamous Zapruder film was just a simple home movie, and you’ll have some idea of the importance of homemade media.) Albuquerque’s Home Movie Day event (sponsored by Basement Films) is free and open to the public and will take place at the Harwood Art Center (Seventh and Mountain) from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Organizers will offer a “film clinic” for assessing the condition of older films, information about how to care for family films and videos and continuous screenings of home movies brought by participants. Archivists will show examples of historic amateur films preserved in their collections, and preservation specialists will explain why transferring films to video or digital media does not mean they’ll last forever. To find out more info on this worthwhile event, log on to www.homemovieday.com.
Making The Rounds
If you couldn’t make it to the New Mexico Film Office’s Filmmaker’s Showcase earlier this year at the Guild Cinema, you’ve got another chance to check out some of our state’s up-and-coming filmmakers. The top six films of the Showcase (as chosen by audiences) are now touring the state. Janet Davidson’s “A Piece of Pie,” J. Anthony Cangialosi’s “Discrepencies,” Justin Evans’ “Saturday Night Special,” Erin Hudson’s “Long Haul,” Justin Golightly’s “Baptism of Fire” and Justin Hunt’s feature-length documentary American Meth will hit the Film Center at Cinema Café in Santa Fe on Aug. 11. The films will continue on tour, stopping in Farmington on Aug. 25. See www.nmfilm.com for times and film info.
