The 10 th annual Native Cinema Showcase kicks off this week in Santa Fe. This year, the showcase is screening four new Native-directed features, five documentaries and 25 short works. In addition to the films, there will be live music, an animation workshop and a gala award ceremony. The showcase, which runs Aug. 19 through 22, is presented by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Center for Contemporary Arts and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. Featured works include the sports documentary Jim Thorpe: The World’s Greatest Athlete , the Canadian road trip romance Kissed By Lightning and the New Zealand coming-of-age tale Boy . Screenings will take place at the CCA Cinematheque and at a special outdoor screen in Santa Fe’s Cathedral Park. For a complete schedule, log on to nativenetworks.si.edu.
Reel World: Riff On Reefer Riff On Reefer
The mad minds behind “Mystery Science Theater 3000” are returning with another live RiffTrax screening at select movie theaters across the country. On Thursday, Aug. 19 (with an encore performance on Aug. 24), Mike, Kevin and Bill will be riffing all over 1938’s dope-smoking classic Reefer Madness . Not only that, but there will be three never-before-seen shorts as well. Festivities will take place locally at Cottonwood 16, Rio 24 and Downtown 14 beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through fathomevents.com.
Reel World: Sophomore Screenings Sophomore Screenings
The second annual Albuquerque Film Festival is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 29. Festival highlights include an appearance by legendary renegade filmmaker Monte Hellman ( Two-Lane Blacktop ), a tribute to late filmmaker/star Dennis Hopper and the New Mexico premiere of the timely postwar drama The Dry Land starring America Ferrera. The Alibi will have a closer look at all the films, workshops, parties and guest appearances in next week’s paper. For now, keep in mind that Wednesday’s opening-night action will spotlight Monte Hellman’s existential action film Two-Lane Blacktop (8 p.m. at Guild Cinema in Nob Hill) and will feature an awesome after-party (10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Atomic Cantina in Downtown). For a full rundown of events, log on to abqfilmfestival.com.
