Reel World

\ Nov 25, 2004

3 min read

Charitable Cinema—On Saturday, Dec. 4, Youth In Transition, Inc. will present a Short Film Series at The Guild Cinema in Nob Hill from 11 p.m. to 3 p.m. YIT, Albuquerque's drop-in center for homeless youth, has gone through some difficult times of late with the destruction of the group's facility and the arrest (and eventual acquittal) of founder Donna Rowe. This Short Film Series will present seven films/videos documenting homelessness in Albuquerque. Among the films to be screened are “Escape from the Streets” by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, “Waking Up on Central” by Beverly Singer and “Give Us Your Poor” by Michael Mierendorf. Time permitting, they will also screen the complete police surveillance video which was used to “illegitimately arrest Donna Rowe and hold her on a $1 million bond.” Tickets are $10 to $100 on a sliding scale and all proceeds go to help YIT, which is struggling to keep its doors open this winter.

Reel World

Santa Fe Start—The 2004 Santa Fe Film Festival kicks off next week, Dec. 1-5, at assorted venues throughout the City Different. This year's festival features some 83 feature documentaries and narratives as well as countless short films, panel discussions, parties and more. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 1.

That night, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe (1615 Paseo de Peralta) will feature two documentaries and a homegrown feature beginning at 6 p.m. Mojados: Through the Night examines the lives of illegal immigrants in America. Seoul Train shows how impoverished North Koreans are escaping to China. String Theory comes from Taos playwright Eliam Kraiem and probes a group of friends trying to overcome assorted obstacles in small-town New Mexico. CinemaCafe (located in St. Michael's Village West Center, next to the College of Santa Fe) will screen the Canadian romantic drama Elephant Shoes, about an entire relationship squeezed into the course of 12 hours, at 7 p.m. The Screen (located on the College of Santa Fe campus) will be showing Travelers and Magicians at 7:30 p.m. This overseas import tells the story of a young man from Bhutan who believes he'll find his dream girl if only he can immigrate to America. The big-ticket opening night film will be The Assassination of Richard Nixon at the CCA Cinematheque (1050 Old Pecos Trail). This soon-to-be-released Hollywood effort stars Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Don Cheadle in a dark look at a frustrated businessman who goes to extreme lengths to realize his American Dream. The film screens at 7:15 p.m. The evening will wrap up with an Opening Night Party at Cowgirl BBQ and Western Grill (319 S. Guadalupe) featuring live music, food and a cash bar.

Tickets for individual events are $9. Festival passes good for all films and events begin at $300. Tickets and passes are available at the SFFF box office located at 905 W. Alameda. You can also purchase by phone by calling (505) 989-1495. Log on to www.santafefilmfestival.com for more info.