The Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County’s annual Books to Big Screen film series heads over to the historic KiMo Theatre (423 Central Ave. NW) this week with a collection of classic Western novels turned Hollywood hits. On Thursday, Feb. 6 it’s 1960s’s Cimarron starring Glenn Ford. On Friday, Feb. 7 it’s 1952’s High Noon with Gary Cooper. Saturday gives us 1969’s True Grit starring John Wayne. Things wrap up on Saturday, Feb. 9 with 1958’s The Big Country featuring Gregory Peck. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s films start at 7pm. Sunday is a matinee screening starting at 2pm. Admission is free. Just show up at the KiMo in time to get yourself a good seat. If you need more information on the series, go to kimotickets.com
Reel World: Kung Fu Quickie Kung Fu Quickie
The locally shot short film “Art of War” is having a test screening/ fundraising event this Saturday, Feb. 8, at the South Broadway Cultural Center (1025 Broadway Blvd. SE). It starts at 7pm with a selection of trailers from local New Mexico filmmakers. That’s followed by the “Art of War” screening and and “Art of War” behind-the-scenes featurette. The film is described as a “fast-paced martial arts extravaganza” about a foolish man who antagonizes an enemy gang and finds himself fighting alongside a “mysterious kung fu loner” who teaches him the true meaning of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. After the screening, actors Jeremiah Crosby, Kevin Chambers and Kyle Dean Bolt, producer Tamas Nadas, director of photography Mando Hernandez, production designer Roxy Traino, composer Ian Hudson, editor/VFX artist Arnaldo Mirabal and writer-director Jake Extine take the stage for a Q&A session. Extine Media and Darkroad Pictures are presenting this event as a lead-up to their film’s eventual film festival run. Admission is free to the public, but donations are gratefully accepted. All proceeds go toward post-production work and film fest submission fees.
Reel World: Harriet And History Harriet And History
In honor of Black History Month, Regal Cinemas and Focus Features are sponsoring a free public screening of the historical biopic Harriet on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The film, which is up for Best Actress at this weekend’s Oscars, tells the story of Harriet Tubman, the former-slave-turned-abolitionist who helped establish the Underground Railroad and rescued hundreds of African Americans during the mid-1800s. Locally, screenings take place at 7 and 9:30pm at the UA Cottonwood Stadium 16 (1000 Coors Blvd. NW). To secure tickets and guarantee a seat, go to regmovi.es/2UmpETy.
Reel World: A Is For Anniversary! A Is For Anniversary!
New Mexico PBS is hosting a 50th Anniversary Celebration in honor of “Sesame Street” on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Albuquerque Museum (2000 Mountain Rd. NW). The Albuquerque Museum already has the puppet-filled Jim Henson Exhibition on display, so it’s the perfect place to have this historic event. Among the activities planned are photos with Cookie Monster, a special “Sesame Street” 50th anniversary video, hands-on activities, light snacks and, of course, a tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited—so you need to register in advance by going to newmexicopbs.org/sesame-street-50th-anniversary-celebration.
