The Center for Contemporary Arts Cinematheque’s successful annual African Effect film festival starts again this Thursday, May 15, and runs through Sunday, May 18. This sixth annual outing features films, discussions and presentations about African culture and Africa in diaspora. Samba Gadjigo, one of the world’s foremost scholars of African cinema, returns as co-curator. Among the 2008 programming will be a focus on African-American comedy and a tribute to Ousemane Sembene, the father of African cinema. For a complete list of films and events, log on to www.ccasantafe.org. The CCA is located at 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe.
Death Goes Live
On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20 and 21, Viz Pictures will release the hot new live-action feature film adaptations of Death Note and Death Note 2 , based on the wildly popular Japanese anime series. The subtitled, supernatural films will screen digitally in select theaters across the United States courtesy of National CineMedia and Fathom Events. Locally, the films will show at the Starport 9 Cottonwood Mall theater beginning at 7:30 p.m. both nights. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at www.fathomevents.com–but Viz was kind enough to send three pairs of tickets for the Wednesday, May 21, show to us here at the Alibi . I’m going to give them out to the first three anime fans who e-mail me at devin@alibi.com and tell me the name of the band who performs the films’ theme song (be sure to use the words “Death Note” as your subject line).
Mongolia Or Bust
Albuquerque boy Chris Walsh recently went to Mongolia with pal Matt Garcia. There, the two co-produced and co-directed a documentary called Mongolia Story . It’s basically the tale of two friends who go to Mongolia with the intention of making a documentary while knowing nothing about the country or what their documentary should be about. The resulting film follows their sometimes hapless, sometimes inspiring adventures in this strange and exotic land. The film will screen on Sunday, May 18, at the Belen Masonic Lodge (607 Goebel in Belen) beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is $30, but that includes a gourmet prime rib dinner. (No, really!) Feel free to call John Walsh at 865-8263 or e-mail AmigoPro@gmail.com for more info.
Óperas Ends
The Óperas Primeras film series at the National Hispanic Cultural Center comes to an end this Thursday, May 15, with a free screening of El Tren de la Memoria by Marta Arribas y Ana Pérez. This 2005 drama traces the journey of a Spanish immigrant through ’60s Europe. The film will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Screening starts at 7 p.m.
