Same-Sex Cinema—Local film company Crone Productions is holding a fundraiser this weekend at the Guild Cinema in Nob Hill to help finish work on their latest effort, Faces, a documentary about same-sex marriage in New Mexico. On Saturday, Jan. 29, The Guild will be screening the hearfelt gay romance Big Eden, starring Ayre Gross (Minority Report, “Ellen”) and Eric Schweig (The Missing, Skins). On Sunday, it's the culture clash lesbian romance Chutney Popcorn starring Jill Hennessy (“Crossing Jordan”). Both shows start at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office. or more information, log on to www.croneproductions.com.
Reel World
Culture Jam—On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29, the Guild Cinema will present two evenings of culture jamming beginning at 9:30 p.m. “What's culture jamming?” you ask. I'm glad you asked. It's a term alternately defined as “media hacking, information warfare, terror-art and guerilla semiotics.” Billboard bandits, pirate TV and radio broadcasters, media hoaxers and basically anyone who tries to annoy and subvert our corporate overlords is engaging in culture jamming. The Guild, in conjunction with Basement Films, will present two feature-length evenings of video and film works revolving around this hot-button concept. The evenings are anchored by two films from San Fran “found footage” filmmaker Craig Baldwin. Friday will feature Baldwin's 1978 film Wild Gunman and Saturday will spotlight his magnum opus Sonic Outlaws, profiling fellow culture jammers Negativland. Short works by UNM Media Arts students and Basement Films volunteers will precede each screening. Additional surprises are promised. Tickets are available at the box office.
Reel World
Back By Popular Demand—In a continuing effort to bring year-round programming to our state, the Santa Fe Film Festival will present a special screening this coming Saturday at Santa Fe's Cinemacafé. Beginning at 11 a.m., the theater will feature some of the favorites from last December's sold-out Santa Fe Film Festival. Among the day-long offerings are Zapata (Afonso Arau's colorful epic about the Mexican revolutionary icon), Dancing from the Heart (a stirring profile of the charismatic leader behind a traditional San Juan Pueblo dance troupe), “Raven Tales” (the award-winning animated short from Las Cruces filmmaker Chris Kientz), Turmoil (an incisive documentary look at Venezuela's political chaos) and Educating Marissa (investigating the tragic slaying of a Santa Fe High School student). Admission for each of the feature screenings is $9. Cinemacafé is located at 1616 St. Michael's Drive. The By Popular Demand series returns on Feb. 19 with two more award-winning films from last year's festival. For more information on this and other Santa Fe Film Fest screenings, log on to www.santafefilmfestival.com.
