Documentary Debut—The Santa Fe Film Festival will sponsor a special screening of Zana Briski and Ross Kaufman's award-winning documentary Born into Brothels this Thursday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. The screening will take place at The Screen on the College of Santa Fe campus. Born into Brothels captures the life of an unforgettable group of children. Feisty, resilient and wickedly funny, these kids are the offspring of the prostitutes who occupy Calcutta's red light district. Determined to evade their doomed future, they embark on a transformational journey with New York-based photographer Zana Briski, who teaches them the explore their world through the art of photography. This exuberant, unsentimental film nabbed both the Documentary Award and the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and looks to be a sellout event; so get there early. Tickets are $9 and are available at the door (1600 St. Michael's Drive).
Reel World
Outta SITE Cinema—SITE Santa Fe is in the middle of its huge Biennial Celebration. On Monday, July 26, at 6 p.m., the Lensic Performing Arts Center will play host to the Biennial Film Program. Noted filmmakers will be on hand to screen and discuss their work within the context of SITE's fifth biennial. Tickets are $8 ($4 for SITE members) and are available at the Lensic box office (211 West San Francisco St.). For more information, log on to www.sitesantafe.org.
Reel World
More in New Mexico—Film production continues apace here in New Mexico. Earlier this month, production began in Rio Rancho on the indie drama Dreamland. This low-budget character drama focuses on a group of people living in a run-down trailer park in the American Southwest. Cast members include Agnes Bruckner (Blue Car) and Kelli Garner (Love Liza). The film began production on July 6 and is expected to employ some 45 New Mexicans for about two months.
On the near horizon is Believe in Me, from writer/director Robert Collector (the man behind the campy women-in-prison classic Red Heat and the hilariously inept horror flick Nightflyers). This $7 million film looks at the trials and tribulations of an all-girl basketball team and is based on the inspirational young adult book by Harold Keith. Filming is expected to begin this fall.
