Celebrate Christmas with a holiday fave at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science’s 5-story DynaTheater. Released in 2004 and based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express was one of the first feature films to employ motion capture and photorealistic CGI. Movie technology has long since surpassed what The Polar Express was able to acomplish, but the holiday sentiment remains. Tom Hanks provides the voice of a conductor who takes a young boy on a magical train ride to the North Pole. The film will be screened in its original 3D format. The screening takes place Friday, Dec. 20 at 7pm and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4pm. Children of all ages are encouraged to show up in their pajamas! Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children ages 3 to 12. Kids 2 and under get in for free. To secure your tickets in advance, go to naturalhistoryfoundation.org/polar-express. NMMNH is located at 1801 Mountain Rd. NW.
Reel World: Whistle Stop Whistle Stop
If you missed the premiere of StormMiguel Florez’ enlightening LGBTQ documentary The Whistle earlier this year at KiMo Theatre, you’ve got another chance to catch it on Sunday, Dec. 29 starting at 1pm at Guild Cinema (3405 Central Ave. NE). In the film, Florez (a 45-year-old Latinx trans man) returns to his birthplace of Albuquerque to chronicle the underground culture (and its secret social codes) of growing up as a teenage lesbian in the ’70s and ’80s. Thanks to Albuquerque’s Transgender Resource Center, Florez will be on hand for the screening and a post-film Q&A. Admission is free, but seating is limited. So get there early to grab one of the limited door tickets—or reserve a seat by going to thewhistle.bpt.me. For more info on the film (including a trailer) go to stormflorez.com/the-whistle.
Reel World: Campy Movies Campy Movies
Do you have a kid out of school and stuck at home for the holiday break? Do they love movies? Do you love having them out of the house? Have I got a deal for you! Sol Acting Academy is offering up a New Year’s Movie Camp for Youth. Aimed at kids ages 7 to 15, this 5-day camp provides a crash course in filmmaking. Campers will work with each other to write, produce and act in a professionally shot short film. Local professional filmmakers will assist campers to create an ensemble piece with strong characters and a compelling story. Once the movie is edited, Sol Acting Academy will host a red carpet premiere for friends and family on Jan. 31. The Movie Camp takes place daily from 10am to 4pm—Monday, Dec. 30 through Friday, Jan. 1. Cost is $350 per camper. To register go to solacting.com/new-years-movie-camp. Sol Acting Academy is located at 5500 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Ste. 114.
Reel World: Bring Out Your Junk! Bring Out Your Junk!
The History Channel show “American Pickers” is coming back through New Mexico. Producers are looking for “interesting characters with interesting items” willing to sell to junkers/pickers/antique dealers Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe. (Private collections only—no stores, malls, flea markets, museums or anything open to the public.) If you’re a collector willing to let the guys from Iowa into your crowded backyard or overflowing shed, call the producers of “American Pickers” at 1-855-OLD-RUST or email them at AmericanPickers@cineflix.com.
