Albuquerque is home to a number of increasingly diverse cinematic celebrations—from the Italian Film & Culture Festival to the Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Now you can add the ABQ Jewish Film Festival to the mix. The Jewish Community Center and Congregation Albert have joined forces to present this annual event, the inaugural theme of which is “Exploring the Jewish Journey Through Film—from Broadway to Baseball.” This multi-day event will take place from Thursday, March 6, through Tuesday, March 11. Thursday starts out with The Pin, a Yiddish language drama about two young Eastern Europeans hiding in a barn during World War II. On Saturday it’s the documentary Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. Sunday brings with it two documentaries: Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story and The Gatekeepers (about Israel’s Secret Service). Tuesday closes out with Hava Nagila, which examines the power of one song to “express and sustain identity, to transmit lessons across generations and to bridge cultural divides.” All films will be presented at either the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque (5520 Wyoming NE) or the African American Performing Arts Center (310 San Pedro NE). For a complete schedule, go to jccabq.org. Tickets are $5 in advance or $8 at the door. Prepaid reservations may be purchased online or by calling 348-4455.
Reel World: The Swayziest The Swayziest
Albuquerque’s most historic Downtown arts venue brings back Friday Date Night @ the KiMo with the “Crazy for Swayze” series. Experience the joy and majesty that is five Patrick Swayze movies in one epic film series. It starts out, auspiciously enough, on Friday, March 7, at 8pm with 1983’s greaser gang drama The Outsiders (bonus eye-candy: C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise and Leif Garrett). That’s followed by Red Dawn (March 21), Dirty Dancing (March 28), Road House (April 4) and Ghost (April 11). Sadly, 1979’s Skatetown, U.S.A. did not make the cut. Tickets are $5 students and seniors and $7 general admission. What are you waiting for? Find a date and get your Swayze on.
Reel World: Top Shorts Top Shorts
Filmapalooza is coming! What’s a Filmapalooza, you ask? Why, it’s the culmination of the international 48 Hour Film Project. After all the top-ranked short films are chosen from various 48 Hour Film Project locations around the globe (including right here in Albuquerque), they’re sent to the big competition (which takes place March 6-10 in New Orleans). The winners of that event get to tour the county as the best 48 Hour Films of the year. On Wednesday, March 12, the winning shorts will make their first stop here in Albuquerque for a special screening. Organizers will also show off winning entries from the past three years. That will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Yochai Hadad (Israel winner 2013), John Broadhead (Albuquerque winner 2013), Aynn Kirby & Don Gray (Albuquerque winners 2012) and Hannah MacPhearson (Albuquerque winner 2011). They’ll discuss their experiences making a 48 Hour Film Project and will dole out tips for other filmmakers on how to create a winning film. The event is free and takes place from 7 to 8:30pm at UNM’s Mitchell Hall, Room 122.
