A Place to Stand is a new documentary about New Mexico writer Jimmy Santiago Baca. Based on the memoir of the same name, the film recounts Baca’s life—from his childhood in an orphanage to his incarceration in prison as a young man to his transformation into an award-winning poet, novelist, screenwriter and teacher. In celebration of the film’s upcoming national television broadcast, New Mexico PBS is offering a free public screening of the film at the South Broadway Cultural Center (1025 Broadway SE) on Friday, Nov. 9. Baca will be in attendance and will host a Q&A afterward. A short introductory film, “Conviction: From Prison Halls to Museum Walls” about local artist Eric Christo Martinez, screens before the feature. Doors open at 6:30pm. Film starts at 7pm.
Reel World: Oh, See Me Oh, See Me
Often called the Nelson Mandela of Central Asia, the noted educator, scholar and statesman Muhammad Osimi used science, culture and education as tools to connect people and ultimately lead them to peace. Through interviews with former colleagues, friends and family, the documentary Osimi introduces audiences to the story of this remarkable man and his public service to Tajikistan, Central Asia and the world. New Mexico PBS and the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience are hosting a free public screening of the documentary on Saturday, Nov. 10 at KiMo Theatre (423 Central Ave. NW). The film is narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Ali McGraw, who will be in attendance at the screening. Admission is free. Doors open at 7pm. Film starts at 7:30pm. For more information go to kimotickets.com.
Reel World: Local Talent Local Talent
The New Mexico Film Foundation in partnership with the Jean Cocteau Cinema presents a screening of recent New Mexico filmmakers’ shorts and trailers. The program is designed to show the public the projects our local N.M. filmmakers have going and to give those filmmakers the opportunity to see their work on the big screen. The event runs from 7 to 9pm on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Tickets are $5. The JCC is located at 418 Montezuma Ave in Santa Fe.
Reel World: Get Animated Get Animated
New Mexicans for Science and Reason hosts its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, starting at 7pm. The special guest for November is physicist and mathematician Dave Thomas, who is on hand to present several examples of “scientific animation”—that is, using computer-generated movies to illustrate complex phenomena, optical illusions and more. Thomas will discuss and show home-brewed animations on subjects ranging from 9/11 collapse simulation to flat Earth visualizations. The meeting takes place at the CNM Main Campus Student Resource Center, Room 204 (near the corner of Buena Vista Dr. and Coal Ave.). For more details, go to nmsr.org.
