The upcoming Santa Fe Film Festival (Dec. 6-9) presents another one of its sneak-preview events. This Friday, Oct. 5, there will be a special screening and reception for the film Without Borders. The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the New Mexico History Museum Auditorium (113 Lincoln, next to the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe). Without Borders introduces audiences to Thanasis (Yorgo Voyagis), a goodhearted Athenian cotton candy vendor who does his best to raise a baby girl after her mother—an immigrant prostitute—abandons her and disappears to America to find her fortune. Years later, mom returns and reclaims her daughter. With no money, no visa and no English skills, Thanasis heads to America to find the child he raised as his own. The film’s writer-director Nick Gaitatjis and several cast members, including Academy Award nominee Seymour Cassel, will be in attendance. Ticket price is $30 and includes screening, Q&A / reception, food and drink.

On Wednesday, Sept. 19, the KiMo Theatre will be hosting its 85th anniversary extravaganza. How about coming out and celebrating with the beautiful old gal? The night starts off with Pueblo Indian drumming and dancing at 5 p.m. on the sidewalk outside the theater. City officials will be on hand to unveil a National Register and City Landmark plaque. At 5:30 p.m., there will be an architectural tour of the renovated venue. Restored murals and a brand new silver screen are just some of the sights you will see. At 6:45 p.m. the festivities really begin with beloved local author John Nichols introducing Robert Redford’s 1988 adaptation of The Milagro Beanfield War. Nichols wrote the screenplay based on his 1974 novel, and it was filmed on location in Truchas, N.M. Rúben Blades, Sonia Braga, Melanie Griffith, Christopher Walken, Freddy Fender and John Heard are among the classy cast. The film screening starts at 7 p.m. sharp. Following the film, at 9 p.m., there will be a meet-and-greet reception in the lobby. I hear there will be cake. What’s a birthday celebration without cake? So, what’s the cost for this fabulous event, you ask? It’s free! The mayor’s picking up the tab, so get there early and grab a seat.

Downtown Albuquerque’s historic KiMo Theatre is looking increasingly committed to classic silver screen entertainment. Starting this weekend, KiMo begins its new Friday Fright Night series. Every Friday in May, there will be a screening of a horror classic, freshly unearthed from the vaults of Universal Studios. The scares start with James Whale’s 1931 version of Frankenstein. Boris Karloff stars in the role that launched a thousand nightmares. On May 18, it’s 1933’s The Invisible Man starring Claude Raines. On May 25, we get Bela Lugosi vamping it up in 1931’s Dracula. Tickets are $7 general admission, or $5 students and seniors. You even get free popcorn with your ticket! All films start at 8 p.m.

Rick Reichman will conduct another one of his patented free screenwriting workshops on Thursday, April 12. The event will take place from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande NW). Participants will get a crash course in how to script gripping film scenes. Reichman is the author of 20 Things You Must Know to Write a Great Screenplay and Formatting Your Screenplay. For more information, contact Bookworks at 344-8139 or Mr. Reichman at 984-2927.

Following a drastically reduced 2010 schedule, the Santa Fe Film Festival is experiencing a rebuilding year. The 12-year-old festival has stumbled a bit, accruing debt and losing sponsorships since the departure of founding director Jon Bowman. But this year, the festival is expanding to three venues (The Screen, the Center for Contemporary Arts and The Lensic) and has locked in an impressive schedule of some 30 features, documentaries and short film blocks.

During his time in New Mexico, Jon Bowman has served as associate publisher for New Mexico Magazine, columnist for The Santa Fe New Mexican’s arts insert Pasatiempo and editor/author of seven books including 100 Years of Filmmaking in New Mexico.