This week begins on a Friday the 13th. How appropriate for the last week of this year's Another Hole in the Head Film Festival. Which is also, as far as I know, the last Bay Area film festival of the year. But outside of festivals, we've got a lot going on this week. Noir City … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 13 – 19

The only festival this week is Another Hole in the Head, which continues through the week and beyond. C+ Sweet Dreams, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday; Clay, Saturday, 1:30; Rafael, Sunday, 7:00.  This upbeat, everything-turns-out-okay documentary tries to tell three different stories in 84 minutes. While it has its high points, it doesn’t do justice … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 6 – 12

Today is Black Friday--a very appropriate date to open Another Hole in the Head Film Festival. It runs through December 19, and is the only Bay Area film festival at the moment. A RiffTrax Live Presents Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, various theaters, Thursday. The very title should tell you that Santa Claus Conquers the … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 29 – December 5

Not much is happening in festivals this week. Cinema by the Bay opens today and continues through Sunday. That's all until next week. On the other hand, you can see one family movie written and directed by Brad Bird on Saturday, then another one on Sunday. In fact, it's a very family-friendly newsletter this week…if … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 22 – 28

In festival news, New Italian Cinema continues through Sunday, and the  Chinese American Film Festival keeps going until Tuesday. The United Film Festival opens today and runs through Sunday. After a few day's hiatus, 3rd i's South Asian Film Festival returns for one more day on Saturday. B- Persistence of Vision, Rafael, Thursday, 7:00. Filmmaker … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 15 – 21

Both the American Indian Film Festival and French Cinema Now continue through Sunday. 3rd i's South Asian Film Festival also plays through Sunday, but will resurrect itself for one day next week. Both the New Italian Cinema and the Chinese American Film Festival start Wednesday. A- Dead Man, Castro, Friday. Here you have a western … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 8 – 14

Four film festivals opening this week. Both Taiwan Film Days and the American Indian Film Festival start today. And, speaking if Indians, the 3rd i South Asian Film Festival starts Wednesday. French Cinema Now starts Thursday. A 12 Years A Slave, Kabuki, Embarcadero Center, California (Berkeley), Piedmont, CineArts at Sequoia, opens Friday. True story: In … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 1 – 7

The United Nations Association Film Festival continues through Sunday. No other festivals this week. I've moved Halloween-oriented events to the bottom of this newsletter. B+ The Trials of Muhammad Ali,Opera Plaza, California (Berkeley), opens Friday. A well-made documentary about a great subject, The Trials of Muhammad Ali looks at a man who is arguably the … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 25 – 31

The United Nations Association Film Festival opened last night (sorry, I missed it in last week's newsletter) and runs through the 27th. Sister Cities Cinema: Zurich / SF opens today and plays through the weekend. I've placed Festival capsules at the bottom of this newsletter.C+ Zaytoun, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, Rafael, opens Friday. A Palestinian boy … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 18 – 24