Author: Mark Saldana

LEVITICUS: Shows The Dark Side of Religion

From Australia comes a horror film that examines the negative impact of Christianity on a community and its children. Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, Leviticus focuses on a small Australian community of devout Christians, some of whose teenage inhabitants clash with their parents over behavior their parents deem evil or unholy. Desperate to convert… Continue reading LEVITICUS: Shows The Dark Side of Religion

THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD Removes All of The Fun of Robin Hood, and Suffers In The Process

Writer/director Michael Sarnoski takes the lore of Robin Hood and deconstructs it in such a way that it robs all of the fun out of the Robin Hood legend. When it comes to Robin Hood, I think of swashbuckling action and excitement, but The Death of Robin Hood takes a vastly different approach to its… Continue reading THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD Removes All of The Fun of Robin Hood, and Suffers In The Process

CLAIFF 2026: AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ

On May 13, 2026, the 28th annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival kicked off its event with a wonderful documentary about Chicano playwright and director Luis Valdez. Writer/director David Alvarado takes his audience through the story of Valdez, from his childhood as a migrant farm worker in Delano, California, to his emergence as a… Continue reading CLAIFF 2026: AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ

CLAIFF 2026: STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON

In 1969, Sesame Street hit the airwaves on PBS and forever changed children’s television programming. Known for its progressive approach to educating children, the show became well-known for promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion. This quality is clearly defined by its multicultural casting of human actors of various races, ethnicities, and cultures. Actor Sonia Manzano joined… Continue reading CLAIFF 2026: STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON

SXSW 2026: POWER BALLAD

Artistic creativity is a very fickle thing. Sometimes it flows so naturally from the heart and mind. Other times, it is a painful, arduous process guaranteed to frustrate and confound the artist. And with fame and success, the creative process often comes with greater pressures and challenges. These are the concepts and themes examined in… Continue reading SXSW 2026: POWER BALLAD

SXSW 2026: WISHFUL THINKING

Love and relationships can be quite complicated. Passion and romance can often cloud people’s best judgment and make them blind to the overall impact of their relationships. And it often takes something dramatic happening to help people realize that they are involved in a toxic relationship. Well, writer/director Graham Parkes has taken this idea to… Continue reading SXSW 2026: WISHFUL THINKING

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