Author: Mark Saldana

Movie News: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS V.I.P. Screening

WHAT: PARAMOUNT PICTURES, BAD ROBOT AND CHARITYBUZZ PARTNER TO OFFER STAR TREK FANS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO MEET DIRECTOR J.J. ABRAMS AND THE CAST OF “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” AT THE FILM’S LOS ANGELES PREMIERE. PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE MISSION CONTINUES. Charitybuzz, the leading destination for online charity auctions, will host the bidding for a… Continue reading Movie News: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS V.I.P. Screening

Movie News/Local Events: VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS

 “Vivan Las Antipodas” Screens Again Saturday 5/4 & Sunday 5/5   Victor Kossakovsky’s movie is a feast for the senses, a fascinating kaleidoscope of our planet. ¡VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS! – Long Live The Antipodes! Every screening begins with a 3-minute short film from GE FOCUS FORWARD and is followed by a pre-taped Q&A with Mr.… Continue reading Movie News/Local Events: VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS

Cine Las Americas 16 Reviews: Narrative/Panorama Shorts

By Mark Saldana One the things I really like about Cine Las Americas is the fact that before most feature films, they present one of the shorts submitted to the festival.  Because  my coverage involves mostly feature length films at festivals, I rarely get the opportunity to view shorts showcases.  This year I was able… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Reviews: Narrative/Panorama Shorts

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: 7 CAJAS/7 BOXES

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) For the piece de resistance, Jean Laurer and her programmers picked an awesome gem of a film to close out the festival. This import from Paraguay had me thoroughly engaged and invested in its story and characters from start to finish. Of all the films I… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: 7 CAJAS/7 BOXES

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: Panorama Double Feature

By Mark Saldana As part of their Panorama Short Films line up, this year’s Cine Las Americas festival had a double feature of two, hour long, short films on Saturday night (April 20th).  The Panorama section celebrates Narrative and Documentary films which “represent innovative and independent filmmakers in complement to the rest of the program;… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: Panorama Double Feature

Cine Las Americas 16: NOS VEMOS, PAPA/SEE YOU, DAD

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Mexico, writer/director Lucia Carreras tells an affecting and even disturbing tale of a young woman’s painful struggles in coping with the loss of her father. Pilar (Cecilia Suarez) has remained very close to her father and has taken care of him up until his death.… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16: NOS VEMOS, PAPA/SEE YOU, DAD

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: PATH OF SOULS

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Every year, Cine Las Americas has maintained a commitment not only to promoting Hispanic/Latino themed and Spanish/Portuguese language films, but also to films dedicated to indigenous and Native American peoples. This year, CLAIFF had two Native American films in their lineup which I had the pleasure… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: PATH OF SOULS

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: HASTA NUNCA/SEE YOU NEVER

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Exactly twenty four hours after watching The Last Time I Saw Macao, I watched another ambitious film which has a similar approach to storytelling.  Only this time, the experimental technique pays off.  Director Mark Street tells the story of Uruguayan talk radio host Mario Ligetti (Rufo… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: HASTA NUNCA/SEE YOU NEVER