Category: Local Events

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: 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

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 2.5  (Out of Four Stars) This experimental film by Joao Pedro Rodriguez and Joao Rui Guerra de Mata ambitiously attempts to combine seemingly random film footage of the city of Macao with a highly imaginative narrative, but doesn’t quite succeed in its execution. The narrative involves the return of an unnamed,… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO

Local Movie News: The 20th Annual Austin Film Festival’s Honorees

JONATHAN DEMME TO RECEIVE ESTEEMED  “EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION TO FILMMAKING” AWARD AT 2013 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL     Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan named “Outstanding Television Writer”   Bones EP Barry Josephson to receive inaugural “Heart of Film” Award At the Fest’s 20th Anniversary October 24-31, 2013   Austin, TX, — April 24, 2013 – Austin Film… Continue reading Local Movie News: The 20th Annual Austin Film Festival’s Honorees

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 4) Writer/director Iris Almaraz along with guest writer/director Gustavo Ramos deliver a sweet, hilarious and heart warming portrait of a late blooming, young lady pursuing an adult life on her own. Lulu (Leana Daly), a twenty-something year old woman still lives with her father and stepfamily and… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: 3

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Uruguay, this film by director Pablo Stoll, tells the story of a true modern, nuclear family. Dentist Rodolfo’s (Humberto De Vargas) most recent relationship has fallen apart and in his loneliness, he attempts to reconnect with his daughter Ana (Anaclara Ferreya Palfy) and his ex-wife… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: 3

Cine Las Americas 16 Review: BLANCANIEVES

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) It is a fairy tale that has been told and retold countless times, but never like this. Opening the 16th Annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, writer/director Pablo Berger’s version of the Brothers Grimm tale, has a darker, more realistic take than other incarnations and… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 16 Review: BLANCANIEVES

Review and Interview: AFF Best of the Fest Presents JUNK

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4) The Austin Film Festival has continued their post-festival film series showcasing the Audience Award winners from last year. At the 2012 festival, Kevin Hamedani’s Junk took home the audience’s choice for best film in the Narrative Feature category.  On April 1, AFF screened the film with writer/director/star… Continue reading Review and Interview: AFF Best of the Fest Presents JUNK

2013 SXSW Review: ZERO CHARISMA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Scott Weidemeyer (Sam Eidson) lives for writing and developing role playing games. As the “Master” of his weekly gaming group, Scott takes his games way too seriously. So when a new member of the group challenges the master’s authority and game scenarios bringing an element of… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: ZERO CHARISMA