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OMAR and BETHLEHEM: “Two Films, One Issue”

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Recently posted on the Jewish Exponent site, an excellent think piece about two films — OMAR, from Palestine, which we are currently screening, and BETHLEHEM, from Israel, which we open Friday. They are both terrific films and both tell stories with the same basic subject matter from different sides of the conflict. The piece is by Greg Salisbury:

Israeli Politics at the Oscars: Two Films, One Issue

February 26, 2014

At the 86th Academy Awards ceremonies on March 2, a film about the morally ambiguous and lethal world inhabited by Palestinian informants and their Israeli handlers will be one of the five nominees for Best Foreign Language Film. Win or lose, the evening will cap a successful year in which the film has won awards across the world.

The film in question is not Bethlehem, Israel’s entry, by first-time director Yuval Adler, which recently won six Ophirs, the Israeli equivalent of the Oscars, as well as the top prize at the 2013 Venice Film Festival. It is Omar, the Palestinian submission, directed by Hany Abu-Assad, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2013 Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. Abu-Assad was also nominated in 2006 for his film Paradise Now, about a pair of Palestinians preparing to become suicide bombers.
Both films, with two different viewpoints of the same controversial subject, are among the record 76 submissions from countries looking to take home a statuette. Only the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences know why one of these films was selected and not the other — the “arts” part of the academy’s name underscores the subjective nature of judging what is best about the form.
Sahdi Marei as Sanfur in BETHLEHEM

 

ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME ~ Q&A’s with the Filmmaker

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ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME filmmaker Chiemi Karasawa will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:40 PM screenings at the Royal on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8 as well as after the 5:20 screening on Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tldyvkqTqo

 

 

Q&A with the Writer-Director of OMAR, the Oscar Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film

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OMAR writer-director Hany Abu-Assad, producer-co-star Waleed Zuaiter and actress Leem Luban will participate in a Q&A on Sunday, February 23 after the 4:30 PM screening at the Royal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VngXAjsDzDs

BEA HUSMAN: BEATIFICA Comes to NoHo 7

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Join us for the NoHo 7’s first art gallery opening and the second installment of Laemmle’s ART IN THE ARTHOUSE program!  At select Laemmle Theatre locations, you’ll soon be enjoying fine works by visual artists in our lobbies and on your way to the auditorium.

BEA HUSMAN: BEATIFICA opens this coming Wednesday, February 26, 6-9pm.  To join us for the opening celebration, RSVP HERE.

This extraordinary exhibit uncovers the work of BEA HUSMAN (1915-2011), an iconoclast who translated her world travels into inspired artworks in a variety of media. Rarely exhibited during her lifetime, Husman produced art for the sheer pleasure of it, resulting in a legacy unsullied by the marketplace and a body of work that exudes joy and lyricism.

Husman, a fashion designer turned artist, discovered the Intaglio process in the 1970s and soon a printing press and metal plates for etching and engraving became part of her studio, alongside large easel, oil, and acrylic paints. In turn, this led to an interest in paper-making, and, circa 1980, Husman made her way to Kyoto, Japan for a paper-making class with DAVID HOCKNEY. Upon her return, she began utilizing both paper and print making disciplines to create breathtaking collage pieces that incorporated fabrics, string, torn sections of prints, found objects, and coarse, handmade papers.

As she matured as an artist, Husman exhibited an uncanny ability to weave together her myriad influences, including explorations of remote cultures, to create pieces of increasing sophistication.  She died in 2011 at 96. leaving  a treasure trove of never-before-seen work for the public to discover.

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About ART IN THE ARTHOUSE:

Art in the Arthouse is the brainchild of Laemmle president, Greg Laemmle. Switching to digital poster frames conserves both paper and wall space, creating the opportunity to extend the cultural scope of our theaters to include the visual fine arts.

By reclaiming wall space throughout our theaters for the display of fine art, patrons will have a chance to bond with notable and emerging L.A. based visual artists and their work. Proceeds from the sale of art benefit the activities of the Laemmle Charitable Foundation.

 

Oscar Doc Shorts Q&A at the Royal

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Jasmine Daghighian and Nick Reed, producers of the Oscar-nominated documentary short film THE LADY IN NUMBER 6, will participate in a Q&A after the 7:40 screening at the Royal on Sunday, February 16.

GIRL RISING screening at the NoHo February 26

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In case you missed the excellent documentary GIRL RISING when we played it last year, several local filmmakers are hosting a screening at the NoHo 7 on  February 26, 2014. Chrissy Dodson and Mandi Moss aim to bring a global movement to educate girls and create meaningful media with a special community screening of GIRL RISING that night at 7:30. This is a crowd-funded event, requiring 65 pre-sale tickets purchased by Monday, February 17 in order to take place. Pre-Sale Tickets Available for $11 http://bit.ly/GIRLRISING

GIRL RISING is a groundbreaking feature film that spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. The film captures their dreams, their voices and their remarkable lives with narration by notable performers, including Meryl Streep and Alicia Keys. The event is part of a larger movement dedicated to empowering and achieving educational equality for girls around the world. This International Women’s Day pre-celebration will bring entertainment industry professionals, Girl Scout leaders, students, educators, artists and community members together to raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education in developing nations and to create meaningful media. It is a fundraising event with a percentage of ticket sales and all donations supporting the Girl Rising Fund. “We believe in the power of education and media to change not only a girl, but the world,” said host Chrissy Dodson. “By hosting a community event featuring Girl Rising, we are demonstrating our commitment to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls around the world from going to school. We are proud to be part of this movement in Los Angeles. We hope all community members, artists and entertainment professionals will join us to collaborate, inspire and affect positive change.”

GIRL RISING was directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard E. Robbins and is narrated by Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloë Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. “If to see it is to know it, this film delivers hope – reasonable, measurable, tangible hope that the world can be healed and helped to a better future,” said Meryl Streep. “It’s a powerful film that has the potential to inspire change in the world. If you’re not moved, you’re not breathing,” said Alicia Keys. Girl Rising is also a movement that embraces the words of activist Malala Yousafzai: “One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution.” The movement was founded by award-winning journalists at The Documentary Group and Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, along with strategic partner, Intel Corporation. Girl Rising’s International Day of the Girl activities are sponsored by Intel. Girl Rising is built on a foundation of partnerships with NGOs, corporations, policy makers, and grassroots organizations — all working to change minds, lives, and policy. A portion of film ticket sales goes to support girl-focused programs through the Girl Rising Fund. The Fund is distributed to Girl Rising’s high-impact network of non-profit partners who are working on the ground: A New Day Cambodia, CARE, Girl Up/United Nations Foundation, Partners in Health, Plan International USA, Room to Read, and World Vision. GIRL RISING IS A FILM. GIRL RISING IS A MOVEMENT. GIRL RISING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE FUTURE. girlrising.com Tickets http://bit.ly/GIRLRISING

 

 

THE SQUARE Q&A with the Filmmakers

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THE SQUARE director and Oscar nominees Jehane Noujaim and producer Karim Amer will participate in a Q&A moderated by Terrence McNally of KPFK after the noon screening at the Music Hall on Saturday, February 15.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twB2zAOzsKE

SPARKS Cast and Crew at the NoHo for a Q&A

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The cast and crew of the indie superhero noir thriller SPARKS will participate in a Q&A after the 7 PM screening at the NoHo 7 on Saturday, March 15.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgM48TVD-g0