“We live through the predicate of screens,” Director Godfrey Reggio says. “They’re inescapable. They’ve become necessary to life.”

Charlotte Martinez provides a weekly preview of the films playing at The Screen.

Film School Associate Chair Paula Amanda’s ambition to build a professional film “hub” inside the Garson Studios has become reality. As of November, employees of Midthunder Casting, Cosmic Forces, 12FPS, and Film 4 Change have found their new offices packed with zealous film students and their supply of limited resources suddenly replenished by the equipment, expertise and passion of the Film School staff and their Film Biz Hub neighbors.

The renowned styles of Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi) return in his latest cinemagraphic ride, Visitors, one of three films showing this week at The Screen.

The Screen Presents: Jan. 22 – 28 The Best Offer Starring Goeffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess and Donald Sutherland High-end antique dealer Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) receives a call from a mysterious heiress (Sylvia Hoeks) who, despite her need for reclusion, invites Oldman to evaluate art in her home. Virgil soon finds himself enveloped by a passion that will transform his grey existence forever. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso) and featuring a score by legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, Black Howard of That Movie Show calls it a “cinematic palimpsest in the vein of Hitchcock’s Vertigo.” Opens this Friday. Let the Fire Burn Winner of Special Jury Award of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival On May 13 1985, a controversy between the urban radical group MOVE and the city of Philadelphia ended in a deadly fire. In this documentary, constructed entirely from found footage, the truth of the military-grade explosive that resulted in the death of 11 people is revealed. David Edelstein of New York Magazine calls Let the Fire Burn a time machine demonstrating how “footage already shot can make history in all its terrible finality breathe.” Opens this Friday.      Remember that Robert Redford movie, All Is Lost? You have yet another week to watch it! Visit thescreensf.com or movie times 505.473.6494 1600 St. Michael’s Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505 thescreensf.com https://www.facebook.com/thescreenhttps://twitter.com/thescreensf...

SFUAD film student Luiz Cavalcanti discusses his newest work “I wanna get shot.”

Previews for the four films showing Dec. 13-19 at The Screen.

A look at the films playing at The Screen Dec. 6-12.

Architecture, opera and Redford—be sure to check out the films showing Nov. 22-28 at The Screen.

Robert Redford and London’s Royal Opera House are both featured this week at The Screen.

The Screen Presents: Nov. 1-6 All Is Lost, Robert Redford’s Capstone Performance and a Must See for Filmmakers! Academy Award winner Robert Redford, age 77, has still got it! In J.C. Chandor’s latest thriller, All Is Lost, Redford plays an unnamed sailer who, after an accident to his sailboat, must survive the open waters and battle the elements for his life. Mary F. Pols from Time Magazine calls All Is Lost “a signal film achievement and the capstone to a great star’s career. This is Ultimate Redford.” Opens this Friday. The New York Film Critics Series, A Sneak Peek into Hollywood and Indie Films Hosted by Peter Travers Up until now, live talent has only been accessible to the public in New York, Los Angeles and at festivals. Now everyone throughout the country can enjoy up close and personal moments from major movie stars, producers, writers and directors in the comfort of their own neighborhood theaters. Preview screenings have been offered before, but never with a live conversation component. This, in addition to a curated selection of films, will allow filmgoers to see the better independent movies before anyone else, with exclusive insight from the creators into the productions. This week at the Screen, watch live interviews with Bruce Dern and Will Forte in Alexander Payne’s film Nebraska. Premiering Nov. 5 at 6p.m. Tickets on sale now....

Guilherme Spada is back with his second short film. Once more, he captures all the power of a psychological thriller and transmits it to us through House of Dolls. “The story is about three day-dreaming sisters that find out about love and sex. Because of the difficulty they have to express themselves, they end up doing bad crazy things,” says Spada. Marisa Melito, Dani Vondrak and Jess Cornelius play the three protagonists of the movie. Marisa Melito, who stars, was offered the role the night before filming began. “Jess Cornelius found me in the hallway and said her friend really needed another actress for his film. I had no idea who anyone was the next day at filming besides Jess and Dani (who I’ve met before) and I’ve also never done any film work before,” she says. “I’m a dance major, but I’ve done a lot of theatre in high school so it was weird having a camera and lots of people in your face watching you. Despite being a little bit out of my comfort zone, I had a lot of fun making this film and getting to know everyone, and I’m so happy that I got to be a part of it.” Film students know how important is to work as a team, since every project from the film department needs a group of people working together. For film student Claudia Vargas, being part of Spada’s team was very satisfying. “I loved being a part of the production of House of Dolls. Guilherme had a great team; he has very clear what he wants and I really think he is defining a style of his own. I really see him doing big things in the future and I am very proud.” As...

Initially I wanted to do a narrower list of movies, but I’m too much of a fan of horror to winnow the list down to specific decades. I chose the following horror movies based on absolutely no criteria other than personal taste. Some you may be familiar with, but I hope I have a few surprises. Here are five films for All Hallow’s Eve. In order by year of release: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) This movie is the finest horror movie to come out in years. It’s a bit of a play on horror tropes through the eyes of what would traditionally be considered the “antagonist.” It opens in familiar slasher tradition: A group of college-aged friends get together for a trip to the lake. While the film continuously flirts with the idea of slasher tropes, it revels in the inherent humor and stupidity of the genre. It’s a smart film and, more surprisingly, you might find yourself laughing harder at Tucker & Dale than a dedicated comedy. Trick ‘r Treat (2008) One of my favorite styles of horror film is the horror anthology. Trick ‘r Treat is a series of short horror stories pieced together by a common town and mythos. It utilizes the familiar tropes found in coming-of-age stories to ease its way in and then loses the inhibitions. The stories are interesting, fresh and tightly-packed into its 82 minute runtime. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2007) This one is another slasher that shrugs off its genre. Told in a documentary style, it follows the footsteps of a pseudo Jason Voorhees and how much work really goes into hunting down oversexed teenagers. It educates the audience on the symbolism in horror films, while simultaneously celebrating and embracing...

From this year’s Santa Fe Independent Film Festival’s Shorts Program, nine films were selected and screened under the category of New Mexico Shorts. This category required that a portion, if not all, footage be shot in the state. In supporting the origins of the festival, Executive Director Jacques Paisner said that when organizers started their screenings five years ago, they were in fact New Mexico filmmakers, and believed other filmmakers from the state “deserve[d] to play for a full house.” In his introduction to the New Mexico Shorts Program on Oct. 16 at Santa Fe’s Center for Contemporary Arts, Paisner invited the directors to present themselves to their audience, who ranged from students to seniors. “These young talented people are the future here in Santa Fe,” Paisner said, motioning to the young filmmakers.“It all starts with their vision. At the beginning, we’d often show almost any New Mexico film because we wanted to be supportive, but this year the competition became tougher than we’ve ever seen it. Each film you’ll see is a testament to that.” Indeed, after the screening was over, I felt—as a film student, a New Mexico resident, and annual SFIFF attendee—that every film demonstrated an inspiring amount of hard work, along with some quirky and enchanting stories.   88 Miles to Moscow, directed by Karen Clienke SFIFF Description: Niki may have missed the train, but don’t miss the heart of her story: a mother-daughter relationship in all its beautiful complexity. For any woman who remembers those uncomfortable talks with an obnoxiously protective mother, Karen Glienke’s 88 Miles to Moscow is relatable and all the more comedic. The film utilizes an interesting technique of cross-cutting between two main scenarios: the young Niki hitching a ride with a strange Russian boy (after missing...

The Screen Presents: Oct. 25-31 Una Noche, Would You Choose Family or Freedom? Winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s 2012 Best Director Award, Lucy Mulloy’s Cuban drama tells a daring tale of a young Havana criminal trying to escape to Miami. Beth Accomando of PBS.org says, “Molly captures the Cuban spirit of energy, resiliency, resourcefulness, and passion. She does an impressive job of blending an intimate story of friends with a meticulously observed portrait of Havana.” Muscle Shoals, Most Talked About Documentary Is Still Playing! The true story of the small town with a big sound credits Tennessee’s spiritual “Singing River” as the birthplace of America’s most celebrated music. From the FAME Studios of Rick Hall, blacks and whites worked together in the heat of Alabama’s racial hostility to create what is called the “Muscle Shoals sound.” To attest to Shoals reputation are artists Gregg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, and Percy Sledge. In a documentary “propelled by gorgeous music and rich anecdotes,” David Gritten of The Telegraph calls the story “joyous, uplifting and as funky as the music at its heart.”   Turandot (Royal Opera), Performance at the Screen Straight from London’s Royal Opera House, Director Andrei Serban brings forth the enchanting voices of Lise Lindstrom and Alasdair Elliott. The story? Princess Turandot has sworn that no man shall marry her unless he can correctly answer three riddles. Prince Calaf, captivated by Turandot’s beauty, takes up the challenge, determined to win her heart or die in the attempt. With a rich sound accompanying this dark and erotic fairy tale, the show guarantees an adventure in a beautiful but savage world. Playing at 11 am, Sun. Oct. 27. Tickets on sale here.    Visit thescreensf.com for movie times....

 This article is part of a series of stories covering SFUAD’s new scholarship opportunity, The Robert Redford/Milagro Initiative scholarship, and the key players who have been vital to its success.  “It’s all about networking,” Chris Eyre said, reflecting intently on his past 20 years in the film industry. Eyre, chairman of SFUAD’s Film School, spoke with such emphasis and humble pride about the path he has taken since attending NYU’s Master’s Program, that it appeared as if in this particular moment he had just put it all together, making sense of the incredible journey. Granted, as someone who had the life-changing opportunity to have his own creations workshopped and mentored by some of the movie-businesses’ finest as part of the Sundance Institute’s Director’s Lab, Eyre is no stranger to the intense and often unnerving world of independent film. “Ride the wave,” Eyre says. “That’s all you can do.” The wave Eyre refers to is the success into which he so modestly stepped when he met Robert Redford at the Sundance Institute. Eyre describes his first meeting with Redford as both daunting and, quite frankly, a little awkward (for Eyre, that is). Redford was reviewing the piece Eyre had written and created during his stay at the Sundance Labs. Eyre recalls Redford’s criticism as constructive and founded in years of knowledge of the craft, but there was only one problem: Eyre’s film was already finished. There was no time or resources to go back, re-shoot and fine-tune his work into a Redford-approved masterpiece. Eyre best described his reaction to this critique with a giant gulping “Huh?!” However, after spending time with Redford and learning more about the evolution of a filmmaker’s skill-set, Eyre found that those critiques were not calls-to-action, but solid advice for the...

The Screen Presents: Oct. 4 – 10 Short Term 12, Most Recommended by Students! Winner of best actress and director in the Locarno Film Festival, Short Term 12 has been raved by SFUAD students as a must see! An excellent example of Independent filmmaking: great actors, great plot, and it guarantees moments of tears. Richard Roeper from Chicago Sun-Times calls it “one of the best movies of the year.” La Camioneta, the Journey of One American School Bus La Camioneta follows the migration of a US school bus to the city of Guatemala, where it is revived and used by the vast majority of workers. J. Hoberman of ARTINFO.com calls it “a poetic, even dream, film that ultimately conveys the mystical sense of a transmigrated (mechanical) soul.” Opens this Friday. You Will Be My Son, the amazing 35mm print is still showing! Come see some awesome film projection. The Screen’s Fall Performance schedule is up. These high definition Operas  and Bellets come to you from theaters like the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, the Royal Opera House in London, the Teatro Antico di Taormina in Italy, La Scala in Milan and Sydney Harbour in Austrailia. Visit  http://thescreensf.com/streaming-opera-in-theaters#.Uk2xTmRVR9T for performances and performance times. Visit thescreensf.com for movie times 505.473.6494 1600 St. Michael’s Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505 thescreensf.com...

A product of Austin, Texas, Alec Brown, a freshman at The Film School was selected by the Robert Redford/Milagro Initiative to join the SFUAD community for the 2013-2014 school year. “Texas is very conservative, but Austin is an oasis!” Brown described with genuine admiration for the city he’s called home. It was in this “oasis” that Brown was able to pursue his passion for editing and be as creatively versatile as he desires. He also had the opportunity to work with his role model, Kat Candler, an independent filmmaker based out of Austin. Brown described a brief run-in with Kat that he had while going out to eat with his father where he told her that he had finally decided what to do with his life: edit motion pictures. “She was so proud…” Brown recalled with a smirk. Candler is working on her current film, Hellion, starring Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and Juliette Lewis. After some counseling with a SFUAD academic advisor, it was revealed to Brown that he could apply for the Robert Redford/ Milagro Initiative Scholarship. A long time fan of both Redford’s acting and directing work, Brown indulged in the idea. Now, well into the school year, Brown appears to have found his niche. “Absolutely,” Brown promptly responded when asked whether SFUAD’s Film School has met his expectations. “It has exceeded my expectations.” Brown didn’t even hesitate to this question. He was confident and undeterred by the woes many new film students have upon entering the busy world of movie-making. This couldn’t have been more apparent than when asked what he does for fun around campus. Brown says that he is “short on activities, but he makes shorts with his roommate in his dorm room. It may appear at this point in...

The Screen Presents: Sept. 27- Oct. 3 Short Term 12, the Best of Drama Directed by Destin Cretton and starring Brie Larson, this drama explores a young woman’s kind-hearted relationship with the kids who have slipped through the cracks of the system. When a challenging case comes along, however, this young woman must learn to make peace with her troubled past and open up to those around her. Winner of best actress and director in the Locarno Film Festival, Richard Roeper from Chicago Sun-Times calls it “one of the best movies of the year.” You Think You Know the Legend? What About the Man? Watch The Trials of Muhammad Ali, the Story of Ali’s Choice of Faith Over Fortune  Academy award-nominated director Bill Siegel investigates boxing icon Muhammad Ali by following his life away from the ring. This documentary exposes the man who caused controversy in his race, his religion and his government, by refusing to serve in the Vietnam war.  John DeFore of the Hollywood Reporter says the film “captures the thrill of Ali’s personality even for viewers with little interest in the sweet science.”   Beckett on Film, Last Sunday of the Series Beckett on Film is a celebrated five part series of Samuel Beckett’s 19 plays, filmed by some of the world’s most talented directors, and featuring actors like Julianne Moore, Jeremy Irons and John Hurt. Beckett was awarded ‘Best TV Drama’ at the Sixth South Bank Show Awards Ceremony in 2002 and is called a celebration of artistic achievement. FREE ADMISSION every Sunday of September- 11 a.m. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m.. This Sunday, Sept. 29 watch the shorts Rough for Theater 2, directed by Katie Mitchell and Check the Gate: the Making of Beckett on Film. FYI, You Will...

The Screen Presents: Sept. 20-26 You Will Be My Son, Rivalry of the Winery on 35mm Film! A must see for all film students, this film print is one of the last to be played on the Screen’s 35mm projectors. You know…with scratches, flickers and surround sound. Called a fable and parable of a tale, this French drama includes all the necessary suspense of a father verses son complex. “Unfolding like a thriller,” as Eric Hynes of Time Out New York says, the French succeed again in a fantastic display of cinematography. Opens this Friday, Sept. 20   Deceptive Practice: the Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay. Magic on the Screen! Literally The amazing, fabulous, hilarious Ricky Jay is not just a documentary on a performer’s prestigious career in magic, acting and writing— it’s a documentary on deception! Featuring stock footage of some of the most famous magicians in the world, Jay guarantees a story to remember. Opens this Friday, Sept. 20   Bidder 70, “It’s time to Rush the Field and Stop the Game” For students who feel disempowered by higher government, Tim DeChristopher would say: you are not. In 2008, the college student DeChristopher demonstrated an act of civil disobedience during a federal auction, in which 22,000 acres of Utah land was being offered to mining and energy industries. Falsely bidding $1.7 million, Tim DeChristopher was sent to prison, but not before igniting the climate justice movement. According to Gary Goldstein of Los Angeles Times, “Time DeChristopher’s staunch and inspiring journey after that fateful auction is efficiently tracked in this vital and involving documentary.” ONE NIGHT ONLY- Tuesday, Sept. 24 7pm. Featuring Q/A with Filmmakers. Tickets on sale at thescreensf.com Presenting to You Theater Majors, Beckett on Film Beckett on Film is a celebrated five part series...

The Screen Presents: Sept. 13-20 Presenting to Theater Majors: Beckett on Film Beckett on Film is a celebrated five-part series of Samuel Beckett’s 19 plays, filmed by some of the world’s most talented directors, and featuring actors like Julianne Moore, Jeremy Irons and John Hurt. Beckett was awarded ‘Best TV Drama’ at the Sixth South Bank Show Awards Ceremony in 2002 and is called a celebration of artistic achievement. FREE ADMISSION every Sunday of September at 11am. Doors will open at 10:30. This Sunday, Sept. 15 watch Come and Go, directed by John Crowley and Waiting For Godot, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.   Visual Artists and Mona Lisa Lovers, Resist the Mystery of The Missing Piece: Mona Lisa, Her Thief, The True Story Joe Medeiros’ documentary investigates the secret motives behind Mona Lisa’s 1911 theft from the Louvre. Creatively assembled and comically informative, Medeiros’ sources come straight from the lion’s mouth, the descendants of Mona Lisa’sthief, Vincenzo Peruggia. Opens this Friday, Sept. 13. Special Skype Q/A with filmmakers 1:30 pm, Sunday, Sept. 15. Tickets on sale at thescreensf.com   This Is Martin Bonner, Come Meet Him! Chad Hartigan’s live-action narrative between two estranged family men is, according to critic Andrew Lapic (The Dissolve),“beyond the hoary parable of most faith-based films.” It is an “understated drama with small words and big ideas.” Made in the US, this candid character sketch brings out the realism in film-based storytelling. Opens this Friday, Sept.13.   Visit thescreensf.com for movie times 505.473.6494 1600 St. Michael’s Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505 https://www.facebook.com/thescreen, https://twitter.com/thescreensf...

By Charlotte Martinez/ Photos by Christopher Stahelin It’s all about timing and planning for the unexpected. That’s the movie business for you. The sky is clear at 3:30 p.m., Feb. 24 on the Santa Fe University of Art and Design campus. The Screen, SFUAD’s independent movie theater and my work place, has a sidewalk leading to the entrance and though the concrete is cracked and dusty, I feel like I’m passing Hollywood’s red carpet. There’s a lot of excitement the day of SFUAD’s Oscar Night, but like I said, the movie business isn’t predictable. Here at the Screen, Oscar Night means a live stream of the 2013 Academy Awards for students and faculty of the Film Department. In addition, this event premieres the Film School’s first Shoot the Stars production, two student-made films featuring big name actors Wes Studi, from Avatar, and Canadian actor Luke Kirby. My red carpet disappears, however, when I’m told we’re running 20 minutes behind. Peter Grendle, manager of the Screen and professor at the Film School, strides in with his usual short-breathe grin (I’m convinced he runs everywhere). I tell him our last movie will let out 20 minutes late. He says he knows and we make a plan. It’s 3:45 p.m. I smile at the gathering audience and promise that they’ll be let into the theater soon. There’s some confusion as to when the student films will begin. “We’re playing it by ear,” I say. This turns out partially true. For the first 30 minutes my ear stays glued to the theater’s closed doors, behind which Peter struggles to stream cable to both the Screen and the monitor down the hall in Studio C, where the Oscar party begins. This party is legit! Red carpet, decorations, paparazzi, finger...