Author: CWB News Department

Cinema Without Borders is giving away 5 pairs of passes to a see IT’S BETTER TO JUMP! The screening will take place on Tuesday, October 1st at the Harmony Gold Theatre on Sunset Blvd. Just send an email to rsvp@cinemawithoutborders.com with your name and contact information, and the first five lucky readers will get the opportunity to see IT’S BETTER TO JUMP for free! IT’S BETTER TO JUMP (2013) (Los Angeles premiere), a new documentary about the ancient walled city of Akka (aka Acre) in northern Israel, inhabited by Muslims, Christians, Jews and Baha’i. Akka’s history goes all the way…

A CELEBRATION OF PALESTINIAN CULTURE is an enlightening cultural festival that shares stories of the Holy Land and celebrates Palestinian creativity. Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, with Bright Stars of Bethlehem says, “Our aim is that our people, who admire stars, will dare to look up and dream, to believe in goals to strive for, and develop a new sense of hope, community, beauty and faith.” Jordan Elgrably, director of the Levantine Cultural Center adds, “It’s time for a new vision of what it means to be Palestinian—one that celebrates the nation’s creativity, imagination and resourcefulness.”To enrich participants’ experience of Palestinian…

THE UNURBAN is proud to host MESS (Media Ecology Soul Salon) on Saturday September 14 at 3301 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-315-0056, free admission, 4 pm (for two hours), Info: 310-306-7330 – The public is invited to these engaging interviews by Gerry Fialka with the following modern thinkers who’ll address the metaphysics of their callings and the nitty-gritty of their crafts. ROBIN MENKEN, Cinema Without Borders Editor, who will speak at the event is truly one of LA’s great thinkers and cultural scholars. As a teenager, she studied with legendary improvisational theater teacher Viola Spolin. She was the…

Adobe has announced plans to significantly update the video tools in Adobe Creative Cloud. With over 150 new features, this upcoming release is packed with new capabilities in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe After Effects CC, Adobe SpeedGrade CC, Adobe Prelude CC , Adobe Media Encoder CC and Adobe Story CC Plus redefining how video professionals create, collaborate and deliver high quality productions across multiple screens. Important updates will also be added to Adobe Anywhere for video, which enables large virtual teams of talent to efficiently shoot, log, edit, share and finish video productions together. Today’s announcement signifies Adobe’s commitment…

The Venezia 70 Jury, chaired by Bernardo Bertolucci and comprised of Andrea Arnold, Renato Berta, Carrie Fisher, Martina Gedeck, Jiang Wen, Pablo Larraín, Virginie Ledoyen, and Ryuichi Sakamoto having viewed all 20 films in competition, has decided as follows: GOLDEN LION for Best Film to:  SACRO GRA by Gianfranco Rosi (Italy, France) SILVER LION for Best Director to:  Alexandros Avranas for the film MISS VIOLENCE (Greece) GRAND JURY PRIZE to:  JIAOYOU  by Tsai Ming-liang (Chinese Taipei, France) COPPA VOLPI for Best Actor:  Themis Panou in the film MISS VIOLENCE by Alexandros Avranas (Greece) COPPA VOLPI for Best Actress:  Elena Cotta…

Freda Kelly was just seventeen when she became the president of The Beatles fan club and eventually Brian Epstein’s secretary. From the early shows at the Cavern Club in Liverpool to well after they broke up, Freda was there to support “the lads.” But as a dedicated fan and friend, Freda never told her stories or cashed-in on her unique relationship with the Fab Four. Close friends and even her children knew little about those 11 incredible years. But after five decades of silence, Freda, inspired by the birth of her grandson, decided to tell her “little tales” to producer…

The Man in Black was, of course, Johnny Cash. Saul Holiff was his long-time manager, a dedicated, remote, often cruel man who committed suicide and left his son with a lot of unanswered questions. Jonathan Holiff’s documentary is an investigation of his father’s life and that of the celebrity who dominated it for years. Both Cash and his manager were strong men with serious weaknesses; we learn of their triumphs and failures, their mutual resentment and envy, their troubled relationships with their families. The film is respectful but never hagiographic—it shows the good and the bad, the public and the…

“Like the Old Vine” (Kao stara loza) – is an one hour documentary about fascinating life and accomplishments of our fellow Croatian-American Miljenko Mike Grgich. This Kino Croatia’s screening will be introduced by very special guests: Violet Grgich in person and Mike Grgich via live video link! And, of corse, audience will enjoy GRGICH HILLS WINES and delicious food! Screening will be on Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the Shade Hotel, 1221 N. Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Program:7:00 PM SOCIAL HOUR Complimentary finger food, no-host bar (Shade Hotel’s Zinc Lounge)7:30 PM WINE TASTING Grgich Hills Cabernet and Chardonnay…

Chocolate Puma have just announced two US shows, bringing their dynamic sound to both coasts this month. The first will be in New York City at Pacha on Friday August 23. The following night, August 24, they’ll head to Los Angeles to perform at Exchange. Chocolate Puma are two of The Netherlands’ most celebrated electronic producers. With a career spanning 20 years, 200-odd releases and countless remixes under their various guises, this duo cannot be underestimated when it comes to their influence on European dance music. You might also know them under the names Zki and Dobre, Jark Prongo, The…

Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles and CinemaWithout Borders in collaboration with The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles and by support of ELMA, will present the second ItaliANimation event on August 22, 2013 at 7 PM in Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles location. The program includes screenings of Art Institute of California — Los Angeles students short animated films; a tribute to Italian/American character designer Marco Regina ; Screening of Italian short Animation films and presentation of the Life Achievement Award to legendary claymation artist, director and producer, Will Vinton. Art Institute of California — Los Angeles…