Take a Trip
The American Indian Film Institute’s 46th Annual American Indian Film Festival takes place Nov. 5 through 13. This year the San Francisco-based institution is hosting a virtual series that audiences can stream from home (aifisf.com). But for the past few months, the AIFI has been sponsoring an in-person “sneak preview” event in the form of the Drive-In Showcase at Motorama at Santa Fe Downs. This monthly Native film experience has been highlighting a collection of films from AIFI’s 45-plus year history (1994’s Dance Me Outside, 1992’s Thunderheart, 1988’s Pow Wow Highway). In addition to the films, there are Native art and food vendors on site. The series concludes this Friday, October 8, with a look at one of the selections from this year’s Film Festival. Indian Road Trip, directed by A.W. Hopkins, is a Canadian comedy about two aimless First Nations cousins who plan a road trip to Vancouver’s Wreck Beach only to get caught up in a petty crime and family squabbles. Motorama at Santa Fe Downs is located at 7475 W. Frontage Road in Santa Fe. Gates open at 5:30pm and the show begins at 7pm. Tickets (tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/380823) are $4 economy, $6 general, $8 prime and $10 deluxe.
Indie Indeed
The New Mexico Film Foundation is presenting Indie Screenings 2021, a networking and film event at Santa Fe’s Jean Cocteau Cinema (418 Montezuma Ave.) on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 2 to 3:30pm. Filmmakers and film aficionados are invited to support the industry and/or meet up with industry colleagues for an afternoon of viewing local short films, movie trailers and music videos. A Q&A is scheduled for afterward with a representative from the New Mexico Film Foundation and several local filmmakers. Tickets are $7 at the door or $5 in advance through eventbrite.com.
Halloween Spirit
The South Broadway Library (1025 Broadway Blvd. SE) is getting into the spirit of October with its October Movie Extravaganza. Every Saturday afternoon this month, the library is screening free family films with a Halloween theme. On Oct. 9 it’s 1993’s witchy Hocus Pocus. On Oct. 16 it’s 2005’s ghostly Corpse Bride. On Oct. 16 it’s 2012’s vampiric Hotel Transylvania. And on Oct. 30 it’s the musical monster mash of 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. All movies start at 1pm.
Cinema Italiano
The 13th Annual New Mexico Italian Film & Culture Festival kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 12 with 2021’s Opening Night Film, director Francesco Prisco’s Criminali a Domicilio (Bob and Mary’s). This dark crime comedy from 2018 is based on real events and examines the mayhem that ensues when an ordinary couple become victims of accùppatura—the criminal practice of forcing innocent homeowners to warehouse illegal merchandise for gangsters—and boldly take the matter into their own hands. The film is screened in Italian with English subtitles. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. All screenings take place at the Hiland Theater (4800 Central Ave. SE). The festival runs through Oct. 17. To get tickets or check out the other films/events, go to italianfilmfest.org/.