Screen scene: Local film news

CHOICES: A still from Beyond Right & Wrong, a documentary about victims of three devastating conflicts who attempt to rebuild their lives. The film kicks off the six-month “Movies That Matter” series. Photo courtesy of Article 19 Films

Katie Kasben, a teacher, actress and event planner who was instrumental in bringing the 48 Hour Film Project to Asheville, is curating a monthly documentary film series with White Horse Black Mountain. Titled Movies That Matter, the program starts Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. with Beyond Right & Wrong. Roger Spottiswoode’s and Lekha Singh’s film explores what happens when victims of three devastating disputes — the Rwandan genocide, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and The Troubles in Northern Ireland — attempt to rebuild their lives, balancing their quest for justice with the desire to forgive. The evening also includes a discussion with guest speaker the Rev. Lyndon Harris, who was a pastor at the ground floor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Tickets are $6 and may be purchased in advance online or in person at the White Horse box office. Viewers interested in seeing each Movies That Matter selection through February may purchase a $30 full-series subscription. Other titles include Utopia (Sunday, Oct. 11), Overfed and Undernourished (Thursday, Nov. 12), Blue Gold (Thursday, Dec. 10), Wings of Life (Thursday, Jan. 14) and Racism: A History (Thursday, Feb. 11). whitehorseblackmountain.com

• In advance of its 2015 fall school semester, NYS3: The Meisner Acting Conservatory for the Southeast is hosting 11 free introductory classes from through Friday, Sept. 11. Open to the public, the offerings are geared toward everyone from serious acting veterans looking to hone their craft to novices or those simply curious about the acting process.

Attendees may take as many classes as desired, choosing from Meisner Acting Technique, Improv, On-Camera for Commercials, Movement for Actors, Alexander Technique, Acting as a Business, Voiceover, Script Analysis, Voice & Speech, Auditioning and The Moment Lab. Class sizes may be limited. avl.mx/1hh

• The Radical Reels Film Tour makes an exclusive Western North Carolina stop in Asheville Monday, Sept. 14, for a 7 p.m. screening at the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15. A complement to the revered Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Radical Reels focuses on dynamic, high-adrenaline short films featuring sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking, BASE jumping, snowboarding and mountain biking.

Tickets are $17 and are on sale at the Asheville REI store in Biltmore Park or by calling 687-0918. Admission includes a drawing for prizes from REI. Thirty VIP tickets are also available for $30 each, which includes preferred seating, a VIP goody bag and entry in a special VIP drawing. All proceeds from the event benefit MountainTrue, a WNC nonprofit that champions resilient forests, clean waters and healthy communities in the area. avl.mx/1hi

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin

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