LEGALLY FIT: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg exercises in this still from the new documentary "RBG." The statewide nonpartisan nonprofit Women AdvaNCe hosts a screening of the film on May 17 at the Fine Arts Theatre, one day before its official local release.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on May 13, 2018May 9, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Fine Arts Theatre and Women AdvaNCe team for an advance screening of “RBG,” James Rosario launches a film noir series at the Fairview Library and more.

MOTHER'S DAY: Emily Graham pauses while giving birth at her home. Graham's experience is chronicled in the immersive documentary 'These Are My Hours,' which screens at Grail Moviehouse on May 10.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on May 6, 2018May 3, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Grail screens a full sensory, immersive documentary on giving birth; multiple outdoor film series get underway and more.

ACROMANIACS: Stan Laurel, left, and Oliver Hardy pause on the set of "Liberty." The 1929 film is one of three comedy shorts and animated works in Grail Moviehouse's latest Silent Sundays installment on May 6.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on April 29, 2018April 25, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Grail’s Silent Sundays series highlights animation and comedy shorts, Cullowhee and Sylva host film festivals and more.

INDIE REFRESHMENT: Fine Arts Theatre staff members Leah Chang, left, and Melissa Laporte work the venue's concession counter. In its 22 years, reps for the historic cinema say it has cultivated a loyal customer base by screening the best available art and independent films and providing exceptional customer service at affordable prices.

Despite plentiful home viewing options, locals still flock to movie theaters

Posted on April 27, 2018April 19, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Challenges abound in the independent exhibition business, but local cinemas continue to provide distinct, valued services.

TWIN PURSUITS: Through the magic of Lacy Kemp's filmmaking, mountain biker and artist Micayla Gatto rides through her own painted landscapes in 'Intersection.' The short film plays at the 2018 5Point Adventure Film Festival in Carbondale, Colo., and is a contender for the festival's Asheville edition, which takes place April 28 at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on April 22, 2018April 19, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The 5Point Film Festival moves to Sierra Nevada, the Asheville Jewish Film Festival concludes with a documentary about Itzhak Perlman and more.

VIDEO OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN: Spotlighting artists from a wide array of sounds and styles, this year's Music Video Asheville awards ceremony recognizes works by the likes of R&B vocalist Leeda "Lyric" Jones, left, and hip-hop emcee Marcus "Mook" Cunningham, pictured at last year's ceremony.

Music Video Asheville puts local talent on the big screen

Posted on April 19, 2018April 13, 2018 by Bill Kopp

More than a decade into its celebratory chronicling of the local music scene, MVA is still evolving. One specific and ongoing goal is to make the competition as inclusive as possible.

DARING SOLIDARITY: 'The Color Purple' author Alice Walker will participate in and attend screenings and events throughout the 2018 Movies & Meaning Experience, April 26-28 at Diana Wortham Theatre. The weekend will mark the movie lover's first visit to Asheville.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on April 15, 2018April 15, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Alice Walker, Brian McLaren and host Gareth Higgins discuss the Movies & Meaning Experience, which takes place April 26-28 at Diana Wortham Theatre.

GREEN CIRCLE SKIING: A still from the documentary "Saving Snow," which examines disappearing snow seasons, their economic impact and grassroots efforts to counteract climate change. New Belgium screens the film on April 12.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on April 8, 2018April 4, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

New Belgium screens a documentary about disappearing snow seasons, the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival returns to Pack Library and more.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN: A still from the 2017 film "Bye Bye Germany." The drama plays April 5 and 6 at the Fine Arts Theatre as part of the Asheville Jewish Film Festival. A new film will screen each Thursday night throughout the month.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on April 1, 2018March 29, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Asheville Jewish Film Festival begins at the Fine Arts Theatre, the Grail shows a new Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds concert film and more.

CLAWS OUT: From left, Cat Fly Indie Film Festival co-founders Catherine Wityk, Brittany Jackson, volunteer Ashton Helton and co-founder Madeleine Richardson pause during the organization's one-day Halloween film festival at UpCountry Brewing Co. in Oct. 2017. Cat Fly returns April 6-8 with screenings and workshops at various Asheville venues.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on March 25, 2018March 20, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Cat Fly Indie Film Festival returns, Asheville Pizza & Brewing celebrates Comedy Month and more.

STAR POWER: Mountain lion P-22 roams Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. The feline, who overcame anticoagulant/rodenticide poisoning in 2014, is the subject of the documentary "The Cat That Changed America."

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on March 18, 2018March 19, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Poison Free Asheville screens a documentary about mountain lion P-22 at UNCA, the Fine Arts shows a profile on Alice Walker and more.

AMPLIFIED: Pictured is a still from the 2017 documentary "Whose Streets?" The film, about the response to the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., closes out the two-day F-Word (Feminist) Film Festival at UNC Asheville.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on March 11, 2018March 12, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

UNC Asheville hosts its 17th annual F-Word (Feminist) Film Festival, Michael Flanagan and other musicians live improvise a score to “House (Hausu)” at The Mothlight and more.

YOU COMPLETE ME: Los Angeles-based found footage video remixer collective Everything Is Terrible! brings its latest movie and live show to The Mothlight on March 9.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on March 4, 2018March 5, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Orbit DVD brings found footage video remixers Everything Is Terrible! to The Mothlight, Palestinian filmmaker and Asheville resident Yousef Natsha screens his documentary at The BLOCK off biltmore and more.

INDEPENDENT FRAME: Brad Hoover, left foreground, prepares to shoot a scene on an outdoor production. The Asheville-based filmmaker has close to 25 years of experience as a cinematographer/director of photography. In addition to such responsibilities as designing a film's lighting and choosing lens focal length, Hoover often operates the camera himself.

Local filmmakers discuss their behind-the-scenes work

Posted on March 1, 2018February 26, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Producers, editors and cinematographers play distinct roles in getting a film started and completed.

WATER PROTECTORS: The documentary "Black Snake Killaz" chronicles the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Firestorm Books & Coffee screens the film on March 6.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on February 25, 2018February 22, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Area organizations screen documentaries on healing, mass incarceration, resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline and ending weight stigma and more.

MARCHING MAN: Bayard Rustin stands outside the National March on Washington office in 1963. White Horse Black Mountain and Hendersonville's Providence Baptist Church both screen the documentary "Brother Outsider," which chronicles the life of the civil rights movement leader.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on February 18, 2018February 16, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Two community groups hold potluck supper screenings of a documentary on civil rights movement leader Bayard Rustin, the Bywater concludes its Swayze Crazy movies series and more.

THE LIFE AQUATIC: Yun Lin, left, and Show Lo star in Stephen Chow's "The Mermaid." The second highest-grossing film in Chinese cinema history will be screened at Pack Memorial Library to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Feb. 16.

Screen scene: Local film news

Posted on February 11, 2018February 9, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

Pack Library celebrates the Chinese New Year with Stephen Chow’s “The Mermaid,” Mars Hill University kicks off its Reel Appalachia film series with a Ralph Stanley documentary and more.

COPS AND PENGUINS: Students from the Asheville Community Theatre Youth Theatre program pause between shooting an adaptation of “Mr. Popper's Penguins” for the inaugural Asheville 90-Second Newbery Film Festival in 2017. The group turned Florence and Richard Atwater’s prize-winning novel into a murder mystery.

Asheville 90-Second Newbery Film Festival builds on inaugural event’s success

Posted on February 6, 2018January 30, 2018 by Edwin Arnaudin

The soft deadline for local kids to submit a minute and a half film adaptation of a John Newbery Medal-winner or Honor book is Feb. 14. The festival itself takes place April 14.