Screen scene: Local film news

SELF-IMPROVEMENT BEHIND BARS: In this still from the film Inside Peace, inmates at Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio, Texas, participate in its Peace Education Program. Grail Moviehouse hosts a screening of the documentary. Photo courtesy of Untraveled Road Productions

Mechanical Eye Microcinema presents Why I Left California: Films and Video by Jason Robinson at Grail Moviehouse on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. The program consists of 10 shorts by the filmmaker and new-media artist, who works primarily in the medium of single-channel experimental video, animated gifs and live performance. Selections include experimental documentaries, music videos, analog video feedback and more about unsuccessful ghost hunts, sad polar bears and the materiality of video tape. $5 suggested donation to Mechanical Eye. mechanicaleyecinema.org

• The West Asheville Public Library’s Alien Invasion movie series concludes Friday, Aug. 19, at 4:30 p.m. with a screening of WALL-E, which also kicks off the branch’s forthcoming Pixar movie series. Free and open to the public. avl.mx/1z5

• Grail Moviehouse hosts a screening of the documentary Inside Peace on Saturday, Aug. 20, at noon. Cynthia Fitzpatrick’s feature-length film centers on four inmates at Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio, Texas, who enroll in its Peace Education Program. One of the few self-improvement programs offered in prisons across the country that are not faith-based, but instead focus on the individual’s inner strength and self-worth, the “Peace Class” is also having a positive impact on inmates at the Buncombe County Detention Center. Additional information about the program will be available after the film. Tickets are $7 and available online or at the Grail box office. avl.mx/2ul

Asheville School of Film students in the Filmmaking 101 (An Introduction) course and from all three youth summer programs will have their work screened Saturday, Aug. 20, at noon at Grail Moviehouse. Students produced short digital films from conception to completion under the guidance of ASoF founders Brad Hoover and W.S. Pivetta. The event also includes a showing of Aubry Blue by Asheville filmmaker Samuel Coppage. Free and open to the public. ashevilleschooloffilm.com

Wedge Brewing Co. screens Blade Runner in its outdoor courtyard on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. wedgebrewing.com

Hi-Wire Brewing’s Summer of Bill Murray movie series continues Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of its Big Top location with a free screening of Groundhog Day. Foothills Local Meats will provide classic movie theater food, including $3 corndogs. Please bring lawn chairs or blankets. hiwirebrewing.com

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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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