Indie Watch

MOCA FILM EVENT

Bisbee resident and filmmaker David Sherman, who was born and raised in Tucson, is screening the world premiere of his film Wasteland Utopias at a Museum of Contemporary Art-sponsored screening at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 27. Wasteland Utopias is a multiscreen film and sound performance about the social and environmental consequences of the urbanization of Arizona's Sonoran Desert. The film focuses on two radically different utopian thinkers: mega-developer Del Webb and outsider psychiatrist/scientist Wilhelm Reich. This is an outdoor screening at Sixth and Toole avenues. $5 donation requested; for more information, call 624-5019 or visit the MOCA Web site.


BORDER STATES FILM CONFERENCE

The University of Arizona's Hanson Film Institute, the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade presents U.S.-Mexico Border States Conference: Filmmaking, Economic Development and Intellectual Property Rights on Thursday and Friday, March 27 and 28 at the UA. This conference recognizes the significant economic-development, artistic and cultural impact of filmmaking on the border states of the U.S. and Mexico, and the need to protect intellectual-property rights. The conference will include panels, presentations, a luncheon, a reception and a film screening at the Fox Tucson Theatre. Registration is $100 before March 14, and $150 after; for more information or for a conference brochure with registration info, call Vicky Westover at 626-9825, send e-mail or visit the Hanson Web site.


PITCHING WORKSHOP

The Hanson Film Institute is also sponsoring The Art of Pitching Workshop on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9 at UA's School of Media Arts, 845 N. Park Ave. (Marshall Building), second floor. The workshop is designed to assist filmmakers and screenwriters in making project pitches to industry professionals. It's facilitated by producer/writer/development executive Lorna Soroko and visiting Los Angeles-based television/film/documentary producer Ronnie Clemmer. The cost is $95 for full-time students and $145 for nonstudents. For an application and other information, contact Vicky Westover at 626-9825, send e-mail or visit the Hanson Web site.


PAN LEFT EVENTS

Tucson's Pan Left film and media collective is presenting Flix by Chix from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at El Ojito Springs, 340 N. Fourth Ave. Flix by Chix is an exhibition of narrative, documentary and experimental short films produced and directed by local women filmmakers. It's a fundraising event to benefit Pan Left Productions, and the suggested donation is $5-$20. For more information, contact Jamie Lee by e-mail, or go to the Pan Left Web site.

Pan Left is also presenting the multimedia Synaesthesia II at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 29. Like the first Synaesthesia event in 2007, this year's event will feature several local musical acts improvising while Pan Left videos are being screened adjacent to the performance area. Musicians are to be announced. Clips from last year's event can be seen online. It takes place at Splinter Brothers and Sisters Warehouse, 901 N. 13th Ave.; $5-$10 sliding-scale entry. See the Pan Left Web site for more details.


EVENTS AT THE SCREENING ROOM

The Nuestras Raices Film Festival takes place at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29. The festival will screen five short films (from 4 1/2 to 20 minutes long) made by Mexican-American filmmakers Ricardo Acuña, Ricardo Bracamonte, Eduardo Ramirez, Angela Soto and J.M. Aragón. See the festival Web site for more information; free.

At 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 28, the Hanson Film Institute presents Babel: Portrait of a Film in the Making--A Slide Presentation by photographer Eniac Martinez. This event is free, and is sponsored by the Mexican Consulate in Tucson. See the Hanson Web site for more details. The Screening Room is at 127 E. Congress St.


UNITY SCREENING

Unity of Tucson church is screening Louise L. Hay's film You Can Heal Your Life at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 8, and 1 p.m., Sunday, March 9. The church is located at 3617 N. Camino Blanco (8/10 of a mile east of Swan Road on River Road). By donation. For more information, call 577-3300 or visit the Unity Web site.


IFASA MEETING

The March meeting of the Independent Film Association of Southern Arizona will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, March 3, at Access Tucson, 124 E. Broadway Blvd. The meeting will feature a panel discussion on "Opportunities in New Media"--the Internet, podcasts, etc. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge. Visit the IFASA Web site for more info, or e-mail with any questions.


EVENTS AT THE LOFT

Several filmmakers will be at the Loft in March with their films, including:

• Andrew Wagner with his film Starting Out In the Evening at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29, and Saturday, March 1; regular admission.

• David Earnhardt with his documentary Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11; regular admission.

• Clif Taylor with his film Fuzz: The Sound That Revolutionized the World at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 22; $5.

• Douglas A. Raine with his locally shot film From a Place of Darkness on 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 25; $5 advance; regular admission on the day of the show.

Also: Lunafest 2008 plays at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 4. Lunafest is a national touring festival of short films by women filmmakers; $10 general; $5 students.

The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Call 795-7777 or check the Loft Web site for a full schedule of films and events, and further information.

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