Thursday, May 16 2013
SFIFF Spotlight: Latin American Cinema
The San Francisco International Film Festival celebrated Latin American cinema this year with a selection of diverse, engaging films. PopMatters takes a look at six of the best selections from the festival this year.
Tuesday, May 14 2013
SFIFF Spotlight: Documentary Cinema
The best documentaries create empathy without leaving the audience to believe that the problems or issues presented have been 'fixed' by the cathartic act of viewing. PopMatters picks five documentaries that engendered empathy in the very best way at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival.
Friday, May 10 2013
Medeski Martin & Wood: 23 April 2013 - San Francisco
MMW has long demonstrated how a bassist, drummer and keyboardist can impact the sonic landscape with their creativity.
Thursday, May 9 2013
EmptyMansions: 26 April 2013 - Brooklyn, NY
For all of Interpol’s cleanliness, its drummer Sam Fogarino’s debut as EmptyMansions is as gritty.
Wednesday, May 8 2013
The Devin Townsend Project: 4 May 2013 - Dublin, Ireland
Although the night has been without stage invasions, choirs, big name support acts, or live vocals from Anneke, Devin Townsend and company have still delivered a memorable show that has left the cheering Dublin crowd with an equal dose of tinnitus and smile-ache. What more could you want?
Tuesday, May 7 2013
SFIFF Spotlight: Vengeance!
Vengeance plays a prominent role in three audience-favorite films at the San Francisco International Film Festival this year. This classic theme lends itself to fast-paced, intriguing films about humans deal with darker urges.
Queensryche: 21 April 2013 - San Francisco, CA
Queensryche’s combination of progressive metal and bold political lyrics stood out from the pack in 1988, and still do in much the same way here in 2013.
Monday, May 6 2013
Tribeca Film Festival 2013: ‘Lil Bub & Friendz’ & Four Shorts
Via the Festival's digital library, I caught the shorts 'Fool's Day', 'RPG OK', 'ZZZZZZZ', and 'Royal American' plus the 'Lil Bub' internet cat phenom film.
Friday, May 3 2013
SFIFF Spotlight: Three Heartwarming Picks
Film festivals are usually synonymous with tough, challenging films and avant garde works. Yet even the most serious film festival can offer lighthearted picks that provide viewers an escape from the worries of our troubled world.
Sparks: 25 April 2013 - New York
Sparks' latest tour, titled Two Hands, One Mouth, is a collection of songs from the band's discography reduced to nothing but keyboard and vocals. It speaks volumes that neither the focus of the tour itself, nor the accompanying live album, come across as gimmicky
Thursday, May 2 2013
SFIFF Spotlight: Experimental Shorts
PopMatters takes a look at why experimental short films are such an essential part of film festivals—and how they work to create meaningful dialogue between film creators and viewers.
Wednesday, May 1 2013
SFIFF Day 2: ‘Blackfish’ + ‘The Act of Killing’
Should documentaries adopt the traditional story structure found in narrative cinema? Two films at SFIFF provide a powerful argument for why documentaries should be treated as much more than straightforward narratives.
Tuesday, April 30 2013
SFIFF: Opening Weekend
PopMatters takes a look at the best of this past weekend's offerings at the San Francisco International Film Festival and looks ahead to some of the most promising films that will show during the first week of the festival.
Monday, April 29 2013
Carl Hancock Rux: 20 April 2013 - New York
On the eve of Homeostasis, Carl Hancock Rux took the crowd at the Apollo "higher" with Burnt Sugar and special guests Nona Hendryx and Martha Redbone.
Thursday, April 25 2013
Tribeca Film Festival 2013: ‘The Project’ + ‘Big Men’
Mercenaries stumble in creating an anti-pirate militia in Puntland, while American wildcatters confront pitfalls aplenty in Ghana and Nigeria, in two documentaries examining crises in Africa.
Wednesday, April 24 2013
Dumpstaphunk + Ten: 7 April 2013 - San Diego, CA
Anytime Dumpstaphunk comes to your town it starts to feel a little bit like New Orleans.
Monday, April 22 2013
Pills and Pain at the Tribeca Film Festival 2013: ‘Oxyana’ & ‘Bottled Up’
A gritty documentary and fluffy comedy bring a similarly hardheaded sensibility to the invisible epidemic of pain pill addiction.
Wednesday, April 17 2013
Wasabassco Burlesque at Highline Ballroom: 22 March 2013 - New York
The tricks and routines performed by the Wasabassco Burlesque entertainers are not suitable for your parlor…
Friday, April 12 2013
BUKU Music and Art Project: 8-9 March 2013 - New Orleans
With a diverse lineup, BUKU intended to incorporate the post-industrial vibe as well as the garish festivity of Mardi Gras World, which it pulled off with varying degrees of success.
Thursday, April 11 2013
Swans: 2 April 2013 - Brighton, UK
In the three years since they reformed, Swans have developed into arguably the best band in the world. This gig on the south coast of the UK found them in devastating form.
