Sedona film festival, 'West Side Story' lead this week's film events
Illuminate Film Festival
The film festival brings 22 inspirational films to the screen. Attendees can view Emma Thompson's "Sold," along with Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" and Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley's "Landfill Harmonic." More than 50 expert facilitators, practitioners, artists, musicians and speakers offer a series of "View and Do" events during the festival.
Details: Various times. Wednesday-Sunday, May 27-31. Mary D. Fisher Theater, 2030 State Route 89A, Sedona; Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road. $11-$30; $444 for all-access pass. 1-877-766-8163, illuminatefilmfestival.com.
— Ashley Whalen
'Welcome to Me'
Kristin Wiig stars as a woman with borderline personality disorder who wins the lottery and buys her own talk show. It's a mesmerizing performance, though some of it is dark and hard to watch. But it's also fascinating, giving Wiig a showcase for her talents that go beyond the comedy chops she displayed on "Saturday Night Live" for so many years.
Details: Several screenings; see website for more information. FilmBar, 815 N. Second St., Phoenix. $9. 602-595-9187, thefilmbarphx.com.
— Bill Goodykoontz
'West Side Story'
"When you're a Jet/You stay a Jet …" So they sing in the 1961 classic musical directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, which won a whopping 10 Oscars, including best picture. The film is inspired by "Romeo and Juliet," set in New York City. Instead of the Capulets and the Montagues we get the Sharks and the Jets, rival gangs, with Natalie Wood as the Juliet character, Maria, and Richard Beymer as Tony, the Romeo of the story. Shown as part of the Dames May Film Series.
Details: Several screenings; see website for more information. FilmBar, 815 N. Second St., Phoenix. $9. 602-595-9187, thefilmbarphx.com.
— Bill Goodykoontz
'Fold Crumple Crush: The Art of El Anatsui'
The film by Susan Vogel gives an inside look at African contemporary artist El Anatsui. Filmed over three years in Venice, Italy; Nsukka, Nigeria; and the United States, the movie highlights the artist's steps and thousands of hours that it took to convert used bottle caps into large wall hangings. During the film Anatsui explains how his paintings and sculptural work highlight African history along with his aspirations for the future.
Details: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31. Phoenix Center for the Arts, Third Street Theater, 1202 N. Third St. $6 in advance and for students with ID; $7 at door. 602-254-3100, phoenixcenterforthearts.org.
— Ashley Whalen
'Jaws'
It's not summer without seeing Stephen Spielberg's 1975 masterpiece, about a Great White Shark terrorizing a small East Coast beach town. Technical problems famously forced Spielberg to build tension instead of showing the shark all the time, and it worked out perfectly. There is no better way to kick off the summer — especially if you don't live near the ocean. Shown as part of Harkins Theatres Tuesday Night Classics.
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2. Several theaters are participating; see website for more information. $5. 480-627-7777, harkinstheatres.com.
— Bill Goodykoontz