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BRASSLANDS Screens this Monday and Tuesday; the MUDBUG BRASS BAND will perform at the Music Hall Monday Night.

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A tiny Serbian village explodes with brass cacophony and riotous celebration as more than half a million music fans descend upon Guča, the world’s largest trumpet competition. Amidst a cast of defending Serbian champions and struggling Roma Gypsies, an unlikely brass band from New York City, Zlatne Uste, voyages to represent the United States only a decade after NATO bombs rocked Belgrade. They will be the first Americans ever to compete at Guča. BRASSLANDS offers an intimate and sometimes unsettling portrait of how the hopes and fears of this diverse group of characters collide in their search for common ground and musical ecstasy.

Laemmle Theatres will be screening BRASSLANDS this Monday, February 9 at 7:30 PM and Tuesday, February 10 at 1 PM as part of its Culture Vulture film series. To celebrate the music profiled in BRASSLANDS, L.A.’s own MUDBUG BRASS BAND will be at the Music Hall Monday night to perform their super-fun New Orleans-style brass-based jazz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SCf0UbNemw
Mudbug Brass Band in all its glory

MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE Opens February 13 at the NoHo 7 with Filmmaker Q&A’s and Live Performances by Randi Driscoll and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles

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MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a powerful feature documentary about Matthew Shepard, the young gay man who was tortured and murdered in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history. Directed by Michele Josue, a close friend of Shepard’s, the film revisits the shocking case with never-before-seen photos, rare video footage, and new revelations about Shepard’s all-too-brief life.

We will begin screenings of the film at the NoHo 7 on Friday, February 13. Director Michele Josue, producer Liam McNiff and subjects Dennis Shepard and Zeina Barkawi will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:50 PM screenings on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14. The Friday screening will feature a live performance by Randi Driscoll and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZj46ewvR6k

 

Indiewire ~ “GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM: One Film That Could Change the Course of Women’s Rights in Israel”

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An Israeli woman (Ronit Elkabetz) seeking to finalize a divorce (gett) from her estranged husband finds herself effectively put on trial by her country’s religious marriage laws, in GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM, a powerhouse courtroom drama from sibling directors Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz. Laemmle Theatres opens the film at the Royal on February 13, the Playhouse, Town Center 5 and Claremont 5 on February 20 and the NoHo 7 on February 27.

In Israel, there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce; only Orthodox rabbis can legalize a union or its dissolution, which is only possible with the husband’s full consent. Women can’t contact an LA divorce lawyer, for example, to end the marriage it has to be the husband who makes the decision. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Viviane Amsalem has been applying for a divorce for three years but her religiously devout husband Elisha, continually refuses. His cold intransigence, Viviane’s determination to fight for her freedom, and the ambiguous role of the rabbinical judges shape a procedure where tragedy vies with absurdity and everything is brought out into the open for judgment.

What’s more, as reported by Indiewire, the film is having real-world effects in Israel, prompting religious authorities to reevaluate their positions on divorce. Check out this short interview with the filmmakers reacting to the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kL1aL3LFIM#t=110
GETT co-directors Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz.

AMERICAN BEAR Filmmaker-Adventurers at Both Laemmle Screenings for Q&A’s

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As seen in the documentary AMERICAN BEAR, Sarah and Greg set out to critically explore American culture, compassion, and fear by relying on the kindness of strangers for a home each night. Traveling through 30 states in 60 days, they spend every day in a new town, learning why people may or may not be willing to open their homes. Sarah and Greg spend time getting to know their hosts – each uniquely, culturally American – while the film raises questions about how we define American identities.

AMERICAN BEAR co-directors Gregory Grano and Sarah Sellman will participate in Q&A’s after both the January 28 screening at the NoHo 7 and the January 29 screening at the Claremont 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5yJtP4IFhU

LITTLE ACCIDENTS Q&A at the NoHo Opening Weekend

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When a teenage boy goes missing in a small town already devastated by a fatal mining accident, three strangers find themselves drawn together in a tangle of secrets, lies, and the collective grief of the community. Elizabeth Banks, Josh Lucas and Boyd Holbrook star in the new indie drama LITTLE ACCIDENTS.

LITTLE ACCIDENTS cinematographer Rachel Morrison will participate in a Q&A moderated by Hilari Scarl of the Alliance of Women Directors after the 7 PM screening at the NoHo 7 on Saturday, January 17.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrTTsvs05U&feature=youtu.be

Ride with Greg Laemmle and Win a 2015 Movie Pass

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It’s time for our 3rd Annual Ride with Greg Laemmle Climate Ride Contest!  Don’t miss your chance to participate in this life-altering event.  Last year our team was 14 strong and we’re expecting to surpass that number for 2015.  Join us and become part of our amazing group!

What’s more, tell us why you want to ride with Greg and you could win an Unlimited Laemmle Movie Pass for the remainder of 2015, free registration for Climate Ride California, and a $2500 contribution toward your Climate Ride fundraising goal from the Laemmle Charitable Foundation.  See the second and third prize packages, eligibility requirements, and all contest details over on the contest entry page.

An outside panel of judges will select the winners based on the quality of their entry statement so take the time to craft something that’ll really knock their cycling socks off! But don’t wait too long, the deadline for entry is Monday, February 16!

Climate Ride California 2015 is a fully-supported, five-day group ride covering approx. 300 miles of stellar Northern California scenery starting with the awe-inspiring Redwood State Park,  down miles of spectacular coastline, through California wine growing country, and culminating with a jaunt over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the City By the Bay.  Bike fitness is recommended, but the ride caters to all levels of ability.

ENTER HERE

Greg Laemmle on NPR: “We…see some real problems in the idea that someone lurking in the shadows can shut down the release of material they don’t like.” THE INTERVIEW in Theaters Starting Christmas Day.

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It was truly troubling when craven hackers punched holes in Sony Pictures Entertainment, data dumping private email and employees’ personal information for anyone with an Internet connection to peruse, but when the so-called Guardians of Peace successfully got Sony to shelve THE INTERVIEW, it was shocking. Fortunately, the nation’s independent cinemas stepped up, offering a couple hundred screens in defiance of the terrorists. The latest Seth Rogan/James Franco comedy/bromance is not in Laemmle Theatres’ wheelhouse, but of course we feel rather strongly about the First Amendment and are pleased to open THE INTERVIEW at the Music Hall on Christmas Day, the NoHo 7 on January 31 and the Playhouse 7 on New Year’s Day.

Greg Laemmle has been speaking with the media, including NPR, about this extraordinary turn of events. “Do we as art house theaters have a particular axe to grind with North Korea? No. Do we have a particular reason to support raunchy, R-rated comedies? No. But we do see some real problems in the idea that someone lurking in the shadows can shut down the release of material they don’t like.”

What’s more, the excellent Korean fusion food truck Rice Balls of Fire will be at the Music Hall Christmas Day. They are also going to cater our Sing-Along FIDDLER ON THE ROOF screening tonight at the Playhouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj3uHftd5FQ

Fiddler Sing-Along Hosts Announced for Next Week!

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This coming Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Broadway production with our 7th Annual Fiddler On the Roof Sing-Along!

Join us (at any of our venues) for our traditional, yet non-traditional Christmas Eve experience as we sing along with Tevye and the shtetl to iconic favorites like “Tradition”, “If I Were a Rich Man”, “Matchmaker”, “To Life”, “Sunrise Sunset” and many others.

GET TICKETS to the event before it sells out!

In addition to movie and song, the audience will be regaled with Fiddler history and trivia, with prizes being awarded to Fiddler buffs with the quickest recall. In this “anything goes” event, attendees are encouraged to come dressed up as their favorite characters.  Who knows, perhaps the host will award prizes for best costume as well!

Speaking of the host, each location will feature an emcee that will lend their distinctive personality to the proceedings. Here’s the rundown:

– NoHo 7 will be hosted by our very own GREG LAEMMLE, originator of the Fiddler Sing-Along tradition!

FOOD ALERT: The Deli Doctor food truck will be outside the NoHo 7 to satisfy all your cravings!

– The Royal will be hosted  by award-winning arts journalist and author BARBARA ISENBERG.  Barbara’s most recent book (just released by St. Martin’s Press) happens to be Tradition!, a definitive history and account of the Fiddler phenomenon.  You won’t want to miss Barbara and her stories!

BOOK ALERT: Barbara will be signing copies of TRADITION! at the Royal, where they will also be for sale.  Plus, we will be giving away a signed copy of the book at each of the locations as a Trivia Prize.

– Town Center audiences will laugh along with comedian and cantor KENNY ELLIS from Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita.  Kenny has performed around the globe and can also be caught locally at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood.

– The Playhouse will be treated to the incomparable DEBRA LEVINE, a journalist and publisher of the popular cultural blog, “arts•meme“.  With a special interest in dance and choreography, Debra offers unique insight into the staging of both the film and musical.

FOOD ALERT: Asian food truck RICE BALLS OF FIRE will be joining us at the Playhouse!

– Claremont 5 attendees will enjoy the 2nd straight appearance of PAUL BUCH, cantor Temple Beth Israel in Pomona. Cantor Buch draws on a 25 year TV and film career to provide a uniquely entertaining evening.

– Music Hall will feature dynamic husband and wife duo of Doug Petrie and Alexa Junge.  Doug and Alexa come to us from the congregation of IKAR, a community well-respected (among other things) for knowing how to throw a good party!

In sum, those looking for an alternative Christmas Eve experience need look no further.  “This is your once-a-year chance to be the star of the shtetl,” observes Greg Laemmle.  “Join voices with friends and neighbors and sing your heart out alongside Fiddler’s screen legends,” he continues.  “And it’s okay if you haven’t memorized all the songs. We provide the lyrics.”

As in years past, Fiddler on the Roof Sing-Along takes place at all Laemmle locations on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) starting at 7:30pm.  Reserve your tickets now before it’s too late!