Michele StuevenA rare silent film lost for more than a century is returning to the big screen in Los Angeles. An Unbeliever Convinced, a 1917 film, has been restored and will screen at the 62nd Cinecon Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 4 at the Landmark Nuart Theater.
The 20-minute film, restored by UL Research Institutes (ULRI), blends early cinematic storytelling with a dramatized warehouse fire, offering a fascinating look at the intersection of film history and fire safety education. The motion picture, a fictitious account of Chicago firefighters’ rescue efforts at an industrial fire, has stood the test of time, highlighting how storytelling can help make the world a safer place.
The film was created through cooperation between Underwriters’ Laboratories, the National Fire Protection Association, the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Fire Department, and the Chicago Police Department.
Also part of the festival: Barbara Eden, Nancy Kwan, and Lainie Kazan will be honored with legacy awards.
Courtesy of Cinecon Classic Film Festival
The 18th annual Hola México Film Festival, presented by Toyota All-Electric Family, has announced this year’s film selections for screening in Hollywood, DTLA, Pico Rivera, and Culver City from Friday, Sept. 25 through Saturday, Oct. 3 during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The largest Mexican film festival outside of Mexico, the Hola Mexico Film Festival, will kick off with opening night activities featuring a screening, a red-carpet event, and an after-party for the film Loco México Mágico, directed by Carlos Santos. This screening will take place at The Montalbán in Hollywood.
The celebration will continue the following day with the LA premiere and red-carpet event for the concert film featuring Mexican rock superstars Zoé, MEMOREX + REXSEXEX Y MÁS. Directed by Rodrigo Guardiola and produced by Olmo Guerra, the film will be presented at The Montalbán in Hollywood.
Courtesy: Hola Mexico Film Festival
A special showcase of the film Los Olvidados: Remastered Edition and the LA premiere of Memoria de Los Olvidados (Memory of the Forgotten) is a documentary directed by Javier Espada. It explores Luis Buñuel’s landmark 1950 Mexican film Los Olvidados (The Young and the Damned), which is registered on UNESCO’s Memory of the World list and includes Alejandro González Iñárritu.
The Amazon and Hola Mexico Film Festival series El Juicio will premiere two episodes starring Mexican star Eugenio Derbez. Also screening is Prefiero La Muerte, directed by Sebastián Sariñana. Both series will screen on September 27 at The Culver Theater.
The closing night screening and concert will take place at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, located at 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tickets and the full lineup here.
On Friday, Sept. 18 at the Academy Museum, TCM host Dave Karger will sign copies of his new book, 50 Movie Nights: Contemporary Stars on Their Favorite Classic Films, followed by a conversation with Jason Bateman and a screening of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, Bateman’s selection for the book.
50 Movie Nights features 50 contemporary stars like Bryan Cranston and Paul Rudd, sharing their favorite classic films and the personal stories behind their choices, celebrating the movies that have inspired today’s artists.