As the Covid-19 pandemic creeps toward the six-month mark, are you missing the experience of watching a movie inside a theater as much as I am? Here are a few of my personal picks you can look for, now playing in Virtual Cinemas and from various streaming services. “Boys State” on Apple TV+ (with subscription)…

As the Covid-19 pandemic creeps toward the five-month mark, most U.S. movie theaters remain closed. Fortunately, lovers of independent and international films can still get their fix of first-run movies thanks to Virtual Cinema offerings that are ongoing from art-house exhibitors nationwide. After screening “John Lewis: Good Trouble” online during the month of July, Fresno…

As the Covid-19 pandemic stretches toward the four-month mark in Central California, movie theaters in the region remain closed. After canceling its April and May screenings as a health and safety precaution, Fresno Filmworks has taken an opportunity to improvise this summer with the concept of Virtual Cinema in the month of July. The political…

 “The Trip” film series (2011-2020) Imagine a joint venture between the Travel Channel, the Food Network and Comedy Central. What you might end up with is a four-film series starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon playing fictionalized versions of themselves. “The Trip” and “The Trip to Italy” were cut from episodes of the 2010…

With a spirit of improvisation, Fresno Filmworks is proud to present its first Virtual Cinema engagement: the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” opening Fourth of July weekend and available on-demand throughout the month. Featuring new interviews woven together with rare archival footage from the Civil Rights Movement, the film explores the iconic Georgia congressman’s sixty-plus…

Hello, Filmworks fans. We’ve been thinking about you. We remain heartbroken that we had to cancel the last two screenings of our 2019-20 season. While so much keeps changing in our lives, we’ve been keeping close watch on the changing landscape of film, too. If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you’ve no doubt…

Dear Filmworks Fans, It is with heavy hearts that we’ve decided to cancel our April 10 and May 8 screenings. Our public health and safety is important to us, and we feel it would be irresponsible to hold public gatherings at this time. Based on the information currently available, from local health agencies and the…

The tradition of Georgian dance stands as an important symbol of the country. It is a powerful form of dance, rooted in masculinity and grace. In “And Then We Danced,” Sweden’s Oscar nomination for Best International film, we witness the sexual awakening of Merab, a young man who has danced since he could walk. In…

Our “Streaming Surprises” series calls attention to good movies new and old that our board members are watching. Titles are available from various streaming services. “Her Smell” (2018) Submitted by Cassandra R. McGuire. Streaming on Kanopy. As a fan of riot grrrl music and sub-culture, I knew I had to check this one out. Moreover,…

This year’s screening of the Oscar-Nominated Short Films marks the 15th anniversary of the collaboration between Fresno Filmworks, Magnolia Pictures, and ShortsTV to share the world’s best in short-form cinema with the Central Valley. The 2020 Oscar shorts program, scheduled for Feb. 7 and 8 at Fresno’s historic Tower Theatre, features 19 films representing 10…

December 2019 Volunteer in the Spotlight: Katie McQuone Botello Occupation: Katie teaches video production and broadcasting at her high school alma mater, Sunnyside High School, in southeast Fresno. She coordinates Sunnyside’s Video Production Academy. This past December, Katie was surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her outstanding teaching and mentoring work at Sunnyside.…

The New Yorker lauds her “radically personal films.” The British Film Institute calls her “a playful visionary.” Editors of The Criterion Collection declare she is the “mother and grandmother of the French New Wave.” And in 2017, when she was awarded an honorary Oscar, special mention was made of her “compassion and curiosity that inform…

In an effort to support community art making, celebrate local stories, and feature homegrown filmmaking talent, Fresno Filmworks presented an exclusive program of five short films with Central Valley connections at our 15th annual Fresno Film Festival. There was a Q&A after the program. We also introduced the winners of our 2019 student filmmaker competition,…