The International Film Festival Rotterdam unveiled the first highlights of its 54th edition, set to take place in the Netherlands from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. Among the lineup are world premieres by two filmmakers who graduated from California Institue of the Arts: Matthew Lax (Film/Video-IM MFA 2016) and Rajee Samarasinghe (Film/Video MFA 2016).
Lax’s latest works, “A Tired Dog Is a Good Dog, Part Two” and “Gay Men’s Book Club,” are premiering at IFFR 2025 as part of a new special Focus program spotlighting the director.
In “A Tired Dog Is a Good Dog, Part Two,” Lax delves into themes of belonging, choice and freedom through a psychosexual exploration of canine and human behaviors. The latest chapter in Lax’s long-term project, which began in 2020, features the artist’s family, who breed collies. They are also professional dog trainers and members of the Los Angeles and Paris pup play kink communities, in which humans role-play as dogs.
“Gay Men’s Book Club” is an experimental nonfiction film and installation that brings together seven gay men to discuss Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò’s Elite Capture. Facilitated in collaboration with Dr. Don Kilhefner, the unscripted conversations delve into themes of community, privilege, and intersectionality. The project extends beyond film, offering a decentralized learning platform with supplementary materials to encourage broader discussions.
Lax, an artist, writer and filmmaker working between documentary and narrative, often explores group behaviors, power dynamics and queerness in their work. Their films have been exhibited at venues such as Viennale (Austria), The Drawing Center in New York, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and REDCAT in Los Angeles.
Sri Lankan-born filmmaker Samarasinghe will present the world premiere of his debut feature, “Your Touch Makes Others Invisible,” in the Bright Future program. Employing a docufiction approach blending direct interviews, archival news clips and re-enactments, Samarasinghe confronts the haunting legacy of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the staggering phenomenon of enforced disappearances. As many as 100,000 people, predominantly from the minority Tamil community, vanished during the 26-year conflict, leaving families in a liminal space of grief and uncertainty.
Samarasinghe will also present the world premiere of “You’re a Shadow,” a portrait of a Sri Lankan exorcist. The film is part of the festival’s Short & Mid-Length program.
Samarasinghe was also named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” in 2020 and was awarded a MacDowell Fellowship in 2023. He’s had solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA – Modern Mondays), the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival and the Los Angeles Filmforum (2220 Arts), among others
Alums and faculty from the California Institute of the Arts School of Film/Video are screening their films at film festivals around the globe throughout the fall. More than 18 CalArtians’ works have been selected for festival lineups taking place across Canada, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Several alumni from CalArts’ Program in Film and Video showcased recent work at the annual International Film Festival Rotterdam, held in the Netherlands from Jan. 25-Feb. 5.
The Knoxville, Tennessee-based Big Ears Festival curates a world-class lineup of musicians and filmmakers. This year, the festival runs from March 23-26 with several CalArtians screening their works, including School of Theater faculty Janie Geiser and alumni Manuela De Laborde (Film/Video MFA 16), Christina Nguyen (Film/Video MFA 16) and Mike…
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California State University, Northridge’s Department of Theatre will host Native Voices, the only professional theatre company in the United States devoted to bringing Indigenous playwrights, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, to perform “To Indigeneity and Beyond!”
The College of the Canyons Foundation will host its third annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, April 27, in the college’s West P.E. (WPEK) gymnasium, located on the Valencia campus.
When Abraham Martinez-Peña enrolled at California State University, Northridge as a film major, he knew the path he set out for himself — to be a professional comedy writer for film and television — would not be an easy one. Hollywood’s hiring reputation was more “who you know,” than “what you can do.”
Members of the public and the campus community at California State University, Northridge will get a chance to test-drive the latest in electric vehicles on Wednesday, April 9, at CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability’s fourth annual EV Car Show.
The Santa Clarita Valley Family History & Genealogy Fair, an annual free genealogy fair hosted by the Valencia FamilySearch Center, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector reminds Santa Clarita Valley residents that the second installment of the 2024-25 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes delinquent if not paid by Thursday, April 10.
The 52nd Annual Frontier Toyota Henry Mayo Golf Classic will host a $20 per ball Helicopter Golf Ball Drop at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Valencia Country Club.
California State Park enthusiasts from across the state have nominated their favorite state parks, and now it’s time to decide. State Parks has gathered the top nominations, and now it is time for you to determine the Best of California’s State Parks.
Residents wanting to wear their Santa Clarita pride can now shop online at the city of Santa Clarita City Store. The store offers a variety of city-branded merchandise options, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, totes and more.
Explore the world by traveling to the Canyon Country Community Center for the Celebrate event series. Experience different customs and cultures, no plane ticket needed.
After three successful years guiding the Teton Ranch Conservancy, Executive Director Jaron Cramer will be stepping down from his position effective Friday, April 18.
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in open session on Tuesday, April 8 at City Hall to consider sending a letter, signed by all city council members, to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors regarding Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy vacancies and encouraging the board to make investments in enhancing LASD retention and strengthening recruitment efforts.
California State University, Northridge’s Department of Theatre will host Native Voices, the only professional theatre company in the United States devoted to bringing Indigenous playwrights, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, to perform “To Indigeneity and Beyond!”
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced that Anthony Eslao, a senior at Golden Valley High School, has been awarded the distinguished California Scholarship Federation Seymour Award. Additionally, Matthew Thomas De Guzman, also from Golden Valley, has been recognized as a Seymour Award finalist.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo’s bill, D-Chatsworth, the Expediting State Housing Permits Act (AB 301) was passed as part of a major package of housing legislation aimed at tackling the state’s housing crisis.
The Department of Water Resources conducted the all-important April snow survey on Wednesday, April 2, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station.
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites you to an elegant evening of wine, dinner and song atthe annual Cabaret & Cabernet benefit “The Beat Goes On,” on Saturday, April 26, 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
For the third year in a row, The Master's University's basketball player Kaleb Lowery has been named an NAIA All-American, this time on the First Team.
Lief Labs, a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements, has announced the launch of its 2025 Brand Boost Guide which offers tips, guidance and resources to support dietary supplement brands in identifying potential sales growth and risk management strategies.
The Master's University men's volleyball team completed the sweep of its old rival with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-19 controlling of the Arizona Christian Firestorm Saturday afternoon, March 29 in Glendale, Arizona.
Arbor Day is more than just a celebration, it’s a commitment to our future. Every year, communities across the world come together to plant trees, promote environmental stewardship and enhance the landscapes that make our cities and towns more beautiful and livable.
Among several important issues presented at its Tuesday, April 8 regular board meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear recommendations on establishing a unified permitting authority for the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center relating to properties impacted by the Eaton Fire.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative that highlights the dangers of distracted driving and promotes safer driving habits.
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