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June 17
1890 - 18-day murder trial of Castaic's W.C. Chormicle and W.A. Gardner ends in acquittal [story]
William Chormicle


The 2018 SXSW Film Festival, which runs from March 9 to 18, announced its Jury and Special Award winners on Tuesday with CalArts alumni taking home some of the top prizes.

The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals, held annually in Austin, Texas, sit at the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries.

In the Narrative Feature Competition, “Thunder Road” — about a police officer raising his young daughter while coping with the death of his mother — took home the Grand Jury Award. Written and directed by Jim Cummings, the film includes Natalie Metzger (Dance MFA 11) as one of its producers. Metzger has worked with Cummings on several other projects, producing his short films such as “Hydrangea,” “The Robbery” and “It’s All Right, It’s Ok.”

Metzger, also a filmmaker, has had her own films showcased in more than 60 festivals around the world.

Writer and director Nijla Mu’min (Film/Video, Creative Writing MFA 13) won the Special Jury Recognition for Writing award for her feature debut, “Jinn.” Inspired by Mu’min’s life growing up in the Bay Area, “Jinn” is a coming-of-age story centered around Summer (Zoe Renee), whose world turns inside out after her mother Jade (Simone Missick) converts to Islam.

“The Undefeated,” a sports and pop culture website owned and operated by ESPN, noted the importance and timeliness of Mu’min’s film:

Her debut is meaningful for several reasons: She is a black female filmmaker working in an industry that often marginalizes black women behind the camera. She is also Muslim, and her film brings forth a nuanced and compelling look at Muslim families and communities at a time when the media often portrays followers of the faith as either one-dimensional villains or doesn’t portray them at all.

She is also a filmmaker from Oakland, California, and 2018 has been a banner year for films released by directors from the Bay Area, including Boots Riley’s highly anticipated “Sorry to Bother You,” Daveed Diggs’ “Blindspotting” and, of course, Coogler’s “Black Panther,” which recently crossed the $1 billion box-office mark.

In 2017, Jinn was selected for the Independent Film Project’s Narrative Lab and received an SFFILM’s Rainin Film Grant. The filmmaker was also selected to attend the 2017 Sundance Institute Sound and Music Design Lab at Skywalker Ranch and named one of 2017’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine.

In the Animated Shorts category, the Special Jury Recognition prize was given to “JEOM,” written and directed by Kangmin Kim. The film, about a father and a son who have the same big birthmark on their butts, follows the son as he tries to scrub of his father’s birthmark to remove it (believing the two are connected)–but he just can’t get rid of it.

“JEOM” was also nominated for the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

– By Elizabeth Lang

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LINKS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Monday, Jun 16, 2025
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Concert Band on Saturday, June 28 at 5 p.m. for its "Stars and Stripes" concert.
Thursday, Jun 12, 2025
Fairies, a new theatrical production by Phil Lantis, makes its world premiere, July 11-19 at The MAIN.
Thursday, Jun 12, 2025
City Cinemas in the Park will screen the film "The Wild Robot," Friday, June 27 at 8 p.m. at Bridgeport Park.
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2025
The Dumas-Stenson Thespians return to The MAIN with "Connie," Thursday, June 12, thru Sunday, June 15.
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2025
In celebration of Father's Day, all month long, Teacision Art Gallery will host the "Cars, Coffee & Art" exhibition along with an artist reception, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, June 14.
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Castaic Aquatic Center offers a variety of swims this summer, including recreational, laps and aqua aerobics, and recreational swims are free.
Castaic Aquatic Center Summer 2025
Recreational Swim is offered during the week and weekends at various Santa Clarita pools during the summer.
Summer Recreational Swimming in the SCV
Runners of all ages are invited to support the College of the Canyons cross country and track & field programs by participating in the 50th Annual Cross Country Summer Series sponsored by Fleet Feet on Thursday evenings from July 10 to Aug. 14.
Thursdays July 10-Aug. 14: 50th Annual COC Cross Country Summer Series Runs
1890 - 18-day murder trial of Castaic's W.C. Chormicle and W.A. Gardner ends in acquittal [story]
William Chormicle
Take a Sunset Stroll at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center in Agua Dulce.
Take a Sunset Stroll at Vasquez Rocks
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to defer and refund costly County permit fees for survivors of the devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires that struck in January 2025.
Barger Seeks to Defer, Refund Permit Fees for Eaton, Palisades Fires Survivors
Child Rights and You (CRY) America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every child’s right to education, healthcare, and protection from abuse and exploitation.
July 26: CRY America Launches Los Angeles Youth Chapter
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Concert Band on Saturday, June 28 at 5 p.m. for its "Stars and Stripes" concert.
June 28: SCV Concert Band ‘Stars and Stripes’ Concert
Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced and fresh grilled subs, will host a grand opening and school fundraiser at 16400 Village Way in Santa Clarita on Wednesday, June 18.
Jersey Mike’s New SCV Location to Host Grand Opening, School Fundraiser
California Credit Union announced Monday the launch of “Georgia,” a new virtual chatbot designed to deliver fast, intelligent and secure support to members 24/7.
California Credit Union Launches ‘Georgia’ Virtual Chatbox
The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop is seeking volunteers for its Santa Clarita store this summer.
Volunteers Needed for American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
The deadline for standard entries for the Santa Clarita Valley 2025 Fourth of July Parade registration has been extended to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 17.
June 17: SCV Fourth of July Parade Registration Deadline Extended
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the release of the sixth episode of Santa Clarita Voices, the city’s official podcast, that highlights the stories, experiences and conversations from city leaders and unique members in the community.
Santa Clarita Voices Episode Six Available Now
As a longtime resident of Santa Clarita, I know that summer brings more than just high temperatures, it also marks a peak season for wildfire danger.
Ken Striplin | Keeping Our Community Safe from Wildfires, Fireworks
Green Santa Clarita notes that, to help prevent ant pesticide pollution in Santa Clarita waterways, the first thing to do is to prevent ants from coming into our home or business in the first place.
Please Keep Ant Spray out of Waterways
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit certain Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters.
LA County Ocean Water Use Warning for June 16
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, June 16 to Saturday, June 21.
June 16-21: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, June 18, beginning with a closed session at 6:30 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
June 18: Hart Board to Recognize West Ranch Baseball
1876 - D.G. Scofield forms California Star Oil Works, hires Alex Mentry to drill in Pico Canyon [story]
Pico oil rigs
1957 - Lang Station dedicated as State Historic Landmark No. 590 [story]
Lang Station
1916 - Jesse Doty buys White Star Garage; he turns it into Newhall's first Ford dealership [story]
White Star Garage
The Santa Clarita Artists Association has issued a call to artists for "Abstracted," art show which will open Aug 15 thru Sept. 21 at the SCAA 6th Street Gallery, 22508 6th St., Newhall, CA 91321.
July 27: Call to Artists for SCAA ‘Abstracted’ Exhibit
The city of Santa Clarita will present “Walk with Me,” a solo photography exhibition by artist Nima Kharrazi, on view at the Valencia Library Branch through Wednesday, July 30.
‘Walk with Me’ Photo Exhibit at Valencia Library Thru July 30
Caltrans has announced that overnight lane reductions are scheduled on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) from Lake Hughes Road to two miles north of Templin Highway (near the Whitaker Sand Shed) north of Castaic starting Monday, June 16 for pavement rehabilitation.
June 16-20: Castaic Area I-5 Lane Reductions, Ramp Closures
SCVNews.com