If you've been to the New Bev as often as I have, you've found that the theater isn't run by a staff so much as a family. Friday, they pull out all the stops for one of their own, Julia Marchese, as she makes her big screen debut in the thriller Golden Earrings. Of course, for every sweet Julia, there are a plethora of bastard stepchildren. more ›

Now that the summer blockbuster season's in gear, it's time to counter-program with an influx of festivals! The Israel Film Festival runs through the 18th at Laemmle's Fallbrook in West Hills & the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Highlights include Lost Islands, which cleaned kibbutz at the Israeli box office last year and won four Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscars); The Seven Days, another Ophir powerhouse; and audience favorite & Oscar nominee Waltz With Bashir. Rather than feature one-off screenings of a multitude of films, the festival has a smaller slate (30 films) but more dedicated screening times; a nice touch for patrons with less flexible schedules. more ›