Pencil This In: Ride the Divide Screens at the Downtown Independent, Poetry at the Schindler House and Santa Corpse Variety Show at the Asylum Theater

There's a screening and after-party for the intense, insane mountain biking film Ride the Divide tonight at the Downtown Independent. | Photo: Still from Ride the Divide.

There's a screening and after-party for the intense, insane mountain biking film Ride the Divide tonight at the Downtown Independent. | Photo: Still from Ride the Divide.
FILM* 
Cinefist, Cinema Speakeasy and Film Courage Interactive join forces tonight to bring a screening, filmmaker Q&A and after-party at the Downtown Independent for the film Ride the Divide. Directed by Hunter Weeks, the film follows three characters’ experiences with the toughest mountain bike race--2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. 8 pm. Tickets: $10.

PERFORMANCE 
PianoFight debuts a show from its latest comedy troupe, Corpses, tonight at 8 pm at Theater Asylum. Santa Corpse features sketch comedy from Jamie King, music from Zeahna Young of the Americana folk group Marietta James and a debut short film. They’re giving out presents at the show, too. Tickets: $15 ($5 off with the discount code tonkatruck.)

LIT 
The Annenberg Beach House hosts a reading from its writer-in-residence Sandro Meallet as he reads from his second novel The Coming of Rage. Set in San Pedro, the novel follows a boy who commits an odd crime against his mother, believing he’s been driven to it by necessity. Free, but reservations required. 6:30 pm (but arrive by 6:15 to keep your reservation).

FILM TALK
Tonight the Tim Robbins-curated Axis Mundi film/performance art/comedy/talk back series screens the film The Calling at 8 pm at The Actor’s Gang in Culver City. Director Daniel Alpert takes a look at four young Americans who are preparing to become America’s next generation of religious/faith leaders. There’s a post show Q&A. Free.

POETRY
Tonight at 7 pm, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture hosts a fireside poetry reading at the Schindler House, with Jeremy Sigler, who’ll read from new book Crackpot Poet and Chris Kraus, who’ll read from her collection of essays Where Art Belongs. Suggested donation: $7.

*Pencil pick of the day

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