Ed Yerke-Robins

This weekend, Edward James Olmos promotes Latin American activist cinema with LACMA's Contested Visions series. The Cinefamily hosts unhinged sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison & crazy creeper Crawlspace. USC previews horror for free! And more!

We're counting down the days until the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announces the final list of Oscar nominees. Whether or not you work in show business, you've seen "For Your Consideration" banners plaster web pages, publications & even buses. But these are for feature films & performers. What about the shorts?

Has German documentary Pina reclaimed 3D for the arthouse? Also, a myriad of music - Harry Belafonte, Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton & Disney - makes for merry melodies (& activist unity) at the movies!

This weekend marks the debut of two film festivals: The Wayne Federman International Film Festival, a unique blend of stage & screen comedy at the Cinefamily, and the Irvine International Film Festival.

Found footage exorcism flick The Devil Inside continues a curious trend of early year religious horror. For more raw style, still photographer Kurt Markus stages a little ditty about John Mellencamp in Super 8.

Jean-Luc Godard's Week End ditches little things like "plot" along the way to gleeful cinematic anarchy. Battle Royale's a bloody good Japanese satire. Then play 2011 catch-up with guests & double bills!

We close out 2011 with three stand-out releases: acclaimed Iranian drama A Separation, Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady & coming of age as a black lesbian in Pariah.

LA is the movie capital of the world, with tons of independent & international productions on screen every week. Here are 11 of our favorites from 2011!

Some blockbusters go really big. Another brings it back to England. But one rebel filmmaker sets the entire system in his sights... and nails it!

The Cinefamily goes for broke with a 24-hour fundraising telethon of sneak peeks, experimental films, stand-up comics, bands, foreign films and cartoons. Then, Christmas comes a little early with films from all eras & sentiments.