A tale about two siblings in the art forgery business in Miami, “Forge,” kicks off the 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival next Thursday night at La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas. I think it’s fitting that a film festival, especially one has long-running as the SDAFF, is beginning its programming with a screening in one of the few stand-alone movie houses still remaining in San Diego County.
Other venues for the 10-day festival produced by Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) include UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley and the Southwestern College Performing Arts Center in Chula Vista. More than 150 films from over 30 countries will be screened through Nov. 15.
Besides the screenings, the festival again is honoring student filmmakers from Pac Arts’ Reel Voices program which has developed cinematic talent locally for over 20 years. Reel Voices alumni include Valhalla High School graduate Adam Lee, a cinematographer I wrote about in August when his and collaborator Kelsey Taylor’s reimagining of the “Little Red Riding Hood” story, “To Kill a Wolf,” screened in Mira Mesa.
A special Reel Voices World Premiere screening of short films made by young, next-generation filmmakers will happen Nov. 14 at the Southwestern College venue.
Festival tickets are $12 to $35 per screening with comprehensive passes beginning at $215. Visit sdaff.org/2025.
People get snacks at the Village Theaters on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Coronado. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
More film
The five-day-long Coronado Island Film Festival meanwhile gets under way today, Oct. 30, over the bridge from San Diego. As with the SDAFF, Coronado is utilizing a stand-alone movie house: the much-loved, tw-screen Village Theatres on Orange Avenue. It’s one of the festival venues, which also include the Hotel del Coronado.
This year the festival organizers are fondly remembering the late Lance Alspaugh who was instrumental in the revival of the Village Theatre after it was shuttered 25 years ago. Partnering with the City of Coronado, Alspaugh made it possible for the theater to reopen in 2011.
Among the many highlights during the festival run is a celebration of The Beatles on Nov. 8 that includes a documentary screening and a memorabilia exhibit. It’ll be held at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. Visit coronadofilmfest.com.
Melissa Fernandes and Manny Fernandes as the Petkoffs in Lamb’s Players Theatre’s “Arms and the Man. (J.T. MacMillan)
Staged reading
Spouses and fellow actors Melissa and Manny Fernandes are currently onstage in Coronado performing as husband-and-wife characters in Lamb’s Players Theatre’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man.” They’re also cast as a very different, far more combative, husband and wife in Carlsbad Playreaders’ staged reading of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Monday night at the Carlsbad Library.
Amanda Sitton directs this reading that also features Katie Karel (who’s also in Lamb’s’ “Arms and the Man”) and Nick Apostolina as the unwary couple subjected to marrieds George and Martha’s long night of boozy mutual-antagonism. That could be putting it mildly. Visit carlsbadplayreaders.com/virginia-woolf.
Members of National Comedy Theatre will presents their annual Halloween comedy “Spooktacular” show on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Mission Hills. (National Comedy Theatre)
Comedy
Need I remind you that Friday is Halloween? If you haven’t made plans yet and you feel more like laughing than shuddering in fright, National Comedy Theatre is once again presenting its annual “Halloween Spooktacular” taking place Friday and Saturday in Mission Hills.
This improv comedy show is the company’s longest-running production. Sketches spoof horror film and other Halloween-ish fare. NCT is describing this show as “’Friday the 13th’ Meets ‘Whose Line Is it Anyway?’”
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students at nationalcomedy.com/halloween-spooktacular.
The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, will host its free annual Dia de los Muertos Festival on Saturday, Nov. 1. CCAE
Post-Halloween
Returning to Escondido Saturday afternoon and into the evening for its 30th iteration is the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. It’s a family-friendly event that marks the Day of the Dead holiday with music, dance and art.
During the festival, which begins at 4 p.m., attendees can visit the “Light Among Shadows: The Night of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Michoacan” exhibition in the CCA’s art museum. That show includes more than 20 photographs documenting spiritual rituals from the Patzcuaro region of Mexico.
Did I forget to mention that attendance at the festival is free? That’s a treat, not a trick. Details at artcenter.org/dia-de-los-muertos.
UCTV
University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:
“’Early A.I. Brought Back Bach!’”
Widely regarded as the godfather of A.I. music, UC Santa Cruz professor and composer David Cope transformed the field with his creation of EMI— Experiments in Musical Intelligence — in the 1980s. One of the earliest computer programs designed to compose classical music, EMI used algorithms to analyze and replicate the styles of great composers, sparking both fascination and debate. In this documentary film, UC Santa Cruz’s Bob Giges explores Cope’s pioneering work and its profound impact on how we think about creativity, authorship, and the role of artificial intelligence in the arts. Following Cope’s passing in May 2025, the film also serves as a tribute to a visionary whose legacy continues to shape the future of music.
“The Cutural Evolution of Farmworkers”
Explore the evolving histories, identities and rights of farmworkers across Mexico and the United States in this powerful panel featuring scholars, organizers and agricultural leaders. The conversation covers cross-border migration, labor conditions, and the cultural traditions that shape farmworker communities — including indigenous and Catholic influences. Panelists examine the legacy of the Bracero Program and the continued struggles faced by agricultural workers today, from exploitation to environmental challenges. They also highlight stories of resilience, labor organizing and the fight for sustainable and dignified livelihoods. With a focus on policy, heritage and lived experience, the discussion offers a rich, multifaceted look at the past and future of agricultural labor across borders.
“Stronger, Longer Lives Through Science”
What if targeting aging itself could prevent disease and improve recovery? John C. Newman, M.D., Ph.D., explains how aging is driven by measurable cellular changes — known as the hallmarks of aging —including issues with mitochondria, inflammation, stem cells, protein maintenance and more. Newman discusses how studies in model organisms reveal ways to extend healthy lifespan by enhancing cellular stress responses or mitigating damage. He also highlights clinical trials across the country now testing therapies that target these aging processes directly, supported by national efforts to expand research and training. Newman’s own work focuses on ketone bodies — energy sources that may help reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and support resilience, especially in older adults facing illness, injury or frailty.