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Beth Accomando studied film at UCSD and had her student film Writer’s Notebook screened as part of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s "Forty-Two Emerging Artists" showcase in 1981. She has edited the sequels to The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and video documentaries on Billy Wilder and roller hockey. She is currently the President and Education Chairperson for the San Diego Film Critics Society and festival director of Film School Confidential: A Showcase of San Diego Student Filmmaking. In the past she has served on the film selection committee for the San Diego State University Student Film Festival, San Diego International Film Festival and San Diego Latino Film Festival. She has been a film critic for 20 years (she began at KPBS in 1987). For the past six years she has been covering independent and international cinema for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and Public Radio International’s The World. She has received numerous Society of Professional Journalist Awards and San Diego Press Club Awards for her radio and web site work at KPBS. She has also received 11 southwestern area Emmy Awards in the categories of producing, writing and sound design for promotional spots as well as national Pro Max and Telly Awards. She has a passion for Hong Kong cinema, Japanese monster movies, horror and film noir. She collects movie posters and toys and loves putting on a haunted house for her son’s school every year.
Recent Stories
The Yes Men Fix the World
Back in 2003, merry political pranksters Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum were featured in the documentary “The Yes Men.” Now they are back with “The Yes Men Fix the World” (opening November 20 at the Reading Gaslamp Stadium 15).
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
"Precious" (opening November 20 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas) created a lot of buzz earlier this year at Sundance. Listen to my Film Chat.
Does Twilight Sell Sex to Teens?
Unless you’ve been living under a cultural rock, you must be aware that “New Moon," the next installment of the wildly successful “Twilight Saga,” opens this Friday. The human-vampire romance expands to include a werewolf as Edward and Jacob vie for the attentions of Bella. But this teen bodice ripper maybe sending a mixed message with its sexy but chaste leads. I talk with some of my Teen Critics at Mount Miguel High School.
MoPA Presents Silent Film Festival
On Wednesday, the Museum of Photographic Arts began a silent film festival. You still have time to catch their impressive selection of German expressionist films including “Metropolis” and “Nosferatu.”
Cinema Under the Stars Extends Season
A quick note about another alternate movie venue – Cinema Under the Stars (4040 Goldfinch Street in Mission Hills) has extended its outdoor movie season through November 28. This weekend you can catch the always charming Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
Dead Snow
Before Hollywood begins rolling out its serious Oscar contenders, I wanted to enjoy one more guilty pleasure – a horror film from Norway called “Dead Snow" (opening November 13 exclusively at Reading’s Gaslamp Stadium 15).
Trailer Tuesday: Prince of Persia
If anyone has been craving a dose of "Conan the Barbarian" then you might be interested in the new film adaptation of the video game "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (opening May 28, 2010) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Cinema en tu Idioma Presents a Trio of IFC Films
The San Diego Latino Film Festival’s monthly screening program Cinema en tu Idioma tests the notion that you can’t have too much of a good thing by presenting a trio of Spanish language films (screening now through November 12 at the UltraStar Mission Valley Theaters) from around the globe: Spain’s “Fermat’s Room,” Colombia’s “Perro Com Perro,” and Mexico’s “Voy a Explotar.”
Film Club: Antichrist
Lars Von Trier -- the man who conceived of the "Vows of Chastity" for the filmmakers of Dogme95 -- breaks most of his rules for the new film "Antichrist" (opening November 6 at Landmark's Ken Cinema). Listen to our discussion on the KPBS Film Club.
Working on the Sound Design for This is It
Everyone knows that “This is It” (opened October 28 in select San Diego theaters) serves up the last footage of the late Michael Jackson. But while Jackson’s talent is clearly visible on the screen, you might not appreciate the work of the tech crew that had to create this film from a diverse array of sources.
