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Beth Accomando
Arts & Culture Reporter
Beth Accomando covers arts and culture around San Diego for KPBS News. Beth 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.
Beth is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and Online Film Critics Society, and is the past President and former Education Chairperson for the San Diego Film Critics Society. She served as the 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. Now she volunteers as part of The Film Geeks at the Digital Gym Cinema to bring independent and envelope-pushing genre filmmaking to the Media Arts Center San Diego's micro cinema.
Beth has been a film critic for more than 25 years and began at KPBS in 1987. Since 1997 she has been covering independent and international cinema as well as pop culture for National Public Radio 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 while working at Fox.
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 every year.
Recent Stories by Beth Accomando
'Collective' Plays Like Romanian 'All The President's Men'
- Nov. 27
- By Beth Accomando
"Collective," now streaming through Digital Gym Cinema's DGC@Home, is the official Romanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. It is rare for a documentary to be submitted in this category but then this is not your typical documentary.
Movies To Be Thankful For
- Nov. 27
- By Beth Accomando
Since this is the month for giving thanks, our Midday Edition movie critics have come up with films and shows they are thankful for.
'Leap Of Faith' Takes A Deep Dive Into 'The Exorcist'
- Nov. 20
- By Beth Accomando
"The Exorcist" movie is nearly 50 years old yet it still ranks as one of the films that most scares audiences. "Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on 'The Exorcist,'" is a new documentary that explores the making of the film with its director.
How 'The Grinch' Moved To Radio
- Nov. 18
- By Beth Accomando
The Old Globe Theatre has made its production of "Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas" a holiday tradition. Now it is transforming the stage production into a made-for-radio musical.
Podcast 206: Giving Thanks To Film Editors, Part 1
- Nov. 18
- By Beth Accomando
Cinema Junkie begins a three-part tribute to the art and craft of film editing with Tatiana S. Riegel, Oscar-nominated editor for "I, Tonya."
Celebrate Friday The 13th With 'Freaky'
- Nov. 13
- By Beth Accomando
It’s Friday the 13th so celebrate with a horror comedy set on that unlucky day. "Freaky," the latest from the director of "Happy Death Day" opens Friday at South Bay Drive-In.
The Poet's Tree Serves Up Weekly Interviews, Performance, Activities
- Nov. 10
- By Beth Accomando
The Poet’s Tree is an online weekly event hosted by Old Globe Teaching Artist and spoken word poet Gill Sotu. It takes a deep dive into the world of modern poetry and offers interviews as well as interactive prompts with the audience.
'Let Him Go' Tweaks Genre Expectations
- Nov. 6
- By Beth Accomando
Larry Watson’s novel "Let Him Go" makes it to the screen in actual cinemas this week with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane in the lead roles.
10 Political Films To Help You Through 2020
- Nov. 5
- By Beth Accomando
With a pandemic, political unrest and a contentious presidential election that may not be fully decided for days if not longer, perhaps you need some escape. Here is a list of the 10 best Hollywood films about politics.
Cinema Junkie Podcast 205: Halloween Double Dare
- Oct. 31
- By Beth Accomando
When writer, choreographer and fellow horror fan Michael Mizerany asked me if I'd like to record a pair of original horror plays he'd written, I said absolutely.
Keep up with all the latest news, arts and culture, and TV highlights from KPBS.
