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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
Geeking Out At 'Rise Of The Resistance'
- Jan. 16
- By Beth Accomando
KPBS arts reporter and Star Wars fan Beth Accomando went to Disneyland on Wednesday to check out the "Rise of the Resistance" ride that opens Jan. 17 at Galaxy’s Edge.
Oscars So Bland Should Be New Hashtag
- Jan. 14
- By Beth Accomando
The 92nd annual Academy Award nominations were announced Monday morning and KPBS Cinema Junkie Beth Accomando has this recap and reaction.
SDSU Grad Destin Cretton Serves Up Social Justice With 'Just Mercy' Film
- Jan. 13
- By Beth Accomando
Filmmaker Destin Cretton went to SDSU and was recently tapped to direct the upcoming Marvel film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Currently his film “Just Mercy” is in theaters. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando showed Cretton's student films a decade ago and has been following his career. He spoke with her by phone last week from Sydney, Australia.
Nervous Theatre Stages Genet's 'The Maids'
- Jan. 10
- By Beth Accomando
Nervous Theatre describes itself as a nomadic company. That means no venue to call home. But the company is in town this weekend to perform Jean Genet’s "The Maids" at Tenth Ave Arts Center.
How Godzilla Changed Italian Cinema
- Jan. 8
- By Beth Accomando
In addition to being the KPBS arts reporter, Beth Accomando also volunteers as a film programmer through Film Geeks SD and co-hosts a pair of annual film series at Digital Gym Cinema. This Sunday marks the launch of a monthly series on Italian Genre Cinema and Monday night is the start of Gearhead Cinema.
Flesh-Eating Bugs At The Nat's New Living Lab Exhibit
- Dec. 30, 2019
- By Beth Accomando, Roland Lizarondo
Have you ever wanted to see flesh-eating beetles at work? You now have your chance as the San Diego Natural History Museum serves up the Living Lab where the public can meet the creepy and the crawly, the slimy and slithery up close.
Greta Gerwig Brings 'Little Women' To The Screen
- Dec. 26, 2019
- By Beth Accomando
Louisa May Alcott’s novel "Little Women" has been adapted to the screen many times and it gets a new one this year from Greta Gerwig.
'Uncut Gems' Is The Perfect Antidote For Holiday Cheer
- Dec. 24, 2019
- By Beth Accomando
For the holidays you can choose between the beloved classic "Little Women" or the edgy indie film "Uncut Gems." Guess which one Beth Accomando is recommending?
More Than 'Star Wars' At Cinemas
- Dec. 20, 2019
- By Beth Accomando
"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" has opened in theaters but that's not all you can find on the big screen. Terrence Malick's "A Hidden Life" and Jay Roach's "Bombshell" also hit cinemas.
Midday Movies: Bringing The Skywalker Saga To An End
- Dec. 20, 2019
- By Beth Accomando
Jade Hindmon hosts a "Star Wars" edition of Midday Movies as KPBS film critic Beth Accomando and Moviewallas' Yazdi Pithavala recall how they got introduced to George Lucas' franchise and how they think "The Rise of Skywalker" wraps it all up.