Local landmarks and actors were showcased on the silver screen as the Crocker Art Museum hosted the 12th annual A Place Called Sacramento film festival Feb. 2 in collaboration with Access Sacramento, the local public access television station. The sleek, modern auditorium was packed with local actors, directors, moviegoers and Crocker members through 105 minutes of 10 short films—10-minutes each—of varying genres. As part of the Crocker’s Thursdays ‘til 9 series, drama gave way to horror and mystery, but the audience found themselves humored with nearly every film. “Am I in hell?” asked the hallucinating drunkard in “The Watering Hole.” “No, you’re still in Sacramento,” replied a man

It was a very tough decision to choose the winners of The Sacramento Press 2012 Journalism Open. Fifty-three community contributors shared 93 stories about the greater Sacramento area and the quality of submissions this year really impressed the judges. Thank you to all of you who made this year’s Journalism Open a success. The Sacramento Press judges were Casey Kirk, Director of Community Outreach, Brandon Darnell, Copy Editor and Reporter, and Colleen Belcher, Editor-in-Chief. Each story was judged on newsworthiness, research and sources, spelling and grammar and how interesting they were. Each winner could only win one prize. Click here to read the complete judging criteria. First

The 12th annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival opens its SummerFEST program tonight by honoring another long time Festival director.  This year's Film Arts Service Award will be presented to Cecile Mouette Downs, director of the Sacramento French Film Festival.  Cecille has worked previously for the Film Department of the French Embassy in New York City, and as a Press Officer for the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel in Paris. She has a master’s degree in history, is a regular contributor to “France Today” magazine, and was the 2010 recipient of the Arts Executive of the Year Award from the Sacramento Arts & Business Council. This is the fifth Film Arts Service Award to be presented

Age is nothing but a number. Nine-year-old Claire Elizabeth, “A Place Called Sacramento” film festival script winner, is living proof of that. The premiere of her film, “The Chozen” will be at 1 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. There will be a $10 fundraising charge for Access Sacramento the night of the premiere only, and after that, all films will be up on the site where people can view them for free. “In 2000, Access Sacramento, (a nonprofit company) started training folks on how to use digital equipment because most independent small films were using video production instead of film,” said Access Sacramento Executive Director, Ron Cooper. “The idea was to create a loca

Access Sacramento opened its doors and studios to the public to mark its 25th year of offering community media for Sacramento County. For 25 years, nonprofit organization Access Sacramento has been “making a difference, one voice at a time,” through its commitment to covering local entertainment, high school sports and cultural events. Saturday’s event will showcase what local media has to offer the community and how attendees can play a major role in community reporting. I was 'the media covering the media' as I roamed around snapping photos for a couple of hours. Here are some shots: Many special guests including Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, City Councilman Steve Cohn, Supervisor

There are few people in this town who have consistently done as much to promote film, music, arts and Downtown Sacramento as Sid Heberger, managing partner of the Crest Theatre.  Now, after years producing, hosting and promoting multiple film festivals, she is receiving the 4th Annual Film Arts Service Award during the opening ceremonies for the 11th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival.  From the Festival Program: Sid grew up in Sutter Creek developing an early love for film and historic architecture. She moved to Sacramento to attend college and in 1986 became involved in the re-opening of the historic Crest Theatre, leading to a management position two years later. Now CEO of the C

  I hope each of you had a moment over the weekend to stop eating or lighting fireworks and appreciate what a great country we are. Not because we are perfect, or "The Best", or the richest, or the most powerful. No, we are none of these as our troubled world struggles to adjust to forces seemingly out of our control. We are a nation of women and men, girls and boys, who are all too human -- filled with fears and desires, vulnerabilities and strengths, clarity and confusion, responsibility and regret. But there are also individuals among us who sense this potential for chaos and anarchy, who stand up for what's right, who defend the underdog, who speak out when others remain silent, and

In case you missed the June 22 Paying for Content panel put on by The Sacramento Bee and The Sacramento Press, you will have the chance to see it on Access Sacramento, Channel 17 at the following dates and times: Sunday, July 4 at 10 p.m. (and repeated Monday at 2 p.m.) Sunday, July 11 at 5 p.m. (and repeated Monday at 9 a.m.) To read the recap, written by Agnus-Dei Farrant, click here.

South Sacramento is a diverse community that speaks many languages and practices many traditions. Cultural lines and language barriers prevent news and community stories from being told to those outside a small radius. Access Sacramento, in collaboration with The Sacramento Press, The Sacramento Bee and other regional media organizations have reached the final round in the Knight News Challenge. Their grant proposal will focus specifically on South Sacramento and its residents. Access Sacramento has applied for a two-year, $316,500 grant to continually achieve their mission of providing a forum for the thoughts, dreams and opinions of community members who are ignored by mainstream media

There is no place like home, and that is exactly what 12 local filmmakers will prove at the 10th annual "A Place Called Sacramento" film festival hosted by Access Sacramento. PCS challenges local filmmakers to write a 10-minute script about the people, places and events that define our community. "The idea of telling a story and making a movie is, in some ways, the great American novel," said Ron Cooper, executive director of Access Sacramento. "For many, making a film is a lifelong ambition. They just need an outlet to succeed." And that outlet is being provided by Access Sacramento. Each year, Sacramentans have a unique opportunity to submit their original work to Access Sacramento, a