Renewing Our Mission in New Orleans - Page 7

The Seventh Annual Book Cart Drill Team World Championships will rock the halls Sunday, June 26, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Comedian, writer, and ALTAFF national spokesperson Paula Poundstone will headline “The Laugh’s on Us!” featuring top comedians and authors, Sunday, June 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Joining Poundstone will be Andy Borowitz, creator of the satirical website The Borowitz Report; Jill Kargman, who has written for Vogue, Elle, and Town & Country; and Leila Sales, author of the forthcoming YA book Past Perfect (Simon Pulse 2011). Wine and cheese will be served, and a book signing will follow. Some books will be given away free and others available for purchase at a discounted price. Advance tickets are $49 ($45 for ALTAFF members). Onsite tickets will be $55, if available.

The ALA Awards Ceremony and Inaugural Banquet takes place Tuesday, June 26, from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. All ALA recognition awards will be presented at a free special awards ceremony from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., immediately preceding the Inaugural Banquet, a ticketed event. The banquet celebrates the inauguration of Molly Raphael as she assumes the role of ALA president. Dinner and entertainment will round out the evening. Tickets to the banquet are $89 per person.

Grab the popcorn

The Now Showing @ ALA Film Program takes place Friday, June 24, through Monday, June 27. The following films were on the marquee as of mid-May:

Mine (2009) is a documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in modern U.S. history: Hurricane Katrina. The character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets, who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. A compelling meditation on race, class, and the power of compassion, Mine examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other. Friday, June 24, 8 p.m.

Dance your cares away with a selection of episodes from Jim Henson’s classic 1980s television series Fraggle Rock. Follow the adventures of Red, Gobo, Wembley, Mokey, and Boober as they play, laugh, sing, and learn valuable life lessons at the same time. Be sure to stop by the Archaia Entertainment booth (#1654) for free copies of Fraggle Rock comics and discounted copies of Fraggle Rock graphic novels. Saturday, June 25, noon.

ALSC presents the documentary film Library of the Early Mind (2010), an exploration of the art and impact of children’s literature on our kids, our culture, and ourselves. It features nearly 40 prominent authors and illustrators talking about their work, its genesis, and its impact. The number of books in print by the authors in Library of the Early Mind exceeds 240 million. A panel discussion with film producer Ted Delaney will follow the showing. Saturday, June 25, 8 p.m.

This 2001–2002 television-series adaptation of the Top Cow comic book Witchblade is the story of New York detective Sara “Pez” Pezzini, whose search for justice brings her into contact with the Witchblade, an ancient, intelligent, living weapon so powerful it can battle Earth’s darkest evil forces. Sunday, June 26, noon.

During slavery, Faubourg Tremé was home to the largest community of free black people in the Deep South and a hotbed of political ferment. Here black and white, free and enslaved, rich and poor cohabitated, collaborated, and clashed to create much of what defines New Orleans culture up to the present day. In so many ways its story, as portrayed in the film Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008), reflects the tortuous path taken by African-American history over the centuries. The film received the Award of Commendation from the Society for Visual Anthropology and the Peter C. Rollins Award for Best Documentary from the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association. Sunday, June 26, 2:30 p.m.

Visit the world of Thra with a screening of the classic 1982 film The Dark Crystal to raise awareness about the upcoming three-volume collection of all-new, original Dark Crystal graphic novels. The first volume, slated for release this November, is set 1,000 years before the events of the film and will feature a cover, story, and art direction by the legendary Brian Froud, the original concept designer of the film. Stop by the Archaia Entertainment booth (#1654) for free Dark Crystal graphic novel promotional posters while they last. Sunday, June 26, 5:30 p.m.

ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table’s Feminist Task Force and Women Make Movies present Pink Saris (2010) by director Kim Longinotto, an unflinching and often amusing look at a group of unlikely political activists in India and their charismatic leader. It features Sampat, who launches herself into the center of family dramas, witnessed by scores of spectators. Sunday, June 26, 8 p.m.