As we enter the second half of the year, and the 4th of July weekend, our critics Manuel Betancourt and Lael Loewenstein will take some time to recap what’s been released this year so far and talk about their favorite films that have been released as of now.

As we enter the second half of the year, and the 4th of July weekend, our critics <a href="https://laist.com/people/manuel-betancourt">Manuel Betancourt</a> and <a href="http://www.lafca.net/members/lael_loewenstein.html">Lael Loewenstein</a> will take some time to recap what&rsquo;s been released this year so far and talk about their favorite films that have been released as of now.

FilmWeek on AirTalk, hosted by Larry Mantle, is a one-hour weekly segment devoted to films. It offers reviews of the week's new movies, interviews with filmmakers, and discussions on various aspects of the industry.

Reviews of the week's new movies, interviews with filmmakers, and discussion.

FilmWeek

Feature: FilmWeek critics share their top picks for 2025 so far

The topic:

Movies on film are having a resurgence. Just take late year’s biggest movies: One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Marty Supreme. But the craft of screening movies on film is a dying one, with few projectionists experienced enough to handle the delicate prints. 

A film stronghold: In L.A., it's the local repertory theaters that have helped maintain the art of film projection with many offering screenings of old movies on vintage prints. The task may be tedious, but for audiences, it’s a striking viewing experience.

Guests: Spencer Christiano, a senior projectionist at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Boris Ibañez, technical director of Vidiots, a repertory theater and DVD/video rental store in Eagle Rock.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The topic:
Movies on film are having a resurgence. Just take late year&rsquo;s biggest movies: One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Marty Supreme. But the craft of screening movies on film is a dying one, with few projectionists experienced enough to handle the delicate prints.&nbsp;
A film stronghold: In L.A., it's the local repertory theaters that have helped maintain the art of film projection with many offering screenings of old movies on vintage prints. The task may be tedious, but for audiences, it&rsquo;s a striking viewing experience.
Guests: Spencer Christiano, a senior projectionist at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Boris Iba&ntilde;ez, technical director of Vidiots, a repertory theater and DVD/video rental store in Eagle Rock.
Visit <a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency&nbsp; &nbsp;

Feature: A couple of LA projectionists still working with film on the big screen

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Is God Is, Wide Release

Life Hack, In Select Theaters

The Propagandist, Available on select digital platforms

Decorado, In Select Theaters

Silent Friend, AMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]

American Agitators, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

The Wizard of the Kremlin, In Select Theaters

Marty, Life is Short, Streaming on Netflix

Obsession, Wide Release

The A List: 15 Stories from the Asian and Pacific Diasporas, Streaming on HBO Max

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Austin Cross and LAist film critics <a href="https://laist.com/people/claudia-puig">Claudia Puig</a>, <a href="http://www.cinemainmind.com/">Tim Cogshell</a>, and <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/charles-solomon/movies">Charles Solomon</a> review this weekend&rsquo;s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
Films:
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34379307/">Is God Is</a>, Wide Release
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32135632/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_life%20hack">Life Hack</a>, In Select Theaters
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29341054/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%20propagandis">The Propagandist</a>, Available on select digital platforms
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26923383/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_decorado">Decorado</a>, In Select Theaters
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27811632/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_silent%20friend">Silent Friend</a>, AMC Burbank &amp; Laemmle Royal [West LA]
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33767678/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_american%20agitators">American Agitators</a>, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32386654/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_1_tt_1_nm_6_in_0_q_the%20wizard%20of%20the%20kremlin">The Wizard of the Kremlin</a>, In Select Theaters
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39382052/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_marty%20life%20is">Marty, Life is Short</a>, Streaming on Netflix
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37287335/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_obsession">Obsession</a>, Wide Release
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38637477/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_the%20a%20list%2015%20stor">The A List: 15 Stories from the Asian and Pacific Diasporas</a>, Streaming on HBO Max
Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency&nbsp; &nbsp;

FilmWeek: ‘Is God Is,’ ‘The Propagandist,’ ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin,’ and more

The topic:

Last week, the Academy Awards released new rules for the Oscars. Some of the changes include awarding the director rather than the country for Best International Feature and allowing actors to be nominated for multiple films in the same category, such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress. 

Other changes: Two of the new rule changes included explicit language about acting performances and screenplays being “demonstratively human” and “human-authored” respectively. These new rules come as the Oscars are planning for a change in venue and a new broadcast partner in YouTube starting in 2029.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The topic:
Last week, the Academy Awards <a href="https://press.oscars.org/news/awards-rules-and-campaign-promotional-regulations-approved-99th-oscarsr">released new rules</a> for the Oscars. Some of the changes include awarding the director rather than the country for Best International Feature and allowing actors to be nominated for multiple films in the same category, such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress.&nbsp;
Other changes: Two of the new rule changes included explicit language about acting performances and screenplays being &ldquo;demonstratively human&rdquo; and &ldquo;human-authored&rdquo; respectively. These new rules come as the Oscars are planning for a change in venue and a new broadcast partner in YouTube starting in 2029.
Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency&nbsp; &nbsp;

Feature: FilmWeek critics share their top picks for 2025 so far

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