By the second week, those fears were confirmed as the organizers of the festival in San Jose and Redwood City pulled the plug, Covid-19 cases increased and public health officials forbade gatherings. A year later, the festival returns, this time fully virtual, from March 20 to 30 with 199 films and shows from 55 countries, most of which will be available to stream throughout the festival. Another 13 "Spotlight" events will punctuate the festival with Zoom Q&As and "red carpet" interviews with filmmakers and actors and peeks at rough cuts. » Read More

There comes a time in every reporter's career when an actor must be interviewed because they've directed a short film. These moments are fraught with anxiety because the films are often vanity projects created for the sake of showcasing some nascent talent the actor believes has been overlooked, without ever questioning why. I'm happy to report this is decidedly not the case with Zach Woods' debut directorial effort, David, a hilarious, humanistic portrait of psychic healing that should be prescribed viewing for the sake of global mental health. » Read More

Like many traveling exhibits, the Cantor Arts Center's When Home Won't Let You Stay: Migration through Contemporary Art spent months in the planning. Starting as a mockup in 3-D software, it morphed continuously over the bumpy ride of re-thinkings and adaptations driven by Covid-19. » Read More

Janice Lobo Sapigao didn't expect her first year as the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate would be sucker punched by a global pandemic, but she's determined not to let that stop her from getting South Bay kids to love their own words. The Silicon Valley native took over the two-year poet laureate position in January. The honorary post comes with a mandate to increase poetry awareness and celebration. Sapigao, a Filipina American poet, author, writer, educator and active community member, has plenty of ideas for that. » Read More

The text on the marquee said it all: "The Ritz Closed Until Further Notice." The news came as a disappointment to fans of Xavier Dprehpaulezz--the imaginative blues singer and songwriter who performs under the moniker Fantastic Negrito--who was scheduled to wow the crowds at The Ritz on March 19. As the county and state ramp up efforts to prevent a spike in novel coronavirus cases, bars, nightclubs and live music venues are shutting down, and it is unclear when they will open again. » Read More

With gentrification continuing to reshape Japantown, one of San Jose's most historic neighborhoods, a group of artists and historians pooled their resources to explore hidden histories via the use of augmented reality (AR) technology. When the opening reception unfolds this Saturday from 4-6pm at Art Object Gallery, the past will no longer be prologue. » Read More

Aries playwright Tennessee Williams was honest about the trickery he engaged in as he composed his entertaining masterpieces. "I don't want realism," he exclaimed. "I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people." I fully support you, Aries, if you would like to make that your goal in the next three weeks. In my astrological opinion, you and the people in your life have more than a mild need for magic. Your ability to thrive depends on you all getting big doses of magic. » Read More

Last year, San Jose artist Ezra Mara had heart surgery to fix a birth defect. The day after she got out of the hospital, the shelter-in-place pandemic quarantine went into effect. The 59-year-old's process wasn't affected too much by the mandated seclusion. Her daily routine remained unchanged: spending most days working in her studio by herself. "It wasn't so difficult," she says. "I'm not a very social person, and the nature of my work [requires] me to be alone to do it." » Read More

Throughout 43 years of business, Barbara Lenhart never needed to promote the Sourdough Eatery on North First Street. She never placed an ad anywhere. Then came the lockdown. Even though the legendary San Jose deli only suffered a few days of closure, Lenhart decided to put extra signage out front to let people know she was still in business. She wanted her regular customers to know they could still peruse the museum-like interior and gaze at the glorious mishmash of oddities all over the walls of the ancient brick building. They could still sit outside in what's probably the best patio anywhere in these parts. » Read More