Preparing for a debut of his short film on Tuesday for friends, family and a panel of local cinematographers, Mountain Pointe High School senior Vincent Cota was putting the finishing touches on the piece after school this week.

With a reputation for being innovative and versatile, Dante Ariola made a name for himself directing commercials for the likes of Coca Cola, Nike and Lexus. What began as a substantial career in graphic design morphed into a myriad of film work, including music videos for bands like Cake and Cypress Hill, and a documentary short about wildlife conservationist Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, entitled “Man & Beast.”

“Reality” is not only a modern-day fairytale, but also a reflection on the pitfalls of fame, wealth and celebrity culture.

Although we have yet to see an official trailer or production still, I already have mixed feelings about “The Delivery Man.” This upcoming dramedy starring Vince Vaughn follows a middle-aged slouch whose life is turned on its head when he discovers that he’s fathered more than 500 children as a sperm donor – 142 of whom wish to determine who their biological dad is.

The night of the shooting in Aurora, Colo., Ahwatukee Foothills mom and lawyer Ellen Davis had enough.

In “Wrong,” a movie playing through April 12 at Harkins Valley Art theater, Alexis Dziena plays a love struck pizza-shop employee who leaves her husband for Jack Plotnick’s sad-sack protagonist, whose canine's disappearance sets off a bizarre and unpredictable chain of events.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting near a horse the next time you dine out.

Riveting, intelligent and a masterclass in acting, “Beyond the Hills” is likely to be the best film you’ll see this spring or maybe even this year.

As a tween in the 1990s, Krissy Lenz loved the movie “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” We’re talking loooved it.

Earlier this spring, the We the People Team from Tempe's Marcos de Niza High School earned a spot to represent Arizona at the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Six months after fire destroyed Copperstar Repertory Company’s offices and scene and costume shops, the East Valley theater company is scheduled to host its first production of “Les Misérables School Edition.”

DreamWorks Animation has always strived to tell stories that can appeal to all ages. Their latest animated comedy, “The Croods,” will surely be enjoyed by anybody who is younger than 10. Unlike “Shrek” and “Kung-Fu Panda” though, it lacks the wit and innovation for older audiences. Compared to most Saturday morning cartoons, the film won’t passionately annoy parents that get dragged to the theater. But in an era where more and more adults are attending animated features without accompanying children, “The Croods” feels like a step backwards for DreamWorks.

In countless films about emergencies, crimes and police work, the 911 dispatcher is but a bit player, an anonymous, robotic voice briefly heard on the other end of a breathless call made by our movie's main players.

One of the most popular shows on TV is coming to movie theaters for one night only.

My interface with Hollywood chiefly consists of driving each weekday underneath the Interstate 10 sign downtown saying “Los Angeles” near my exit, thinking that I should just keep going west, to take a long-delayed shot at pitching my screenplay.

Over the years, I’ve been invited to some over-the-top Oscar parties, where guests arrive in evening gowns and top hats, and popcorn buckets full of movie candy and DVDs are given away as door prizes.

When people think of Jewish film, their minds tend to jump right to two subjects: religion and the Holocaust. While the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival certainly embraces those subject matters, executive director Jerry Mittelman ensures that they make up only a slice of the wide spectrum of films the fest has to offer.

Unless you’re a movie critic or a die-hard aficionado, you probably haven’t seen all 9 of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Picture. The good news is you still have time before the winners are announced, thanks to AMC Theatre’s Best Picture Showcase on Feb. 16 and 23.

There is no drearier time at the multiplex than the first two months of any given year. All those commonplace horror flicks and mediocre blockbusters that studios have little faith in are mercilessly dumped into theaters, leaving us cinephiles to go see “Zero Dark Thirty” for a third or fourth time.

Based on Michael Morpurgo’s childrens book and popularized by Steven Spielberg’s feature film of the same name, “War Horse” follows the fate of a horse named Joey, who is sold into the British army and serves on both sides of the conflict during World War I.

Love movies? You might want to check out the ASU School of Theatre and Film’s screening series, “Hollywood Invades Tempe.”

TORONTO — At least Dustin Hoffman is honest when asked why it took him so long to make his directing debut.

Tempe moviegoers got more than they bargained for Saturday night when rain caused part of the theater ceiling to fall on them.