Archive of the Society of the Films We Have Enjoyed.
“Life is Life” - (La Vita va Cosi) is a drama/comedy film from Italy ,which Mountain Shadow selected for our show in April, 2026. It had not yet been theatrically released elsewhere in the U.S. You can read more about the film by clicking on the picture above.
Read MoreAn annual Mountain Shadow tradition — in advance of the Academy Awards each year —Mountain Shadow presented a variety of short film Oscar nominees from the three categories; documentary, live-action and animation. You can view the six selections; as well as the nine other nominees that were not shown HERE. Our audiences completed paper ballots of their favorites, which can be seen HERE. In addition, those who completed our online survey, HERE, with comments HERE.
Mountain Shadow’s feature film for February was the docu-drama that went on to be chosen as an Oscar nominee for the Academy Awards March 15th. Click on the image above to read a brief Mountain Shadow commentary of the film.
Read MoreMountain Shadow Film Society’s selection to kick off our 13th Season in January 2026 was “THE TALE OF SILYAN.” It’s a poignant and visually arresting docu-drama, set in the heart of rural Macedonia. To read a brief review and commentary of the film, click on the image above.
Read MoreOur December film that concluded our 12 Season in 2025 was the pre-theatrical release from italy, ‘Trifole.” Click on the image above to read the filmmaker’s statement.
Read MoreMountain Shadow’s November selection in 2025 was “Calle Malaga.” The film was voted as “Audience Favorite” in the World Cinema category at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October, 2025. You can read a brief Mountain Shadow commentary and the Director’s Statement by clicking on the image above.
Read MoreOur October, 2025 film selection: Checkpoint Zoo documents a daring rescue led by a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a zoo behind enemy lines during the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine. Click on the image above to read more about this moving film.
Read MoreOn Sept. 20th Mountain Shadow held its 11th Annual Short Film Competition before a record audience of over 425 attendees! Our 16-member volunteer jury selected our ten Finalists from 477 submissions this year for this one-day event; presenting their animated, live-action and documentary short films. Click on the image above for more details.
Read MoreEmmanuel Courcol’s film, “The Marching Band” was Mountain Shadow’s selection for August, 2023. This pre-theatrical release is described as a French drama/comedy. It could also be described as a “mellow-drama.” Click on the image above to read a brief review.
Read More“The Last Class” was Mountain Shadow’s July selection; that included a ‘live’ Q&A with the film’s producer. The documentary is a nuanced and deeply personal portrait of master educator Robert Reich teaching his final course and reflecting on a period of immense transformation, personally and globally. To read a Mountain Shadow film review, click on the image above.
Read More“The Time It Takes” was Moutain Shadow’s selection for June, 2025. A pre-theatrical release from Italy, the filmmaker tells a touching personal story about a father and his daughter, with a collage of memories; from childhood through a final life chapter. To read a brief Mountain Shadow review, click on the image above.
Read MoreMountain Shadow’s film selection for May, 2025: Based on Bill Bennett’s best selling Camino memoir, “The Way, My Way” is the charming and captivating true story of an Australian who decides to walk the 800 kilometre-long Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through Spain. He doesn’t know why he’s doing it, but one step at a time it will change him and his outlook on life forever. To read a brief Mountain Shadow commentary and review of the film click on the image above.
Read MoreOur April’2025 film was a pre-theatrical release comedy/drama from Italy. A grade-school teacher from Rome moves to a remote village in the Abruzzo National Park and discover a different world that faces many of the challenges as the world “out there.” Click on the image above to read a brief Mountain Shadow review.
Read MoreWhen a widow in Paris hears on the radio that an NGO is putting in touch homeless migrant refugees with people who are willing to welcome them -- she decides to welcome Reza who is a young Afghan broken by war and exile. Our March selection was a pre-theatrical release from France. Click on the image above to read a Mountain Shadow review of this film most appropriate for the times in which we find ourselves.
Read MoreIn advance of the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2nd, our show in February presented a variety of the Animated, Documentary and Live-Action shorts that have been nominated for an Oscar, for our own audiences to judge. For the complete list click on the image above.
Read MoreIn January, Mountain Shadow kicked off our 2025 Season with this wonderful pre-theatrical "literary" Irish drama, “That They May Face the Rising Sun,” based on the great Irish novelist, John McGahern’s book by the same title. Click on the image above to read a film review by Mountain Shadow’s director, John Bennison.
Read MoreOur pre-theatrical release of the Italian film, “Gloria!” concluded our 11th Season with a delightful musical drama for December, 2024. You can read the Mountain Shadow director’s brief review by clicking on the image above.
Read MoreIn the wake of the U.S. elections, Mountain Shadow’s November, 2024 film selection was a pre-theatrical release from Italy that offers a redemptive and hope-filled conclusion; with a reminder there’s still a tomorrow. Click on the image above to read a brief film review.
Read MoreStraight from the Toronto International Film Festival, Mountain Shadow’s October selection was an uplifting docu-drama, along with Toronto filmmaker Q&A via Zoom. BORN HUNGRY is a gritty, life-affirming human drama about a young boy in India, abandoned on the streets, then adopted by a compassionate Canadian couple; only to become a renowned 5-star chef. Click on the image above to read a brief commentary on this film.
Read MoreMountain Shadow's 10th Annual Short Film Competition brought eleven Finalists out of 344 submissions -- selected by our volunteer member jurors -- to Walnut Creek on Sept. 14th; to present their animated, live-action and documentary short films in person for audience choice awards. Click on the image to read more about this terrific show.
Read MoreEach month will not only bring a top-tier mix of either a foreign or independent feature film otherwise unavailable in our locale, but an award-winning short film, as well. Nowhere else in our area will you find this kind of cinematic experience for $12 per show!
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