The Film Society of Lincoln Center will present “The Last Laugh: An Alternate History of Spanish Comedy,” a series focusing on the tradition of grotesque humor throughout the history of Spanish cinema, from December 12-18, and will include appearances by Santiago Aguilar, José Luis Cuerda, Isaki Lacuesta, and Óscar Pérez. Politically charged, with healthy doses of black humor, the films in the series portray how drastically Spanish culture and society have changed over the last 60 years at the same time that they show how many aspects of Spain have hardly changed at all. The series includes: "20 Centimeters" by Ramón Salazar, "Amanece, que no es poco" by José Luis Cuerda, “Astronauts" by Santi Amodeo, "Holy Thriller" by María Cañas, "Caution to the Wind" by Isaki Lacuesta, "Justino: A Senior Citizen Killer" by Santiago Aguilar and Luis Guridi, "The Last Circus" by Álex de la Iglesia, "Mommy’s a Fool" by Santiago Lorenzo and several classics including "El verdugo" by Luis García Berlanga. For more information, visit filmlinc.com.
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The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced ten promising new film
projects selected for the 11th annual Tribeca All Access (TAA) program. The TAA program supports filmmakers from statistically underrepresented communities and will grant each project $15,000, as well as offer year-round support, guidance, and resources to help filmmakers complete them. This year’s winners boast an especially diverse collection of stories, including: 
In recognition of Black Music Month in June 2012, the Apollo Theater’s Cultural Exchange Series will celebrate over 50 years of reggae music with a special concert starring African Reggae icon Tiken Jah Fakoly on Saturday, June 16th at 8pm. Known for his politically charged lyrics, Tiken Jah Fakoly is the premier artist in African reggae and has often been called the African Bob Marley, drawing comparisons to the reggae legend for his soulful vocals, the revolutionary messages in his music, and his mastery of roots-reggae. The world music star has sold out stadiums and venues all over Europe and Africa and will now make a rare trip to the United States for his first ever appearance on the legendary Apollo stage, where he will perform classics and material from his latest album, the critically acclaimed African Revolution. This special Cross Cultural concert coincides with the 50thanniversary of Jamaica’s independence, a milestone that has brought international attention to reggae music’s evolution, its impact on popular culture around the world, and the international sub-genres it has inspired, including African reggae. The Apollo’s Cross Cultural Exchange presentations focus on music, artists, or projects representing diverse cultures that may be U.S. or internationally-based. Many of the artists presented represent cultural communities in Harlem and Upper Manhattan, including artists of Dominican, Puerto Rican, Senegalese, Ivorian and Malian cultural heritage. This show will also feature popular New York City based reggae outfit The Cannabis Cup Band. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tickets are on sale ($25 to $55) at the Apollo Theater Box Office. The Apollo in New York City is a national treasure that has had significant impact on the development of American culture and its popularity around the world. For more information, visit 
The Broadway League has created Viva Broadway, a new audience development partnership with the Hispanic community, to help bridge the world of Broadway with Latino audiences around the country. The long-term initiative aims to increase awareness about Broadway while culturally enriching lives, bringing families together, and building new careers in the theatre. A National Advisory Board of industry and cultural notables has been formed to help strategize and spread the word about all that Broadway has to offer this growing and vibrant community. Carlos Manzano, executive director of New York City’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission states, "Our mission is to make New York City the capital of Latin media and entertainment. And this great Commission is proud to endorse the Broadway League's Viva Broadway initiative to bring the world of Broadway to the Latin community." The goal is to draw from an untapped market while making Broadway more relevant to Hispanic families and their lifestyles. An objective is to work with and support Hispanic media outlets in their coverage of Broadway to increase awareness and awaken a desire to attend shows. The initiative will include education on all things Broadway such as how to buy Broadway tickets, how to find out what’s playing, who’s on stage, and more. For career development, Viva Broadway will create Broadway Speakers Bureaus and workshops in order to expand awareness of jobs in the theatre to high schools and colleges. For more information, visit 
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