Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.

Director Mathieu Roy and Co-director Harold Crooks present “Surviving Progress” (National Film Board of Canada), the feature documentary story of human advancement as awe-inspiring and double-edged, opens at Landmark Lagoon Cinema on Friday.

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Miko Fogarty

First Position, the documentary feature from director Bess Kargman about young dancers put their lifelong dreams on the line at the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions — Youth America Grand Prix  — will open at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema on Friday.

With hundreds competing for a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Kargman’s award-winning documentary, Fist Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries all while navigating the drama of adolescence.

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Mei (Catherine Chan) and Luke Wright (Jason Statham) in SAFE. Photo credit: John Baer

Safe (Lionsgate, IM Global) opens at Landmark Lagoon Cinema in Uptown Minneapolis on May 4.

It is the story of a second-rate cage fighter on the mixed martial arts circuit, Luke Wright, who lives a numbing life of routine beatings and chump change — until the day he blows a rigged fight.

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Abdelmalek (Seddik Benslimane) and Bachir Lazhar (Fellag) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

The Academy Award nominated Philippe Falardeau film “Monsieur Lazhar” (Rated PG-13, French with English subtitles), the story of an Algerian immigrant substitute teacher who brings emotional stability to a Montreal middle school class shaken by the suicide of their well-liked teacher, is now playing at the Lagoon Cinema in Uptown Minneapolis.

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The Minnesota premiere film screening of The Nine Muses will be held Tuesday, March 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Obsidian Arts in the Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407.

The Nine Muses is an independent film by British/Ghanaian director John Akomfrah. Part documentary, part personal essay, this experimental film combines archive imagery with the striking wintry landscapes of Alaska to tell the story of immigrant experience coming into the UK from 1960 onwards.

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Asghar Farhadi accepts the Oscar® for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year from Iran, “A Separation”. (Photos courtesy of Academy Awards)Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge with their Oscar® for Best Documentary Short Subject for “Saving Face”.

AAP staff report

HOLLYWOOD — The 84th Annual Academy Awards aired Sunday evening, with a few surprises and a few noteworthy awards for Asian Americans.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the award for best Documentary (Feature) to Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy for “Saving Face” the story of renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who left the comfort of his profitable London practice to return to Pakistan and help the victims of acid attacks, mostly women, and their battle for justice and their journey of healing.

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“The Descendants” author Kaui Hart Hemmings , left, is presented a proclamation from Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho at a pre-Academy Award event Thursday in Los Angeles. (Contribed photos)

LIHU‘E, Kaua‘i (Feb. 23, 2012) — Inspired by the artistic triumph of The Descendants in literature and film, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., on Thursday honored author Kaui Hart Hemmings at a special media reception hosted by the County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau in Los Angeles.

Mayor Carvalho presented Ms. Hemmings with a proclamation from the County of Kaua‘i recognizing the achievement of her best-selling novel that has been adapted into the critically acclaimed and award-winning film of the same title.

Mayor Carvalho commented, “This is such a beautiful story and authentically depicts life in Hawai‘i. We know that the film adaptation will not only generate more interest in Kaua‘i as a vacation destination, but it will promote greater understanding of our unique culture and experience.”

The Descendants is nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Director (Alexander Payne), Film Editing, and Adapted Screenplay, with the Oscars being presented February 26. The movie has already won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor, as well as the Writers Guild of America Award for Adapted Screenplay.

KVB hosted the reception for travel, entertainment and consumer media in California to promote Kaua‘i’s magnificent natural beauty, which is at the center of the movie’s storyline. Unspoiled Kipu Kai on the island’s south shore is shown as the huge parcel of spectacular oceanfront land being contemplated for sale by Matt King (George Clooney).

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MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 26, 2012) — Landmark Theatres and Swervo Development have announced plans to completely refurbish and renovate the historic Uptown Theatre in Minneapolis.

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Jennifer Yuh Nelson, inset, directed “Kung Fu Panda 2” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), which is nominated for Best animated feature film of the year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 84th Annual Academy Awards. (Photo courtesy of Paramount)

AAP staff report

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ announced the nominees this week for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, with a few notable Asian Americans up for the Oscar.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards will be aired Sunday evening, Feb. 26, 2012 on ABC TV.

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Robert A. Nakamura (UCLA photo)

With respect and admiration for his stellar record of achievement and with gratitude for service to campus and community, we announce, effective July 2012, the retirement of Professor Robert A. Nakamura after a thirty-three year career teaching Asian American Studies and Motion Picture/Television at UCLA.

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