BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Film Society screens feature shot in Cuba

Independent Spirit Award Filmmakers Luis Moro and Lisa France will screen their new film, “Love and Suicide,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the South Coast Cinema in downtown Laguna Beach.

“Love and Suicide” is one of the first feature films shot in Cuba in more than 30 years. Moro and France wrote, directed, shot and produced the film. Moro and France’s last film, “Anne B. Real,” received the John Cassavetes Award nomination, as well as the best debut actress nomination and the Independent Spirit Award.

“Love and Suicide” follows real life events from the lives of Kamar de los Reyes and Luis Moro, along with Daisy McCrackin. The trio brings to life the experience of being, living and dying in Cuba, and features bilingual dialogue.

A new short film, “Gandhi at the Bat,” will screen prior to the feature film. The writer and directors Stephanie Argy and Alec Boehm will be on hand as well as members of the cast. Laguna Beach resident Ted Christiansen — who plays Connie Mack — will also attend.

The Laguna Beach Film Society strives to bring to the community new and independent films from around the world.

Tickets are $15, or, to join the Film Society, call (949) 494-8971, ext. 201, visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org or e-mail lagunabeachfilmsociety @hotmail.com.

Summer concert with Upstream on Sunday

The city’s summer concert series continues at 5 p.m. Sunday at Bluebird Park, Cress St. at Bluebird Canyon Drive, with reggae and calypso performers Upstream.

No bicycles, scooters, bikes, dogs, smoking, tables, high chairs or umbrellas are allowed. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to arrive early with a low-backed chair and a picnic meal.

Future acts include rhythm and blues band Blowin’ Smoke on Aug. 20, Tina Turner tribute artists Proud Mary on Aug. 27 and Latin jazz performers Chico on Sept. 3.

The series will move to Riddle Field, High Drive at Hillcrest Drive, for rock and roll and soul artists Soundbyte on Sept. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The concerts are funded by the city and lodging establishments located within city limits.

For more information, call (949) 497-0722.

Fall stone-carving classes scheduled

The Laguna College of Art & Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, will hold stone-carving workshops beginning Sept. 9 with master stone carvers Marvin Johnson and Joseph Sovella.

The 10-week workshop will take place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held outside. No prior experience is necessary, but the class with cater to all skill levels.

Sovella has taught at Laguna College since 1986, and Johnson began in 1992. They have both been Laguna residents for more than 20 years.

To register or for more information, call Jennifer Daniels at (949) 376-6000, ext. 233. The course cost is $300, and incudes all tools and a sample stone; additional stone is available for purchase onsite. Free make-up classes will be available for students who register late or miss classes. Free parking is available.

Solo exhibition at Esther Wells

Plein air artist Cynthia Britain will open her new solo exhibition, “Vineyards and Villages,” at the Esther Wells Collection, 1390 S. Coast Highway, 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. The collection will be on display through Sept. 19.

The show will feature paintings from Britain’s travels in California wine country and the French countryside, including the seaside village of Honfleur.

Britain is a co-founder of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. Her work has been shown at the Laguna Art Museum, the Orange County Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and in corporate and private collections and galleries worldwide.