Film Appreciation - Citizen Kane

Called one of the greatest films of all time, the groundbreaking film "Citizen Kane" changed movie making forever. Join local resident and film industry veteran Michael Donnelly for a discussion of the transformative nature of this film and learn more about the language of movies.

For disability or translation accommodations, call (505) 955-6786.

Presenter Biography:

Michael Donnelly is a Los Angeles film industry veteran producer with an extensive history in theatrical distribution, innovative film exhibition, and curatorial film projects, including restoring classics for re-release and library asset management. His career has spanned domestic theatrical, independent, and Latin American filmmaking at all budget levels.

He began a decade of theatrical repertory film and event programming at the pioneering Fox Venice Theater in Los Angeles, followed by a close involvement with the independent film movement and founding of IFP/LA. He transitioned into theatrical and documentary distribution for indie and specialty films and live events.

Beyond his producing and distribution activities, a multicultural background positioned him as a leading expert in Spanish-language cinema, and his role as curator of the UCLA Film and Television Archive’s collection of Mexican Cinema. He also held executive roles at CFI and Technicolor, where he was fortunate enough to collaborate with many of the finest industry filmmakers of our time. He often lectures on cinema history and technology.

Michael is quite proud of his contributions to film preservation, festival programming, and international cinema foundations. His personal projects have screened at prestigious festivals, including Cannes, Telluride, Sundance, New York, Toronto, and San Sebastián.

He currently lives and works in Santa Fe, frequently splitting his time between Los Angeles and New Mexico, where he indulges his passion for photography.

This program is a collaboration between the Santa Fe Film Institure and the Santa Fe Public Library and is made possible by the generous funding of the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.