Animations, Muppets, and Mazes

Animations, Muppets, and Mazes

If you're listening to this podcast episode the day it dropped, you're in luck. The world’s largest classic film festival has sprouted like a magic beanstalk in Downtown El Paso.  This isn't some fairy tale: The Plaza Classic Film Festival is starting off its second week showing classics for all ages, whether you're a child - or a child of the '70s and '80s. There is no one better to talk about the featured children’s films than Erin Ritter, a "Friend of the Pod," a fellow film festival advisory committee member, and an unofficial (Gen X)pert on the dark fantasy genre that emerged in the 1980s. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. [https://epcc.libguides.com/plazaclassicpodcast] Find the film festival schedule here [https://plazaclassic.com/schedule].

Showcasing Student Talent at PCFF

Student filmmakers have an incredible opportunity to see their creations on the big screen during the Plaza Classic Film Festival this year. The inaugural UTEP/EPCC Student Showcase will be held on July 18, the first weekend of the film festival, in the Philanthropy Theater. Ramon Villa of UTEP and Marvin Hanley of EPCC join Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to talk about the showcase, and how a new Film and Multimedia Production Certificate at the community college could help propel more film students into the field. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. [https://epcc.libguides.com/plazaclassicpodcast] The film festival takes place from July 16-26, 2026. Find the film festival schedule here [https://plazaclassic.com/schedule]. Festival passes are still available for purchase at this link [https://plazaclassic.com/tickets].

"Shake and Bake!"

Easily one of the most memorable lines from Talladega Nights, it's also a great way to prepare attendees of the Plaza Classic Film Festival for its Outdoor Movie Series. This year, the 2006 comedy directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as NASCAR teammates will make its festival debut. Local racing expert and KTSM News Channel 9's News Director Chris Babcock joins Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott in studio to fuel listeners with his passion for his favorite comedy featuring race cars. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. [https://epcc.libguides.com/plazaclassicpodcast] The film festival takes place from July 16-26, 2026. Find the film festival schedule here [https://plazaclassic.com/schedule]. Festival passes are available to purchase now at this link [https://plazaclassic.com/tickets].

Celebrating the Semiquincentennial

In this special Independence Day episode, what better time than to review the movies showcasing the American experience that will be screened during the Plaza Classic Podcast? Being as our nation is celebrating its 250th anniversary, AKA the Semiquincentennial, "Americana" is one thread of this year's festival. Festival Artistic Director Doug Pullen gives Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle a sneak peek at the schedule. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. [https://epcc.libguides.com/plazaclassicpodcast] The film festival takes place from July 16-26, 2026. Find the film festival schedule here [https://plazaclassic.com/schedule]. Festival passes are available to purchase now at this link [https://plazaclassic.com/tickets].

A Tribute to Jay Duncan and Camilla Carr

Jay Duncan and Camilla Carr both loved film, and both proudly served on the Plaza Classic Film Festival's Advisory Committee. Our committee members were saddened by the passing of both Duncan and Carr earlier this year. The lives and legacies of Duncan, the committee's resident sci-fi expert, and Carr, a screenwriter and actress, were discussed at length by Friend of the Pod and festival advisory committee member Jaime Mendez and local historian Mary Jo Melby, Duncan's partner. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. [https://epcc.libguides.com/plazaclassicpodcast] The film festival takes place from July 16-26, 2026. Festival passes are available to purchase now at this link [https://plazaclassic.com/tickets].