On Tuesday, September 10, the KCET Cinema Series screened Prisoners, the latest from French Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. A well-crafted psychological thriller, filled with spellbinding twists and turns, revenge and redemption. During the Q & A with Pete Hammond, Villenueve shares with the audience the details of working with screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski and the great cast of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, Terrance Howard, Melissa Leo, and Viola Davis.

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Now that summer is over, it's time to think about the great line-up of movies that you must see before the end of the year. And the best place to see these films is the popular fall KCET Cinema Series, which returns to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood on Tuesday, October 22 for nine weeks of thought provoking and engaging films.

The James and Paula Coburn Foundation will return as the sponsor for this season's KCET Cinema Series.

You'll enjoy eight noteworthy new films before their Los Angeles theatrical release, along with a classic James Coburn film celebrating the film career of this wonderful actor. All screenings are followed by a lively Q & A hosted by series' moderator Pete Hammond along with the film's filmmakers or talent.

We will have a stellar line-up of the best of Hollywood and Independent films, and the top award winners from film festivals. Films will include:

• "Saving Mr. Banks," the story of author P.L. Travers journey to Hollywood from London to adapt her novel Mary Poppins for the big screen. Tom Hanks plays Walt Disney and Emma Thompson portrays P.L. Travers. The cast includes: Collin Farrell, Ruth Wilson and Paul Giamatti.

• "Dallas Buyers Club," stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof a Texas electrician and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his quest for alternative treatments.

Register today by calling 747.201.5800, get your passes online here, or use the enclosed registration form here and return it by fax or mail.

Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Ben Karlin ("Modern Family," "The Colbert Report," and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart") joined KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond for a post-screening Q & A to talk about his latest film project, A.C.O.D., which stands for "Adult Children of Divorce," a serious topic explored through comedy.

The film received rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival and boasts a great ensemble cast of actors, including in the starring role Adam Scott, along with Richard Jenkins, Catherine O'Hara, Jane Lynch and Amy Poehler.

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The latest KCET Cinema Series selection is a thriller starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Melissa Leo. A Boston man kidnaps the person he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend after the police fail to find the girls and are forced to release the suspect.

From Alcon Entertainment comes "Prisoners," a Warner Bros. Pictures' release starring Oscar nominees Hugh Jackman ("Les Misérables") and Jake Gyllenhaal ("Brokeback Mountain"), under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, who helmed the Oscar-nominated foreign language film "Incendies."

How far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces his release.

As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child's life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

Led by Jackman and Gyllenhaal, the dramatic thriller "Prisoners" features an all-star cast, including Maria Bello ("Beautiful Boy") as Keller's distraught wife, Grace; Oscar nominees Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow") and Viola Davis ("The Help," "Doubt") as Franklin and Nancy Birch, whose daughter Joy went missing with the Dovers'; Academy Award winner Melissa Leo ("The Fighter") as Alex Jones' Aunt Holly; and Paul Dano ("Looper") as Alex Jones.

Denis Villeneuve directs the film from an original screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski ("Contraband"). Kira Davis, Adam Kolbrenner, and Academy Award nominees Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove ("The Blind Side") are the producers, with John Starke, Ed McDonnell, Stephen Levinson, Robyn Meisinger and Mark Wahlberg serving as executive producers.

Villeneuve is supported by a top-flight creative team that includes 10-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins ("Skyfall"), Oscar-nominated production designer Patrice Vermette ("The Young Victoria"), Oscar-winning editor Joel Cox ("Unforgiven"), editor Gary Roach ("J. Edgar"), and costume designer Renée April ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes").

Alcon Entertainment's "Prisoners" is scheduled for release on September 20, 2013, and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

'Thanks for Sharing,' producer Leslie Urdang joined KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond for a post Q & A following the August 27 film screening at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The film marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Stuart Blumberg ('The Kids Are Alright'), and premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival to favorable reviews. The film about sex addicts and their efforts to cope with their disorder stars Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joely Richardson, and Tim Robbins. The film will be released in the U.S. on September 20.

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The KCET Cinema Series at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, opened the fall series' with Destin Daniel Cretton's Short Term 12, an incredibly intimate look into a foster care halfway house for troubled youths. The film has an extremely impressive cast of young actors and their stellar performances on screen bring meaning to the lives of the young people caught in the foster care system. KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond moderated a post-screening Q & A with cast members Brie Larson (NBC's series Community, 21 Jump Street and the United States of Tara), Kaitlyn Dever (ABC's Last Man Standing, and the FX drama Justified), and upcoming actor Keith Stanfield. The film's producer Asher Goldstein was also on hand for the discussion.

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Don't miss your chance to be a part of the KCET Fall Cinema Series at the historic Aero Theatre beginning August 20, proudly sponsored by the Johnny Mercer Foundation!

The nine week series of highly anticipated films launch with the award-winning independent film "Short Term 12," directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and also features "Thanks for Sharing" starring Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tim Robbins on August 27; "Inequality For All," a documentary following former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich on September 17; "Rush," directed by Ron Howard; "The Fifth Estate," directed by Bill Condon; a special Johnny Mercer film night; and "All Is Lost," starring Robert Redford.

Click here to see our exciting film list!

Register now online, download the registration form or call us on 747-201-5800 to reserve your seat!

Pete Hammond, host of the popular KCET Cinema Series, concluded the summer series at the Aero Theate in Santa Monica with a screening of 'Jobs,' the big screen story of Steve Jobs with a thoroughly believable portrayal of the creative genius by actor Ashton Kutcher.

Director Joshua Michael Stern joined Pete for an insightful post-screening Q & A. Listen to the podcast below:

The fall KCET Cinema Series will begin August 20 and run through October 15 at the historic Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Screenings are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00PM hosted by film expert Pete Hammond. It's nine weeks of highly anticipated films, along with engaging dialogue with filmmakers and talent. The presenting sponsor for the series is The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and the series will include a classic Johnny Mercer scored film. For information and reservations go to www.kcet.org or call the KCET Special Events Department at 747.201.5800. KCET current members receive a 10% discount.

We screened the Audrey Hepburn classic "Charade" at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on Tuesday. The movie was written by acclaimed composer Johnny Mercer and before the screening, Miles Kreuger and Howard Green joined KCET Cinema Series' moderator Pete Hammond for a question and answer session. Kreuger is the foremost expert on the American musical and Green is the producer of the documentary "Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me."