Pick of the week:
Featuring a diverse lineup that runs from established filmmakers to newcomers, the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul's annual Cine Latino Film Festival is back. The weeklong fest includes movies from 11 countries, including the United States. But the diversity goes beyond geography, with films from nine female directors and five first- or second-time filmmakers. It also includes two movies that are their country's official entries in the Academy Award competition, including Thursday's opening-night screening of Spain's "Summer 1993," which will be introduced by writer/director Carla Simón. All screenings are at the St. Anthony Main Theatre. To see the schedule or order tickets, go to mspfilm.org/festivals/cine-latino.
Picture perfect: If you're worried about strangers photobombing your family's holiday portrait, check out this offer from the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: On five mornings over the next few weeks, the gardens inside the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are going to open two hours early for the exclusive use of photographers. You can bring a tripod and pose your family in front of the stunning floral displays without having to worry about passersby inadvertently intruding into the frame. The hours are 8 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 19 and Dec. 2, 9, 10 and 17. Admission is $5 per person (comozooconservatory.org).
Day by day: Monday is world Kindness Day, a time to focus on sharing understanding and kindness. Sure, it sounds good now, but let's see how far we get into rush hour before the whole thing falls apart.
Recommended reading: Is it OK to go high-tech to monitor your kids' activities? And, if so, is there a point at which it crosses the line? Wednesday's Variety examines the dos and don'ts of digital parenting.
JEFF STRICKLER • jeff.strickler@startribune.com
