On Feb. 9 we present a free screening of the Mike Hammer classic KISS ME DEADLY, as part of the Chris Vognar’s Screening Room presented by Stella Artois series.

Some consider this 1955 Robert Aldrich film to be the ultimate example of film noir. Judge for yourself while Chris, movie critic for The Dallas Morning News, gives us his thoughts on the movie and takes your questions after the screening.

KISS ME DEADLY is full of Cold War paranoia, and kicks off when hard-boiled private eye Hammer finds a barely clothed Christina hitch hiking on a dark and lonely road. After he picks her up, the pair are waylaid by thugs and eventually end up in Hammer’s car at the bottom of a cliff. Christina is dead, and Hammer is determined to see the case to its bitter end.

The movies screens at 7:30 p.m. at the Angelika Film Center in Mockingbird station. The screening is free, but reservations are required. Reservations are now closed.

For passes, visit www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter the code: HIGH5D8Y

Check out the trailer below.

The show’s producer, Ken Topolsky, told 86 students from 15 area schools about the wide range of skills that a television producer has to have. He explained his roles on award-winning shows, such as The Wonder Years and Party of Five, and gave the students advice on what to expect as their careers in film and television develop.

After a question and answer session, Ken and Production Manager Joe Dishner gave the group a tour of the sets. The students got a feel for Southfork where the Ewings “live,” and a close look at professional set design.

Thanks to Ken, Joe and everybody on the show. And thanks to the students and teachers for joining us—see you at the next roundtable.

During DIFF’s second year of existence, we still had our offices on Broom St., where the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is now being built. The Festival lounge was in Victory Park. Our Star Award Honorees included Charlize Theron, Todd Wagner and Mickey Rooney. And our opening night film, THEN SHE FOUND ME, starred Helen Hunt, Colin Firth and Bette Midler.

It was a crazy year, and programmer Sarah Harris found shorts to match. Check out a few of 2008′s selections below.

(Note that these films may not be appropriate for children or safe to watch at work.)

A CATALOG OF ANTICIPATIONS

Directed by David Lowery

DOXOLOGY

Directed by Michael Langan

FAR OUT *

directed by Phil Mucci

KID SHOW

Directed by Tom DesLongcamp

SPIDER

Directed by Nash Edgerton

Reservations are required. Please refer to your membership email for details on how to save your seat. Members are allowed to bring one guest.

Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas and Bill Paxton co-star in this fast-paced action-thriller. In HAYWIRE, a last-minute mission in Dublin turns deadly for stunning secret operative Mallory Kane (mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano) when she realizes she’s been betrayed — and that her own life is no longer safe. Now, to outwit her enemies, she’ll simply have to outlast them.

We suggest you arrive at the screening no later than 7:00 p.m. Any unoccupied seats will be released at 7:15 p.m.

Not a member? Become one for as little as $40 a year and you will enjoy invitations to special screenings, member events and member privileges at the Dallas International Film Festival. Click here to find out more.

Artistic Director James Faust

The Avengers

THE AVENGERS—The inner James wishes he could have made this film when he was 15. Make mine Marvel!

RED HOOK SUMMER—Spike Lee is back … I hope.

DARK SHADOWS—Tim Burton, John Depp and my favorite Soap Opera Vamps

CASA DE MI PADRE—Can Will Ferrell be funny if he only speaks Spanish?

CHRONICLE—What do you do if you are a young suddenly have super powers and a lot of free time? You find a camera and shoot it “found footage” style.

Senior Programmer Sarah Harris

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER—It was a great book. I’m rereading it in preparation for the film.

FRANKENWEENIE—A full-length animated feature from Tim Burton, based on his 1984 short film. Should be a perfect movie for Halloween!

UNDEFEATED—I saw this at TIFF in the fall, and I have to spread the word about it. It’s a great doc—not to be missed in 2012.

THE GREAT GATSBY—Baz Luhrmann’s latest, reteaming with Leonardo DiCaprio. Set to open next Christmas. Good or bad, I’m sure it will be epic!

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES—This is THE summer film I am most excited to see.

On Jan. 12, we present a free screening of writer-director Samuel Fuller’s PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET.

It’s the third film in the Chris Vognar’s Screening Room presented by Stella Artois series that focuses on film noir. Chris, the Film Critic for The Dallas Morning News, will give us his take on the film and answer questions from the audience after the screening.

This 1953 film from the early days of the Cold War tells the story of Skip McCoy, a pickpocket (Richard Widmark) who accidentally lifts sensitive information from the girlfriend of a communist spy (Jean Peters). When Skip learns what he has, he offers it to the highest bidder—as he eludes the police, G-men and the communist agent who desperately wants his microfilm back.

As with any good film noir, lust and murder complicate the characters lives. The spy’s girlfriend eventually falls for Skip, and Skip’s best friend is killed as Fuller’s script careens toward an inevitable showdown.

Thelma Ritter earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Moe, a police informant and Skip’s pal. And Richard Kiley plays the part of Joey, the communist spy.

The screening is free, but reservations are required. The reservation period opens on Jan. 2. Reservations are now closed .