Festival to Celebrate Women’s Achievements in Film

The U.S. premiere of “Madame Sousatzka” followed by a $100-per-ticket benefit gala will open the fourth annual Women in Film Festival at the Beverly Center Cineplex today.

The festival celebrating cinematic contributions by women will continue through Sunday, involving film makers from the United States, Canada, Europe, China, the Soviet Union and South America, the screening of full-length films, documentaries, short films, animated shorts, television programs and music videos, with seminars also scheduled.

Highlights include a tribute to actress Kathleen Turner on Saturday at 4 p.m. with clips from “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “Prizzi’s Honor.”

Other highlights:

Feature films: From India, “Anjuman” directed by Muzaffar Ali and starring Shabana Azmi (Friday, 4 p.m. and Sunday, 6:15 p.m.); from Poland, “The Scream” written and directed by Barbara Sass Zdorit (Friday, noon, and Saturday, 1:45 p.m.); from the Soviet Union, “Little Vera” directed by Vasily Pichill and written by Maria Khmilik (Friday, 7:10 p.m. and Sunday, 1:40 p.m.).

Documentaries: From the United States, “Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair” directed and co-produced by Barbara Trent (Friday, 6:45 p.m. and Saturday, 9:10 p.m.); from Australia “The Fully Ordained Meat Pie” written and directed by Gillian Coote and produced by Janet Bell (Thursday, 6:40 p.m. and Saturday, 4:55 p.m.); and from the Soviet Union “In Your Courtyard” directed by Valentina Kuzmina (Sunday, 12:05 p.m.).

Television: In addition to several series, miniseries and movies that have already aired on American television, there will be examples of television from Egypt, “The Case of Ms. Effat” directed by Mohamed Basyouni (Saturday, 3:45 p.m.); from Yugoslavia, “Distinguished Women of Serbian Past” produced and directed by Branka Bogdanov (Friday, 4:30 p.m.); and from the Soviet Union, “View from the Window” directed by Yelena Smelaya (Sunday, 12:35 p.m.).

The festival ends Sunday with the Lillian Gish Awards at 8 p.m.

Information: (213) 463-0931.