Jim Sheridan discusses his latest, ‘Brothers,’ at the Aero

Travel the globe this week in the comfort of a darkened theater. The first stop is Ireland, courtesy of the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre, where the country’s premier filmmaker, Jim Sheridan, is scheduled to discuss his career and screen his current film, “Brothers,” and his well-regarded 2003 drama “In America” on Friday.Two more well-regarded Sheridan films -- with Daniel Day-Lewis -- keep us in the Emerald Isle on Saturday: 1989’s “My Left Foot,” for which Day-Lewis received his first Academy Award, as painter Christy Brown, and 1993’s “In the Name of the Father,” for which the actor earned an Oscar nomination as a man unjustly accused of an IRA pub bombing.

Next up, a tour of Continental Europe with films from Germany, France and Italy as the Cinematheque’s Egyptian and Aero theaters salute the Golden Globe foreign-language film nominees prior to the Globes ceremony on Jan. 17. Screening Monday at the Egyptian is Michael Haneke’s unsettling German mystery “The White Ribbon,” which won the Palm d’Or last year at the Cannes Film Festival. On tap for Tuesday is France’s “A Prophet,” Jacques Audiard’s acclaimed drama about a young French-Arab gangster. Set for Wednesday at the Aero is Italy’s “Baaria,” Giuseppe Tornatore’s drama chronicling three generations of a Sicilian family. www.americancinematheque.com

Nordic visions

The voyage ends in Scandinavia with the 11th Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. kicking off Saturday at the Writers Guild Theater with the documentary “This Is Hollywood?”; the short film “The Man With All the Marbles”; the Swedish Oscar submission for foreign-language film, “Involuntary”; and the Finnish Oscar entry, “Letters to Father Jacob.” Sunday’s offerings include Denmark’s Oscar submission, “Terribly Happy.” The festival continues Jan. 16-17. www.scandinavianfilm festivalla.com

Scary commentary

One of last year’s surprise hits was “Paranormal Activity,” a fun thrill ride about something going bump in the night. Made for just $15,000, the film ended up earning more than $107 million at the box office. On Sunday, director Oren Peli and producers Jason Blum and Steven Schneider will offer live commentary during a screening of the chiller at the Aero Theatre. www.aero theatre.com

The film editor

Bobbie O’Steen, author of the new book “The Invisible Cut,” joins noted film editor Carol Littleton on Sunday at UCLA Film and TV Archive’s Billy Wilder Theater for a discussion of film editing. The 1981 erotic film noir “Body Heat,” which Littleton edited, will be screened. www.cinema.ucla .edu.

An, ahem, ‘tribute’

Stand-up comedian character Neil Hamburger (Gregg Turkington) pays tribute to his mentor and idol, Frank Sinatra Jr., Sunday at the Silent Movie Theatre. In honor of the chip off the Old Blue Eyes’ 66th birthday, Hamburger will present Sinatra Jr.’s variety specials and movie appearances. www.cinefamily.org.

susan.king@latimes.com