UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From fabulous film screenings to wondrous workshops, March has a slew of experiences ready for you. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
THROUGHOUT MARCH
Disclosure: A Trans Re-Reading of American Cinema
The groundbreaking documentary Disclosure, from director Sam Feder, examines queer identities and the relationship between transgender individuals and American culture. Seen through the lens of foremost trans thinkers and creatives (from Disclosure’s executive producer and actress extraordinaire Laverne Cox, to Sonny and Cher’s son and actor Chaz Bono), Disclosure references almost every transgender piece of film and television. Throughout the month of March, the UCLA Film & Television Archive will hold six evening screenings, showing a few of the hundreds of television and film references made throughout Disclosure.
The series starts with a screening of the documentary itself before moving on to a diverse selection of movies, musicals, short films and snippets. Re-read 20th century and contemporary trans representations with intention while engaging with plenty of special guests, from artists to filmmakers to authors and the mind behind it all, Feder himself. Check out the schedule below and pick any screening to attend at your convenience, no RSVP or ticket necessary:
March 1, Disclosure: Sam Feder’s documentary tackles misrepresentations of trans people in the past while looking to the future of trans creatives in film, television and American culture.
March 7, Drunktown’s Finest and Victor/Victoria: The first part of this double feature is Drunktown’s Finest, a 2014 film about three young Native Americans and the queer struggles they face on and off the reservation. Then watch Victor/Victoria, a 1982 comedy/musical starring a down-on-her-luck soprano (Julie Andrews) and a washed-up former A-lister (Robert Preston) who hatch a gender-bending plot to get back into the limelight. What could go wrong?
March 9, The Queen and At Least You Know You Exist: The night begins with a 1960s documentary classic about trans life and drag ball culture in New York City. The night ends with the short film At Least You Know You Exist, a love letter to iconic drag performer Flawless Sabrina; the filmmaker, Zachary Drucker, will be there in person.
March 14, Short Films and Gun Hill Road: Compare and contrast two short films about trans love — one from 1967, the other from 2022. Then gear up for Gun Hill Road (2011), a drama about what happens to a family when a transphobic, formerly incarcerated father comes home to his daughter undergoing a gender transformation. An early example of a trans actor playing a trans character, Gun Hill Road is a vibrant, tender story.
March 16, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: In Clint Eastwood’s adaptation of John Berendt’s famous true story, a New York City magazine writer becomes engrossed in a Clue-worthy murder in Savannah, Georgia. Ahead of its time, the film is known for portraying Black trans identity in popular culture.
March 30, Yentl: Barbara Streisand is the only daughter of a rabbi in a small Ashkenazi village in 1904 Poland and yearns to complete religious studies the only way she can: by becoming a boy. Sam Feder from Disclosure will close out the series with an in-person talk on his documentary and how Yentl influenced Disclosure as one of the films that most resonated with Laverne Cox in her journey.
MARCH 6 | 7:30 P.M.
Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics
From the PTA to the White House, Black women have forged remarkable political journeys in their fight for equality in the state of California. Respect My Crown, the latest documentary from director Pamela Bright-Moon, shares the groundbreaking journeys of leaders like L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber ’70, M.A. ’71, Ph.D. ’75. Merging intimate interviews and clips from the worlds of politics, community activism, organized labor and the judicial system, Respect My Crown illuminates just how much Black women have contributed to California on local and national levels. Come enjoy a screening of the documentary at the Hammer Museum at UCLA, no RSVP required.
MARCH 8 | 8 P.M.
Award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his chaotic poetry to life in Search Party, an interactive experience blurring the lines between artist and audience. Ellams draws from his literary archive and lifetime works: He’s saved every creative expression he’s created over decades, for this moment. His archive is meticulously indexed on a single tablet, composed of his plays, poems and essays. Audience members will choose a word and then sit back as Ellams scours his digital ledger and looks for the perfect piece to respond with. From polished masterpieces to work-in-progress scraps, Ellams always has something to say and a new dialogue to open. In a show that can never be re-created, Ellams gives tribute to the origins of storytelling and the historic ‘call and response’ format, seeing stories unfold in real time. Join Ellams at the UCLA Nimoy Theater to participate in a decidedly futuristic take on the traditional call-and-response and to witness a spectacle that will truly never be repeated.
UNTIL MARCH 9
Extended by popular demand! The Geffen Playhouse gifts us with another week of Noises Off, Michael Frayn’s ode to physical comedy. Doors slam, sardines fly and trousers drop in this side-splitting British farce about a theater company desperately trying to get its act together. Onstage and offstage, chaos reigns for a troupe of floundering actors who are constantly plagued by forgotten lines, misplaced props and steamy romantic entanglements. A hilarious love letter to theater, Noises Off is the peek behind the curtain you might not have asked for, but it’s certainly the one you need. To check out the show that must go on, get your tickets here.
MARCH 15 | 8 P.M.
Sound and Science: From Signal to Noise
A group of artists — working in acoustic sound, animation, ritual art, digital music and more — assemble for a curated showcase inspired by physics, biology and botany. Each of the artists’ performances are intrinsically connected to their individual work as environmental and Indigenous activists, addressing ecological, social and ancestral issues. Each performance will take up the entire Nimoy Theater with projected digital visuals, musical production and storytelling to create experimental ecoacoustics that immerse the audience. Get tickets here and come down to the Nimoy to see their art all around you and feel every sonic vibration.
MARCH 16 | 3 P.M.
Look What SHE Did! Short Film Festival
The Look What SHE Did! Short Film Festival comes to the Nimoy Theater, courtesy of UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, with its arsenal of inspiring stories in tow. Created as a nonprofit in a downtown L.A. courthouse 10 years ago, the organization screens women-made films about remarkable women you’ve never heard of. In addition to plenty of short films, there will also be talks from the filmmakers and art-making activities. Tickets here.
MARCH 27 | 8 P.M.
The Art of Grief podcasters take their talents live and direct to the Nimoy Theater. Co-hosts Karen Tongson, Chair of the University of Southern California’s gender and sexuality studies department, and Megan Auster-Rosen, former associate medical director of behavioral health at Cedars-Sinai, will have a conversation about the role of grief in our lives. Delving into how grief requires artistic expression and how it connects to our identities and relationships, Tongson and Auster-Rosen transcend the traditional “five stages” to offer an updated, contemporary view of loss. The Art of Grief live podcast will also feature a performance by experimental vocalist Carmina Escobar. Purchase tickets, courtesy of CAP UCLA, here.
MARCH 1 | 6 P.M.
To say Bruins women’s basketball has been on a hot streak this season would be the understatement of the century. Ranked No. 1 nationally for weeks, the Bruins have been one of the most feared teams in the NCAA. They’ve only lost once this season … to the Trojans. In their last regular season game before the playoffs, the Bruins are not just looking for redemption or a rivalry win, they’re out to make a statement: They want to win it all. Tickets here.
MARCH 2 | 2 P.M.
Take yourself out to the ballgame and see the crosstown rivalry in action while you’re at it. While there may not be peanuts or Cracker Jacks, there will be plenty of great gameplay as the Bruins look to keep intact their reputation as one of the best teams in the nation. Stay after the game to watch kids run the bases and, as always, don’t forget to wear your Bruin Blue. Tickets are $8 for kids and $16 for adults.
MARCH 6 | 7 P.M.
In case you didn’t know, UCLA men’s volleyball is among the best teams in the nation (currently ranked No. 2). See it for yourself in this match against Stanford. Come to Pauley Pavilion and see two top 10 teams duke it out for less than $20 a ticket.
MARCH 8 | 5 P.M.
Get your blue on and head to Pauley — it’s time to beat USC again. Start the day with the South Patio food trucks: Caribbean food, poke, burgers and New Zealand-style ice cream. Get to your seat for great basketball and electric performances. Then for the best part: cheer for what will hopefully be another Bruins victory. The big game just got bigger: Get your tickets here.
MARCH 9 | 5:30 P.M.
Cheer the Bruins on to a perfect 10 during the last home meet of the season, when the UCLA gymnasts take on the Cardinal and celebrate their seniors. Come early to make a sign and to write a letter to a UCLA senior gymnast; stay late for a special senior day ceremony and a Girl Scout Cookies sale. Flips, twists and Thin Mints right in Pauley Pavilion — can you think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Oh, and tickets start at only $7.
THROUGHOUT MARCH
Celebrate Game Day at Bruin Bash, the official basketball pregame party for UCLA Alumni! UCLA Bruin Bash events are designed for alumni, fans and friends to gather and celebrate the Bruin spirit before rushing to Pauley Pavilion. Bruin Bash is family friendly, nostalgic and exciting for all ages. Everyone is welcome, from first-time Bruin fans to lifelong supporters. Sign up for a fun way to arrive early, beat the traffic and enjoy a pregame meal among like-minded friends in the James West Alumni Center. Check the Bruin Bash schedule for March — it all starts with the women of Westwood taking on USC in basketball on March 1.
MARCH 4 | 5:30 P.M.
Compassionate Conversation with Jamil Zaki & The War for Kindness
Empathy is not a fixed trait: so argues Jamil Zaki in his groundbreaking 2019 book, The War for Kindness. Each year, a committee of campus organizations, staff, faculty, students and alumni choose a single book to ignite campuswide discussions centered on a common theme; this year’s theme is the mutability of empathy and kindness in a world that seems to be without either. As part of this theme, the Common Experience Program at UCLA, the UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute and UCLA Alumni have chosen Zaki’s book full of cutting-edge research as their 2025 selection for the Common Experience. In this Compassionate Conversation, Zaki will speak on how the world is experiencing “an empathy shortage” and how themes of kindness relate to UCLA and the present-day crises at hand. RSVP to this free event at the De Neve Plaza Rooms and watch Zaki’s TED Talk here.
MARCH 19 | NOON
Ask the Career Coach: Job Search Tips, Questions and Answers
Join Emily Baxt ’92, career coach and workplace consultant, as she shares 10 minutes of her favorite job search strategies and answers your questions on how you can succeed in the job market. Send your questions in advance on topics like job searching, resumes, LinkedIn, networking, changing careers and negotiating. Questions will also be taken live during this Zoom webinar. RSVP for free, here.
MARCH 24 | 4:30 P.M.
Dinner and Networking with Chancellor Frenk in Mexico City
Happen to be in Mexico City? You’re cordially invited to an exclusive dinner and networking event hosted by UCLA Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs. Meet new UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, who was raised in Mexico, alongside UCLA students and local alumni.
As part of the Chancellor’s Leadership, Innovation, Networking and Knowledge (LINK) Program, UCLA students will travel to Mexico City for an immersive learning experience designed to expand their global perspectives and facilitate engagement with professionals like you.
This special evening will unite UCLA students, Mexico City university students and UCLA alumni for a fascinating exchange of ideas, experiences and connections across borders. Take advantage of this opportunity to give back, expand your professional circle, engage in meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and see one of the most dynamic and storied cities in the world — all while connecting with Chancellor Frenk, of course. Come to the Casa de la Universidad de California this March. RSVP here.
