Arts Briefs

Music, food, dance for a jazzy holiday

Ann Caldwell and the Loose Fit Jazz Ensemble top the bill for the Jazz Factory Christmas fete, an evening of music, dinner and dancing that uncorks 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the South of Broadway Theatre Co. in North Charleston.

Tickets are $20 and may be obtained at www.anncaldwell.com or by calling 577-4634. Seating is limited. The charge covers a beverage bar, dinner, dancing and music by vocalist Caldwell and the Ensemble, which is made up of Richard Harris White Jr. (keyboards), Dave Patterson Jr. (drums) and Vince Rivers (bass).

"The band will include in its repertoire, pop, blues and some Christmas tunes, in addition to some well-known jazz standards," Caldwell says. "Local musicians and guests are invited to join the show."

After a 7 p.m. reception, the show starts at 8 p.m.

Doctors group documentary

When Doctors Without Borders gave a film company uncensored access to its field operations, the result was the 90-minute documentary "Living in Emergency," a look at the organization and its efforts through the eyes of four doctors who are forced "to confront the limits of their idealism in the face of overwhelming medical needs."

Produced by Mark Hopkins, Naisola Grimwood and Daniel Holton-Roth and shot in war-torn Congo and post-conflict Liberia, the film will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Regal-Azalea Square Stadium 16 in Summerville, part of a 47-state, 444-cinema showing accompanied by a live simulcast "town hall" discussion broadcast from New York. Panelists include investigative reporter Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News and author Sebastian Junger.

Admission is $12.50. For tickets, go to www.FathomEvents.com/doctorswithoutborders. To see a trailer and clip from the film, go to doctorswithoutborders.org/livinginemergency.

Film fest poster 2010 competition

Now entering its third year, the Charleston International Film Festival will hold a juried poster competition to select the featured image for the 2010 fete, which will be on display at the American Theater and select locations.

This year's fest runs April 8-11 at the American Theater downtown.

The competition is free and open to the public. There are no design guidelines for the competition although entries that "celebrate the art of film and reflect the energy and creativity of the festival" will be most strongly considered. Entries are due by Jan. 4. The winner also will receive $100, recognition on the CIFF Web site and a VIP Festival Pass valid for all films, panels and after-parties.

Finalists will be posted at www.CharlestonIFF.com, and organizers say that they hope for public feedback via Facebook and Twitter to help select the winner.

For information about how to enter the poster competition, go to www.CharlestonIFF.com.

CSO has a slate of holiday concerts

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra continues its series of holiday concerts 6-8 p.m. Wednesday with a "Chicks With Checks Benefit for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra" at the Buccaneer Restaurant; at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 with a "Holiday Pops" concert at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium featuring the CSO, CSO Chorus and Charleston Children's Choir; and at 6 p.m. Dec. 20 with a "Messiah Sing-A-Long" at Citadel Square Baptist Church.