Masanga Marimba Ensemble performs at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on on Sunday, September 4, 2011. Masanga Marimba plays traditional and popular music from Latin America and Africa. The instruments used in this ensemble consist of 7 Zimbabwean marimbas of various sizes along with vocals, drums, percussion, saxophone and trumpet. 

Maintenance Manager Jimmy Quaintance installs new LED lights on Inkie at Pacific Park on Thursday, October 27, 2011. The new lights can be programmed to flash different colors and patterns. 

Guests look at the altar at Pico Youth & Family Center (Pyfc Santa Monica) during the 13th Annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.

Mariam Vargas, 18, paints a Calavera (skull) on Che Sanchez, 17, during Pico Youth & Family Center’s (Pyfc Santa Monica) 13th Annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. On the Day of the Dead it is customary to paint the face to resemble a skull.

Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcome Ambassadors with Pacific Park's Inkie greet attendees at Ocean Avenue as they arrive for the American Film Market (AFM) on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.

The business of independent motion picture production and distribution - a truly collaborative process - reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market. Over 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.

Founded in 1981, the American Film Market (AFM) has grown steadily to become the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed — on both completed films and those that haven’t started shooting yet — making AFM the must-attend industry event.

The AFM transforms Santa Monica. The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and the Le Merigot Beach Hotel are converted into a busy marketplace. All 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire eight-day event and eight digital and video screening rooms are added just for the AFM. Participants may view more than 900 screenings of approximately 500 films - 31 new films every two hours - the majority of them world or U.S. premieres. Titles range from big budget blockbusters that will be released by the major studios in the U.S., to lower budget art and genre films recognized at international film festivals, all destined for theaters and television around the world.

With 8,000 attendees, 900 screenings, and seminars programmed by leading industry organizations, the American Film Market continues to be the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers and business people from all over the world.

PALloween 2011 - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Participants compete in the 20th annual PALloween Costume Contest at Barker Hangar on Monday, October 31, 2011. PALloween is the Westside's premiere Halloween event for families on Halloween night which features, costume contests, trick-or-treat lane, haunted house, tot area, and game booths.

Tatiana Price and her daughter Katia, 2, decorate a pumpkin at the Main Street Farmers Market on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Santa Monica-Malibu United School District Superintendent Sandra Lyon, and her son Sanger look at the altar during Edison Language Academy's annual DÌa De Los Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 29, 2011.