# Beth Accomando

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American film critic

Beth Accomando Born Beth Accomando Alma mater Bonita Vista High School University of California, San Diego Occupations Film critic arts reporter podcast host film festival curator film editor Employers KPBS Public Media NPR XETV Known for Cinema Junkie Notable credits Killer Tomatoes Eat France Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Awards 2023 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award

**Beth Accomando**[1][2] is an American film and theatre critic for [KPBS](/source/KPBS_Public_Media), who formerly worked as an arts reporter for [NPR](/source/NPR), [XETV](/source/XETV-TDT) and *[The Star-News](/source/The_Star-News_(Chula_Vista%2C_California))*. She hosts the Cinema Junkie podcast and has curated several film events throughout San Diego County. Accomando edited the 1991 to 1992 sequels of the *[Attack of the Killer Tomatoes](/source/Attack_of_the_Killer_Tomatoes)* franchise and is part of the [Alliance of Women Film Journalists](/source/Alliance_of_Women_Film_Journalists) and [Critics' Choice Movie Awards](/source/Critics'_Choice_Movie_Awards). Her work has been distributed through several publications, including [RogerEbert.com](/source/RogerEbert.com).

## Early life

Upon graduating from [Bonita Vista High School](/source/Bonita_Vista_High_School) in 1978,[2] Accomando was the recipient of the [Bank of America certificate](/source/Bank_of_America) for English and was Chula Vista Elks Most Valuable Scholar.[3] While in college, she was a special writer for [*The Star-News*](/source/The_Star-News_(Chula_Vista%2C_California)).[4] Accomando graduated from [University of California, San Diego](/source/University_of_California%2C_San_Diego), in 1982[5] with a degree in communications and visual arts.[6]

## Career

Accomando is a theatre and film critic[7] for [KPBS](/source/KPBS_Public_Media)[8] who reviewed films such as [*Sucker Punch*](/source/Sucker_Punch_(2011_film)),[8] [*The Fall*](/source/The_Fall_(2006_film)),[9] [*The Brave One*](/source/The_Brave_One_(2007_film)),[10][11] and *[Knocked Up](/source/Knocked_Up)*.[12] She runs a podcast called Cinema Junkie[9] and in 2014, Accomando organized the Film Geeks late-night screenings at [Digital Gym Cinema](/source/Digital_Gym_Cinema).[13] She described just how much [George A. Romero](/source/George_A._Romero)'s *[Night of the Living Dead](/source/Night_of_the_Living_Dead)* influenced [Edgar Wright](/source/Edgar_Wright)'s *[Shaun of the Dead](/source/Shaun_of_the_Dead)*.[14]

In 1985, Accomando was one of 12 women featured in *A San Diego Exhibition: Forty-two Emerging Artists* at [La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art](/source/La_Jolla_Museum_of_Contemporary_Art).[15] In the early 1990s, she was the film editor for *[Killer Tomatoes Strike Back](/source/Killer_Tomatoes_Strike_Back)* and *[Killer Tomatoes Eat France](/source/Killer_Tomatoes_Eat_France)*.[16] Accomando worked for [XETV-TDT](/source/XETV-TDT) in 1992[17] and in 1998, introduced the film *[Rashomon](/source/Rashomon)* at Landmark's [Ken Cinema](/source/Ken_Cinema).[18]

In 2000, Accomando curated an event in San Diego that held premieres for *[Butterfly and Sword](/source/Butterfly_and_Sword)*, *[Eastern Condors](/source/Eastern_Condors)*, *[Holy Weapon](/source/Holy_Weapon)*, *[The Magic Crystal](/source/The_Magic_Crystal)*, *[Pedicab Driver](/source/Pedicab_Driver)* and *[Shanghai Blues](/source/Shanghai_Blues)*.[19] She wrote for [National Public Radio](/source/National_Public_Radio)[20] and helped put together an Asian festival at University of California, San Diego.[21] In a 2007 interview, [Lee Ann Kim](/source/Lee_Ann_Kim) described Accomando as the one "who really plugged me into international Asian film".[22] Accomando has interviewed [Chow Yun Fat](/source/Chow_Yun-fat), [Jackie Chan](/source/Jackie_Chan), [Stanley Tong](/source/Stanley_Tong) and [John Woo](/source/John_Woo).[23] She was a panelist at UCSD's Up & Coming Film Festival with [Ham Tran](/source/Ham_Tran) in 2008,[24] [Ligiah Villalobos](/source/Ligiah_Villalobos) in 2009,[25] and with [Arthur Ollman](/source/Arthur_Ollman) in 2011.[26] In 2016, Accomando judged a play called *Killing Buddha* at [San Diego International Fringe Festival](/source/San_Diego_International_Fringe_Festival).[7]

In 2017, Accomando was a judge at [Horrible Imaginings Film Festival](/source/Horrible_Imaginings_Film_Festival).[27] She was part of a *Storytelling in Film* panel with [Michael Lewis Foster](/source/Michael_Lewis_Foster), [Neal Hallford](/source/Neal_Hallford) and [Jonathan Hammond](/source/Jonathan_Hammond_(filmmaker)) at [San Diego Comic Con](/source/San_Diego_Comic-Con) in 2021.[28] She hosted Flicks on the Bricks in 2018,[29] 2022 and 2023 at [Athenaeum Music & Arts Library](/source/Athenaeum_Music_%26_Arts_Library).[30][31][32]

In June 2025, Accomando won a [Pacific Southwest](/source/Pacific_Southwest_Chapter_of_the_National_Television_Academy) regional [Emmy Award](/source/Emmy_Awards) for the video podcast *Stripper Energy: Fighting Back From the Fringe*s.[33]

## Filmography

Year Title Notes 1991 Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Editor[16] 1992 Killer Tomatoes Eat France

## Awards

Award Year Result Ref. Chula Vista Elks Most Valuable Scholar 1978 Won [3] Bank of America English certificate Won [3] Promotional Announcement Emmy 1992 Won [17] Light Feature Story/Series 2006 Runner-up [34] Inkpot Award 2022 Won [35] Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award 2023 Won [36][37] Emmy Award 2025 Won [33]

## Selected works

### Articles

- [RogerEbert.com](/source/RogerEbert.com)[38]

### Publications

- [Alliance of Women Film Journalists](/source/Alliance_of_Women_Film_Journalists)[39]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:6_1-0)** ["NewsCenter | SDSU | Staff Awardees Honored"](https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx?sid=76345). *newscenter.sdsu.edu*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_2-1) ["Article clipped from Chula Vista Star-News"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/chula-vista-star-news/4301445/). *[The Star-News](/source/The_Star-News_(Chula_Vista%2C_California))*. 1978-06-11. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-12-23 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:5_3-2) ["Bonita Vista"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/imperial-beach-star-news-bonita-vista/137299032/). *[The Star-News](/source/The_Star-News_(Chula_Vista%2C_California))*. 1978-06-25. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-12-23 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Accomando, Beth (1981-04-30). ["'Curious Savage' deals delightfully with insanity"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/imperial-beach-star-news-curious-savage/137299145/). *[The Star-News](/source/The_Star-News_(Chula_Vista%2C_California))*. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-12-23 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) ["Theatre Dojo honored"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2306836208/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[Deming Headlight](/source/Deming_Headlight)*. 2016-07-06. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2306836208](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2306836208). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Digital Gym Cinema: Bringing unique and engaging films to San Diego"](https://laprensa.org/digital-gym-cinema-bringing-unique-and-engaging-films-san-diego). *La Prensa*. 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["English class provides food for thought"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1615465746/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[University Wire](/source/University_Wire)*. 2014-10-23. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1615465746](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1615465746). Retrieved 2023-12-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Damsker, Matt (1985-01-23). ["Choice of Spots in Local Art Show Raises Ire"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/292033471/804EB29B79A54CF8PQ). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [292033471](https://www.proquest.com/docview/292033471). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:8_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:8_16-1) ["Beth Accomando Movie Reviews & Previews – Rotten Tomatoes"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critics/beth-accomando/movies). *[Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)*. Retrieved 2023-12-24.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_17-1) Brass, Kevin (1992-06-15). ["Small Stations Reap Harvest of Emmys Awards: Channel 39 took the most Emmys at the local awards but the show belonged to the small stations that seldom share the limelight"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/281694949/804EB29B79A54CF8PQ). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [281694949](https://www.proquest.com/docview/281694949).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Elliott, David (1998-07-09). ["Tribute to a fallen samurai | The Ken pays homage to the great Toshiro Mifune"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271610624/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [271610624](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271610624). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Elliott, David (2000-07-06). ["MoPA gives Western moviegoers chance to catch up with some of the best of Asia"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271687369/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [271687369](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271687369). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["The Smash Hit of Asia Comes to America"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-smash-hit-of-a/137299079/). *[The Los Angeles Times](/source/The_Los_Angeles_Times)*. 2002-02-09. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-12-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Elliott, David (2000-09-03). ["Movie summer wasn't so hot"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271711939/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [271711939](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271711939). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Elliott, David (2007-10-07). ["In Asian film, Kim's the edge of our Pacific Rim"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/273006265/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [273006265](https://www.proquest.com/docview/273006265). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Elliott, David (1997-01-05). ["Screen's Queen Latifah looks poised to ascend"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271565312/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [271565312](https://www.proquest.com/docview/271565312). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Politics Gives May to Self-Exploration in Student Films"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/473088939/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[Federal News Service](/source/Federal_News_Service)*. 2008-10-03. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [473088939](https://www.proquest.com/docview/473088939). Retrieved 2023-12-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Aspiring Martin Scorseses, Francis Ford Copoas Display Talent at Student Film Festival"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/472683201/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[Federal News Service](/source/Federal_News_Service)*. 2009-05-26. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [472683201](https://www.proquest.com/docview/472683201). Retrieved 2023-12-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Student Cinema Takes Center Stage of Fourth Annual Up and Coming Film Festival"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/867336313/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *Targeted News Service*. Washington, D.C. 2011-05-17. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [867336313](https://www.proquest.com/docview/867336313). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["2017 Awards | Horrible Imaginings"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170915115858/http://www.hifilmfest.com/2017-awards/). *[Horrible Imaginings Film Festival](/source/Horrible_Imaginings_Film_Festival)*. 2017-09-15. Archived from [the original](http://www.hifilmfest.com/2017-awards/) on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2025-04-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:7_28-0)** ["SAM Guests and Program Participants"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210724230740/https://www.comic-con.org/frontpage/sam-guests-and-program-participants). *[San Diego Comic-Con](/source/San_Diego_Comic-Con)*. 2016-10-26. Archived from [the original](https://www.comic-con.org/frontpage/sam-guests-and-program-participants) on 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2022-06-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Rocha, Michael James (2018-08-09). ["At Athenaeum's Flicks on the Bricks, next up is the 1949 film 'Tension'"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2085862315/8A8047F384C64198PQ). *[San Diego Union Tribune](/source/San_Diego_Union_Tribune)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2085862315](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2085862315). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Hubbard, Anne. ["Flicks on the Bricks — Athenaeum Music & Arts Library"](https://www.ljathenaeum.org/flicks). *[Athenaeum Music & Arts Library](/source/Athenaeum_Music_%26_Arts_Library)*. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Flicks on the Bricks Series: The Lubitsch Touch"](https://www.ljathenaeum.org/events/flicks-2022-series). *[Athenaeum Music & Arts Library](/source/Athenaeum_Music_%26_Arts_Library)*. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:9_33-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:9_33-1) ["EMMY® AWARD RECIPIENTS"](https://nataspsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025_Emmy_RecipFINAL.docx.pdf) (PDF). *nataspsw.org*. [Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy](/source/Pacific_Southwest_Chapter_of_the_National_Television_Academy). 2025-06-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["2006 Journalism Award Winners"](https://spjsandiego.org/2006/07/19/2006-journalism-award-winners/). *San Diego Society of Professional Journalists*. 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Inkpot Awards"](https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot/). *[Comic-Con International](/source/Comic-Con_International)*. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** [Garrity, Shaenon K.](/source/Shaenon_K._Garrity) (2023-07-31). ["Kate Beaton, Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda Win Graphic Novel Eisners"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/92839-beaton-liu-takeda-win-graphic-novel-eisners.html). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. New York. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2843476248](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2843476248). Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** Solan, Colin (2023-07-23). ["35th Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Announced"](https://www.conventionscene.com/2023/07/23/35th-annual-will-eisner-comic-industry-awards-announced/). *Convention Scene*. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** Accomando, Beth. ["Women Film Editors: Shedding the Cloak of Invisibility | Features | Roger Ebert"](https://www.rogerebert.com/features/women-film-editors-shedding-the-cloak-of-invisibility). *[RogerEbert.com](/source/RogerEbert.com)*. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** ["Beth Accomando – Alliance of Women Film Journalists"](https://awfj.org/blog/author/accomandob/). 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

## External links

- [Beth Accomando](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0009622/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Beth Accomando](https://www.kpbs.org/staff/beth-accomando) at [KPBS](/source/KPBS_Public_Media)

- [Beth Accomando](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/beth-accomando) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)

- [Cinema Junkie](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/442951456/cinema-junkie) at [NPR](/source/NPR)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beth Accomando](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Accomando) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Accomando?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.