The American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre will host a special retrospective and tribute to filmmaker John Sayles, taking place the weekend of January 4 through 6. For the event, there will be in-person appearances by and Q&A sessions with Sayles to go along with a selection of some of his best movies, including Lone Star, Baby, It's You, City of Hope, Brother From Another Planet and his newest film, Honeydripper — the latter kicking off the feting.

From his beginnings as a novelist and versatile screenwriter-for-hire (Jurassic Park IV is next on his plate in that regard) to his development into one of the leading voices in American independent film, Sayles has demonstrated an increasingly penetrating insight into contemporary life in his 16 films as a director. Capable of writing blue collar laborers, billionaire moguls, would-be mothers and everyone in between, Sayles presents a vision of America more varied in subject matter and tone than arguably any other working modern day filmmaker.

The Aero Theatre is located at 1328 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Tickets for all films and events are available through Fandango, but for 24-hour recorded information on directions and the Aero's upcoming schedule, phone (323) 466-FILM. For an interview with Sayles, meanwhile, click here.