Every Wednesday evening in January, Turner Classic Movies will be presenting “Shadows of Russia,” a 20-film series that yours truly programmed with Farran Smith Nehme (here with me and TCM host Robert Osborne).

Here’s how the series came about. Nehme, who blogs as The Self-Styled Siren, will join fellow film mavens Glenn Kenn (Some Came Running, “The Girlfriend Experience”), Ed Hulse and me for a panel discussion on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at BAM following a special screening of the series’ inspiration, “Mission to Moscow.” Tickets are available here