This year’s Artist and Innovator forums cover everything from social media (Friday March 1, Making Social Media Work for Artists) to ways to fund your cinematic dreams (Thursday March 7, New & Old School Financing Techniques). There are a total of five forums at several venues, each at 3:30pm. See www.cinequest.org for tickets and location details.

Cinequest has teamed up with Sony to screen three classic films in restored editions: “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Taxi Driver,” and “Dr. Strangelove.” The 4K technologies used in these restorations are the subject of two of the A&I forums, on Saturday March 2 and Friday March 8.

This year’s Writers Celebration is Saturday, March 2, starting at 10 a.m. and running through 2:30 p.m. For those interested in writing for the screen, this is a must-attend event. The morning session offers two classes to choose from : a Master Class with Bobby Moresco (“Crash”), or a more basics-focused “How to” class with screenwriting expert Scott Sublett. Then it’s “How to Pitch,” a presentation on the art and science of getting your script actually produced. The whole thing wraps up with a Maverick Spirit Event, where an as-yet-unannounced writer will be presented the festival’s top award and engage in a moderated discussion.

On Sunday, March 3, a showcase of short films created by members of Cinequest’s Picture the Possibilities (PTP) program will be shown at the California Theater. PTP brings youth around the glob together with the tools, mentors, and training they need to create films about their lives. Three of Sunday’s films come from PTP participants in East Palo Alto: “Grandma’s a Bully,” “Meet Me at the Courts,” and “Celebrity.”

On top of all these events, there are the festival’s regular programming of shorts collections and feature films, all of which are listed at www.cinequest.org. You can buy individual tickets (although some of the events require specific passes) or more comprehensive passes on the website or at the various venues in downtown San Jose.

Tom (Anthony Michael Hall, “The Dead Zone”) owns a successful construction company and seems to have the perfect life: a gorgeous house, plenty of respect, and a beautiful wife who’s just gotten pregnant. When his foreman and one of the framers on a construction site have an argument that gets ugly and Tom winds up in the middle, he finds his perfect life threatened. He’s used to wielding a certain amount of clout and respect, but the more he tries to get the situation under control, the worse things get.

I wanted to like “Aftermath,” and in fact I did — right up until the last scene, a very short sequence that made absolutely no sense and threw the entire logic of the film’s story into question. It was hugely disappointing, because up until then, I had been impressed with how well the film was letting me think I knew what was going on and then surprising me. Having the rug yanked out from under me like that just gets me to thinking about all the other flaws in the film (the female characters exist only to be threatened/raped/etc. to motivate the men, the sheriff who helps Tom is inexplicably defensive about his job, and so on). I always know going into a Cinequest film that this kind of thing is a possibility, but it catches me by surprise every time and always leaves me irritated and wanting to grill the director to find out what their deal is.

Cast: Laura Prepon, Dreama Walker, Bryan Greenberg, Matt Bush, Tate Ellington

Screenings: California Theatre Thu, 2/28 9:30 PM California Theatre; Sat, 3/2 9:30 PM California Theatre; Mon, 3/4 4:30 PM Camera 12.

Jennifer (Laura Prepon, That ‘70s Show) is having a lousy day. She’s just dumped her cheating boyfriend of two and a half years, her friend is forcing a huge birthday party on her, and she’s turning 30. Her younger sister Penny (Dreama Walker, “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23”) is there for her, but in that less-than-helpful way some younger sisters specialize in. As the party gets going and things start to take a turn for the wild, we get a kitchen-eye-view of the goings-on.

“The Kitchen” almost has the feel of a one-act play — it’s short, witty, and confined to one room, but it avoids the pitfalls of stilted dialog and dull cinematography that sometimes dog the stage-to-screen transition. This is a witty, snarky, and at times touching comedy about what it’s like to be turning 30 and not sure about what you’re doing with your life.

Whatever your angle, if you’re interested in independent film Cinequest is well worth checking out. With over 700 presenting artists and innovators, XXX films from XXX different countries, and 86 US, North American, or world premiers, the festival is the place to be to see movies impossible to find anywhere else.

This year’s Maverick Spirit Award recipients are Chef Dominique Crenn, President of Sony Pictures Technologies Chriss Cookson, author Chuck Palahniuk, actor Harrison Ford, President and CEO of Sony Electronics Inc. Phil Molyneux, and author Salman Rushdie. Check out the various special events dedicated to each at www.cinequest.org.

Cinequest is also continuing its tradition of screening significant and interesting silent films by showing Buster Keaton’s short film “Cops” and Harold Lloyd’s feature film “Safety Last” at the historic California Theater, accompanied by Dennis James on the Wurlitzer organ. This event is Friday 3/8 at 7pm. Fans of film history will not want to miss it!

Below are brief guides for some of the many sorts of folks who might enjoy attending this year’s festival. Be sure to check the Films and Events listings at www.cinequest.org to confirm times, check out new additions, and buy tickets.

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Buying Tickets and Passes
Buy Tickets or Passes at www.cinequest.org, by calling 408-295-FEST (408-295-3378), or at the box offices of Camera 12, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and the California Theatre.

General Admission – $10
Silent Cinema Screening – $10
Matinee – $7
Students – $5

Cinequest Venues:
* Camera 12 Cinemas – 201 S. Second Street, San Jose
* San Jose Repertory Theatre – 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
* California Theatre – 345 South First St, San Jose
* San Jose State University’s Hal Todd Theatre – E. San Fernando St. at 5th St., San Jose

General Guidelines
* Unless you buy the Express Line Pass ($100), which gets you into the express line, be sure to show up early for films. I usually plan to show up at least 30 minutes ahead of time, pass or ticket in hand.
* There are plenty of places to eat downtown, though many of them are a bit pricey. Remember to schedule time to eat if you’re planning to see a lot of movies in a row, even if you just stick a granola bar in your pocket. Water is also important — most venues will allow bottles of water with sports tops.
* The events and forums can sell out, so unless you want to depend on rush tickets, get your tickets as far in advance as you can.
* Parking is usually scarce and pricey during Cinequest, so if at all possible, take public transit. There are park-and-ride lots at many light rail stations, and light rail drops you off right in the heart of the festival. Save money, time, and the environment!
* Unless you’re attending screenings and events all at the same building, wear comfy shoes for walking. It’s farther from the Camera 12 Cinemas to the California Theater than you probably think!
* Not sure what to see or what to avoid? Check out www.ealasaid.com/cineblog for reviews.

==========

Film Lover
You’re sort of person who makes up such a big portion of Cinequest’s attendees that there’s a special pass just for you. It will get you into any film screening (provided you get in line early enough that they don’t run out of space before you get in) without having to buy tickets.
Planning: Check out the list of films at www.cinequest.org/films.php to make a list of films you’re interested in seeing, then cross-check them with the evenings you’re available on the schedule at http://cinequest.org/schedule.php
Tickets: If you’re going to see more than 14 films, get a Film Lover Pass ($145.00) to get the most bang for your buck.

Film Maker
Love movies, and love learning about making them? You’ll want to see as many movies as you can as well as attending the forums.
Planning: There are forums about various aspects of filmmaking throughout the festival. Check the schedule to see what all is covered — it’s an impressive range this year. Also be sure to take a look at the film schedule to see what you can take in! See www.cinequest.org for the locations.
Tickets: For movie tickets, see Film Lover above. If you’re planning to attend all the special events and a bunch of movies, consider the Mavericks pass ($250), which will get you into everything but the soirees.

Festival Junkie
Don’t want to miss a single thing at Cinequest? Films, events, parties, even the VIP lounge? Well, there’s a special pass just for you, if you have the time and money.
Planning: Schedule a vacation from work and look through the entire schedule online at http://cinequest.org/schedule.php to see what all you want to attend.
Tickets: The VIP All Access Pass ($500) is the way to go. It gets you into everything.

If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, the Writers Celebration on Friday, March 9 is a must. Panels and events held at San Jose Repertory Theater from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm will cover pitching your screenplay, the business of writing, and more. There will also be a the presentation of a Maverick Spirit Award to Philip Kaufman, who is based in San Francisco. Kaufman is a writer and director of such films as “The Right Stuff” and the upcoming “Hemingway and Gelhorn.”

Later Friday night, there will be a showing of “Faust,” F. W. Murnau’s silent film about the temptation of a devout alchemist. “Faust” was Murnau’s last film before leaving Germany for Hollywood, where his next film was the highly celebrated “Sunrise.” This screening of “Faust” will be accompanied by live music played by the Filmharmonica Duo — Dennis James on the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ and Theremin, and Mark Goldstein on the Buchla Lightning Wands.

Saturday March 10 brings the Adobe Youth Voices screening at 11:00 am at Camera 12. These films were made by young people in underserved communities around the world, with help from the Adobe Youth Voices philanthropy program. This free event will give you a glimpse into the minds of young people through the medium of film.

Saturday is also the last day of the festival, which closes with the 7:00 pm screening of “Deep Blue Sea.” Terence Davies (“The House of Mirth”) brings us a tale about a woman (Oscar winner Rachel Weisz) struggling to choose between her mundane marriage and a dashing affair. After the film, Davies will be presented with a Maverick Spirit award and chat about filmmaking. Following the closing night showcase, there’s a party at the Tech Museum.

If you missed some of this year’s films or are hoping to see some films from past years, check out Cinequest’s online film library at www.cinequestonline.org. The website offers DVDs and downloads of more than 60 independent films ranging in style and subject.

Cinequest also provides mentoring and education programs for young people during the year — visit the festival’s website for more information: www.cinequest.org

“Portrait of a Zombie” is one of those films that really ought to be fantastic, but doesn’t quite make it. These aren’t uncommon at Cinequest, but they’re always a little saddening when you run across them.

The premise is gold: a zombie apocalypse is winding down in Ireland, and an egotistical American filmmaker shows up to do a film about a family keeping their zombified son in their house. The film opens promisingly in mocumentary style, including interviews with the parents and some other people. The fellow’s mother comments that when he was a teenager, Billy would eat just about anything — “and in that way, not much has changed!” There’s a streak of very dark humor running through the film, and I was all set to have a blast.

Unfortunately, regular horror-movie type sequences show up, disrupting the  mockumentary feeling and making it sometimes hard to tell just what is going on. By the time the film comes to its not-entirely-surprising end, it’s hard to avoid feeling wistful for what might have been. A Spinal-Tap-style mockumentary about the same subject could have been a fantastic satire on overprotective parenting, for example.

Instead, we have an uneven movie that can’t quite decide what it is. The special effects range from fantastic to laughable, and the tone wanders between pitch-black humor, actual drama, and silliness. The acting, particularly from Geraldine Mcalinden as the zombie’s unlucky mother, is good, but its hard for the actors to do much with such an uneven script.

If you’re a hardcore zombie fan, you still will likely want to see this, as catching an independently made Irish zombie flick on the big screen is a rare opportunity. Most other folks, especially those who were hoping for a proper mockumentary, should stay away.

Remaining Screenings:
3/5 9:30 PM Camera 12
3/10 4:30 PM Camera 12

There’s a certain kind of audacity that makes a film likable, regardless of its technical abilities. “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X” is a big love song to a long list of film tropes and genres. The titular Johnny X owes a lot to Marlon Brando’s “The Wild One.” The whole film is an homage to the cheesy, terrible black-and-white science fiction movies of which “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is the most memorable. There’s a romance between a bad girl and a square soda jerk, a desperate ploy to save a rock concert after its star up and dies, and to top it off, the whole film is a musical.

The plot is too ridiculous to sum up, but it follows the efforts of a leather-jacket-wearing group of juvenile delinquents from outer space to earn the right to go back home. The musical numbers are charming (if not always toe-tappingly great), the acting is solid, and — perhaps most importantly — the fellow playing Johnny X has charisma dripping out of his ears. As a bonus, Creed Bratton (of “The Office” fame) steals most of the scenes he’s in, even under a thick layer of corpse makeup.

This is a wild ride of epic proportions, and Cinequest offers you the rare opportunity to see this sure-to-be-cult-oddity on the big screen. If you can’t tell after reading the above whether you want to see it or not, you’re probably not the target audience. If, on the other hand, you think the idea of a 50s-style musical about teenage delinquents from outer space sounds awesome, don’t miss it!

Remaining screenings:
3/6 7:00 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre
3/10 4:45 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre

Filmmakers love to make movies about making movies, and “Salt” is the kind of film we get as a result. It wanders a bit, unsure of its purpose and footing (or maybe I just couldn’t figure out what the purpose was), and although it meanders through interesting and engaging territory, its ending is not particularly satisfying.

Would-be director Sergio can’t get producers to buy his film: they don’t like the script. After being told yet again that there’s no life in his story and it reads like he’s never been to the setting, Sergio sets off to visit the locale again for research: the Atacama Desert in Chile. Once there, he finds himself mistaken for a small-town hero and is plunged into a battle he has nothing to do with. Desperate to get enough of a feel for the place to make his script salable, Sergio stays, and endures bar brawls, kidnapping, torture, and even an old-fashioned showdown with six-shooters.

“Salt” plays with the familiar Western tropes, and its characters are engaging as much because of the fact they are stereotypes as in spite of it. There are moments that can be difficult to watch — this is definitely a Western in the brutal, bloody school — and Sergio’s likability only adds to that. He does his best once he gives up and embraces the role of unwilling hero, but he’s ultimately a writer, not a cowboy.

If you’re curious about what a Western made by a Spanish filmmaker would look like, don’t miss this.

Remaining Screenings:
3/4 4:15 PM Camera 12
3/8 4:15 PM Camera 12

Every spring, the Cinequest Film Festival takes over downtown San Jose, filling it with film lovers and film makers from all over the globe. This year is the twenty-second for the festival, which focuses on encouraging and empowering maverick filmmakers. This is the place to be if you are interested in reaching beyond the familiar flicks Hollywood churns out, are an aspiring filmmaker who wants to learn more about the art and tech of moviemaking, or love interacting with actors, directors, and movie crews.

Whatever your angle, if you’re interested in independent film Cinequest is well worth checking out. With over 155 films from 40 different countries and 60 US, North American, and world premieres, the festival is the place to be to see movies impossible to find anywhere else.

This year’s Maverick Spirit Award recipients are writer-director Terence Davies (The House of Mirth), writer-director Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff), actor Elliott Gould (Ocean’s Eleven), and celebrity chef Michael Mina. There’s also an Emerging Maverick Award going to chef Michael Miller. Check out the various special events dedicated to each at www.cinequest.org.

Cinequest is also continuing its tradition of screening significant and interesting silent films by screening F.W. Murnau’s “Faust” on March 9th. The horror-fantasy film will be accompanied by Dennis James on the Wurlitzer Theater Organ and Theremin, and Mark Goldstein on the Buchla Lightning Wands.

Below are brief guides for some of the many sorts of folks who might enjoy attending. Be sure to check the Films and Events listings at www.cinequest.org to confirm times, check out new additions, and buy tickets.

Buying Tickets and Passes

Buy Tickets or Passes at www.cinequest.org, by calling 408-295-FEST (295-3378), or at the box office of Camera 12, San Jose Repertory Theatre, or the California Theatre. All box offices open 45 minutes before the first screening of the day.

General Admission – $10
Silent Cinema Screenings – $10
Matinee – $7
Students – $5

Cinequest Venues:
* Camera 12 Cinemas – 201 S. Second Street, San Jose
* San Jose Repertory Theatre – 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
* California Theatre – 345 South First St, San Jose
* San Jose State University’s Hal Todd Theatre – E. San Fernando St. at 5th St., San Jose

General Guidelines

* Unless you buy the Express Line Pass ($100), which gets you into the express line, be sure to show up early for films. I usually plan to show up at least 30 minutes ahead of time, pass or ticket in hand.
* There are plenty of places to eat downtown, though many of them are a bit pricey. Remember to schedule time to eat if you’re planning to see a lot of movies in a row, even if you just stick a granola bar in your pocket. Water is also important — most venues will allow bottles of water with sports tops.
* The events and forums can sell out, so unless you want to depend on rush tickets, get your tickets as far in advance as you can.
* Parking is usually scarce and pricey during Cinequest, so if at all possible, take public transit. There are park-and-ride lots at many light rail stations, and light rail drops you off right in the heart of the festival. Save money, time, and the environment!
* Unless you’re attending screenings and events all at the same building, wear comfy shoes for walking. It’s farther from the Camera 12 Cinemas to the California Theater than you probably think!
* Not sure what to see or what to avoid? Check out www.ealasaid.com/cineblog for reviews.

Film Lover

You’re sort of person who makes up such a big portion of Cinequest’s attendees that there’s a special pass just for you. It will get you into any film screening (provided you get in line early enough that they don’t run out of space before you get in) without having to buy tickets.
Planning: Check out the list of films at www.cinequest.org/films.php and the reviews at www.ealasaid.com/cineblog to make a list of films you’re interested in seeing, then cross-check them with the evenings you’re available on the schedule at http://cinequest.org/schedule.php
Tickets: If you’re going to see more than 14 films, get a Film Lover Pass ($145.00) to get the most bang for your buck.

Film Maker

Love movies, and love learning about making them? You’ll want to see as many movies as you can as well as attending the forums.
Planning: There are forums about various aspects of filmmaking throughout the festival. Check the schedule to see what all is covered — it’s an impressive range this year. Also be sure to take a look at the film schedule to see what you can take in! Plus, every night through March 9th, there are Maverick Meet-Ups (no tickets necessary!), where you can hang out with filmmakers and film lovers of all stripes. See www.cinequest.org for the locations.
Tickets: For movie tickets, see Film Lover above. The forums are $10-$20/day. If you’re planning to attend all the forums and a bunch of movies, consider the Mavericks pass ($250), which will get you into all the films and forums.

Festival Junkie

Don’t want to miss a single thing at Cinequest? Forums, films, events, parties, even the VIP lounge? Well, there’s a special pass just for you, if you have the time and money.
Planning: Schedule a vacation from work and look through the entire schedule online at http://cinequest.org/schedule.php to see what all you want to attend.
Tickets: The VIP All Access Pass ($500) is the way to go. It gets you into everything.

Movies like “Sunflower Hour” are why I love Cinequest so much. It’s well-made, nothing like the movies Hollywood turns out, and frequently made me gape at the screen before collapsing in astonished laughter.

Mockumentaries are a delightful genre when they’re done right, and this one is definitely done right. It brings us the dark underbelly of children’s television, taking us behind the scenes of a contest to find the newest puppteer for popular kids’ show “Sunflower Hour.” The gal running the contest is married to the sleazy, horrible producer of the show, and uses it as a way to get revenge, bringing the four weirdest and most inappropriate puppeteers from the preliminary auditions to a final round on the show itself.

We meet David, a sweet but very neurotic and bullied young man with a real gift; Satan’s Spawn, a teenage goth who auditions to “make a point;” Leslie, a devout Christian who wants to use the show as a platform for God’s Word; and Shamus, whose relationship with his puppet is anything but healthy.

The actors are all solid, committing to their characters’ lunacy a hundred and ten percent. As with the best mockumentaries, the cinematography is a character in itself. This is a top-notch film, and one hopes that it will be one of the handful of Cinequest films that get wider distribution each year. It deserves it.

“Sunflower Hour” makes “Avenue Q” look like “Sesame Street,” and is not for the faint of heart or the uptight of humor. This is a no-holds-barred dive into the seediest of shows, and nobody will escape with their innocence intact.

Showtimes:

3/3 5:00 PM Camera 12
3/4 9:15 PM Camera 12
3/8 11:30 AM Camera 12