San Jose’s annual maverick film festival, Cinequest, turns 20 this year, and its organizers are pulling out all the stops. With more than 200 film screenings, including 76 U.S. and World Premieres from 45 countries, special events, and parties , there’s something to suit every film lover’s palate. Those looking for something new, something surprising, something to entertain and astound must not miss this festival.

Cinequest 20 opens Tuesday, February 23 with a screening at 7pm at the California Theater. A party at E&O Trading Co. follows. The opening night film is the US premiere of “The Good Heart,” starring Brian Cox (“The Bourne Identity”) and Paul Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine”) as a cantankerous bar owner and the young homeless man he takes under his wing.
There are multitude of screenings each day of the festival, as well as special events. This year’s Maverick Spirit Award recipient is Benjamin Bratt, who will be receiving the award at a special screening of his new film, “La MISSION” on Thursday, March 4 at 7pm at the California Theater. The film will be followed by a 30 minute conversation with Bratt.
The Life of a Maverick Award is being given this year, for only the fourth time in the festival’s history. The recipient is Deepak Chopra, who has recently begun working directly in screenwriting and producing, collaborating with his son and other filmmakers on several new projects. The award event will be held Tuesday, March 2, at 7pm at the California Theater.
This year Cinequest presents several Maverick Artist and Innovator Forums, covering distribution, 3D, and filmmaking workflows. There will also be a Day of the Writer, Friday, March 5 with events including How To Write Comedy for the Big Screen (with Richard Walter, Lew Hunter, and Hal Ackerman) and Comedy Writing for Television (with Marly Sims and Fred Rubin).
Both Fridays of the festival will feature silent cinema at the Californa Theater, presented by the Stanford Theater Foundation. Friday, February 26, see Erich von Stroheim’s “The Merry Widow,” and Friday, March 5, see Ernst Lubitsch’s “The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg.”
Cinequest closes on Saturday, March 6 with a screening at 8pm at the California theater, followed by a party at South First Billiards. The closing night film is “Mother,” a South Korean film about a mother’s quest to clear her son’s name when he is accused of murder.
There are several levels of passes, as well as individual tickets available for screenings (see sidebar). Cinequest is a festival not to be missed, particularly if you enjoy film but are tired of the same old stuff coming out of Hollywood year after year.
Individual tickets:
General Admission: $10
Matinee (weekdays before 5pm): $7
Student: $5
Film Lover Pass: all regular and encore film screenings. $145
Mavericks Pass: all forums, Maverick Spirit Events, Day of the Writer Events, opening and closing screenings and parties, all regular and encore film screenings. $250
VIP All Access Pass: All soirees, VIP Lounge access, plus all amenities in the Mavericks and Film Lovers Passes. $500
Express Line Pass: Add to any pass to get priority seating for screenings and events. $100
Special event tickets vary by event.
Visit www.cinequest.org, call 408-295-FEST (3378), or visit the box office at Camera 12 to purchase tickets or get more information.