Two common hopes among cinephiles are A) to discover an amazing movie that nobody else has seen yet and B) to attend a glamorous film festival at some point in their lives.
Luckily for Tufts film fans, the second annual Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFB) makes both these dreams a reality this weekend.
In its sophomore year, the IFFB is serving up a full schedule of film premieres and sneak previews this weekend at the Somerville and Jimmy Tingle Theaters in Davis Square, the Brattle Theater in Harvard Square, and at Coolidge Corner in Brookline.
The festival opens tonight at the Somerville Theater at 7 p.m. with the East Coast premiere of "Rick," a moody drama based on Verdi's opera "Rigoletto," which is directed by Curtis Clayton ("Drugstore Cowboy," "My Own Private Idaho," "Made").
The film stars Bill Pullman ("Zero Effect," "While You Were Sleeping"), who will be at the screening along with the director for a question and answer session.
The IFFB makes the art of cinema more accessible to even the casual moviegoer. The film festival offers the unique opportunity for audience members to discuss each film with its director and members of its cast and crew after every screening.
Attendees can also cast their vote for the Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Short Film.
Another film to watch for is "Goodnight, Joseph Parker," directed by Tufts alum Dennis Brooks (LA '90).
The film, which will show at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Brattle Theater in Harvard Square, tells the story of Joey Parker (Nick Chinlund, "Training Day"), an up-and-coming singer who returns home to his local bar to try and reconnect with his old friends and long lost love after seven years.
The film -- Brooks' first feature -- boasts an impressive cast, including Debbie Mazar ("Bullets over Broadway"), Paul Sorvino ("Goodfellas"), Richard Edson ("Stranger Than Paradise"), Kim Dickens ("House of Sand and Fog"), and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith in his acting debut.
Since "Goodnight, Joseph Parker" has yet to be purchased by a distributor, this special sneak preview will be the best place to catch a glimpse of the film before its theatrical release.
If the material holds up to the caliber of the cast, this may be one of the hottest movies of the film festival season, and these early showings provide a great chance for cinema lovers to get bragging rights after seeing the film first.
In addition to screening traditional feature films, the IFFB also showcases a number of documentaries and shorts. "Double Dare" is a not-to-be-missed documentary about the lives of two Hollywood stunt women, Jeannie Eppers and Zo? Bell, who are stunt doubles for Wonder Women and Xena: Warrior Princess, respectively.
The film explores the two women's experiences and difficulties of working in their industry. "Double Dare" also includes several interviews featuring Lynda Carter, Lucy Lawless, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino, and will screen with director Amanda Micheli, Eppers and Bell in attendance.
For all the metal head fans out there, the IFFB will also present the East Coast premiere of "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster."
This short documentary, which was directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, relates the trials and tribulations of one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history and features the title band in an otherwise unpublicized setting: group therapy.
The camera accompanies the band as they work through conflicts that have sprouted up during their more than 20-year long relationship and work on developing their new album.
For head-banging and psychotherapy, "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" plays at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 at the Somerville Theater.
Film watchers rarely get the chance to see short films unless they are attached to a Disney/Pixar production. The IFFB offers attendees a selection of shorts at a number of the screenings throughout the weekend.
One eight-minute endeavor, entitled "The Frank International Film Festival," is a mockumentary about film festivals.
It was directed by Bob Odenkirk, writer for the television series "Mr. Show" and "Saturday Night Live" and director of the indie hit screened at last year's IFFB "Melvin Goes to Dinner."
"The Frank International Film Festival" screens at 8 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Sunday, showing alongside the feature film "Luck" at the Somerville Theater. As a special treat, comedian Fred Armisen of "Saturday Night Live" will also be in attendance.
With over 47 films playing at theaters within two miles of campus, the International Film Festival of Boston is the perfect cinematic escape from the final exam blues.
A full schedule of screenings and events can be found at the festivals website www.Iffboston.com. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Alpha Omega watchXpress in Harvard Square or the day of at the movie at theater box offices.
