Scores of movies (I lost count after 100) in diverse genres from nations far and wide will show over the next 10 days in a movie lover's buffet.
This year, organizers have three theaters running film (or high-def electronic data) simultaneously on most nights -- way too much for anyone to get to all of it. But here's a short guide to whet your appetite and help you sort out what most interests you:
Feature film official selections
Eighteen independently produced full-length movies ranging from comedy to thriller represent the cream of worldwide, up-and-coming talent. Five are considered to be "in competition" for AIFF's 2008 Best Feature Film and will be shown twice. They are:
• "Chronic Town," a messed-up Fairbanks cabbie discovers feelings.
• "Coyote," good old boys become kinder, gentler people smugglers.
• "Half Life," a drama of lives and loves after the apocalypse.
• "How to Be," recounting the painfully funny dysfunctional relationship between a rock musician and his family.
• "Streetsweeper," a surreal voyage through loneliness, poetry and tidying up after zebras.
Look for: "Chronic Town," which we'll review next week in the Daily News.
Animation
Four programs for a variety of tastes.
• Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Bear Tooth. Organizers caution that most animated films at the festival may not be suitable for children.
• Big Wild Animation, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Anchorage Museum. Repeats at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
• Adventures in Animation, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Anchorage Museum.
• Kid Friendly, 4 p.m. Saturday, Bear Tooth. The four films in this program are all judged suitable for all ages, as is.
Family films
A full day of shows starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Loussac Library, including:
• "Iron Giant," the well-loved animated feature.
• "Eating Alaska," Ellen Frankenstein's documentary about a vegetarian who marries an Alaskan, moves here and wonders what's for dinner.
• Student Film Forum, a mix of shorts by area students and young adults.
Documentaries
Full-length documentaries will be presented as feature presentations. In addition, there are several screenings of "short docs" at these times:
• 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Anchorage Museum
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Fireweed
• 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Anchorage Museum
Look for: "The Last Days of Shishmaref" at 6:16 p.m. Sunday at Bear Tooth and 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Fireweed.
Shorts
Anything from three minutes to about half an hour.
• Subjective Subtleties, noon Saturday, Bear Tooth; repeats at 8 p.m. Dec. 13, Anchorage Museum.
• Reel Macabre, 8:45 p.m. Saturday, Anchorage Museum; repeats at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Fireweed.
• Super Shorts, 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Anchorage Museum; repeats 8:45 p.m. Dec. 13, Fireweed.
Look for: "Spademeadow," award-winning spoof with former Anchorage actress Katie Wallack.
• Objective Observations, 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Fireweed; repeats at 3:15 p.m. Dec. 14, Anchorage Museum.
Look for: "Sikumi," Sundance honoree shot in Barrow by Andrew Okpiaha MacLean, screened Sunday only.
• Love & Pain, with material recycled from the adult animation listings, 10:10 p.m. Dec. 12, Bear Tooth.
Look for: "Way Up North" by local director Levi Taylor
• Snowdance Shorts, Alaska-made quickies. 12:45 p.m. Dec. 13, Bear Tooth.
Look for: Animation by former Daily News cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
Anchorage International Film Festival
When: various times today-Dec. 14
Where: Bear Tooth Theatrepub (1230 W. 27th Ave., 276-4200, www.beartooththeatre.net), Regal Fireweed (661 E. Fireweed Lane, 1-800-FANDANGO, fandango.com), Anchorage Museum (121 W. Seventh Ave., 343-6173, www.anchoragemuseum. org), Marston Theatre at Loussac Library (3600 Denali St., 343-2975, lexicon.ci. anchorage.ak.us)
How much: $7 for most single screenings; $36 for a six-screenings pass; $60 all films pass; $85 all films pass plus admission to all events, opening night gala, workshops and more
Web: anchoragefilmfestival.com/2008
Find a festival schedule, reviews and your take on the films at adn.com/artsnob.
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