You can scroll down for my post on the Local Sightings film festival or you could just show up at NWFF and see whatever’s playing at the time you show up. Odds of randomly seeing something great are very highly in your favor. (Feel free to check the schedule in advance, too, of course.)

Can’t get enough of local filmmaking? Week 3 of Washington Grown happens at the Grand Illusion with horror short films by Calvin Reeder, Catalyst Studios, and Tyson Theroux plus late night feature The Customer, by Everett filmmaker Jonathan Holbrook who gives you the story of a man who discovers a mysterious black card that frees him from his financial worries but comes at a higher cost than even Chase or Citibank could assign.

Also at Grand Illusion: The City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs co-sponsors screenings of Rebuilding Hope on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Saturday afternoon. Director Jen Marlow follows three young men, former refugees from Sudan, as they had back to their original homeland in hopes of learning if their families survived the brutal civil war and what they can do to help rebuild Sudan’s devastated communities. The movie also takes a look at what Sudan’s future might look like; Jen Marlowe and her three primary subjects, Gabriel Bol Deng, Koor Garang and Garang Mayoul, will be on hand for post-screening discussions. All the proceeds from this event go to health care and education projects in South Sudan.

SIFF Cinema is giving you fresh new prints of both Alien and Aliens on Friday night. You know you want to go see Sigourney Weaver kick some alien butt but can’t decide if you like the Ridley Scott original or the James Cameron sequel? Go to both.

Midnight at the Egyptian: The Graduate. A bit dated in parts, but still funny.

Midnight at the Neptune: They tell me that Paranormal Activity manages to be very, very scary with gore, an idea of which I approve, but I’m a little anxious about going to see it anyway. Because it’s very, very scary.

Central Cinema is screening one of the funniest films ever, The Pink Panther. No offense to Steve Martin, whom I like just fine,, but the original Pink Panther is so vastly superior to the later remake that they’re only just barely in the same league. Later episodes in what turned into a long-running franchise even before the remakes would prove to be less and less funny but this first entry is a non-stop laugh riot. Be careful not to choke on your pizza.