Successful crafter, photographer, blogger and writer Faythe Levine, co-founder of Flying Fish Gallery, adds filmmaker to her already extensive resume with Handmade Nation, her interesting and well-made documentary about the DIY indie craft movement. Crafting encompasses a wide variety of art forms with infinite potential for self-expression and Handmade Nation takes a loving look at many different people involved in various aspects of producing and distributing handmade works with a particular focus on what crafting means to them and what it can mean to others. Artisans of every stripe talk about how they got into making their works of art – subjects include Whitney Lee, who creates latch hook pin-ups and Jenny Hart, whose Sublime Stitching embroidery kits and patterns include pirates and zombies and tattoo style designs – and offer up their ideas on why the indie craft movement keeps growing in popularity. (One reason: people are burned out on the same old mass produced merchandise. Other reasons include sustainability and sticking it to the man.) Store and gallery owners, members of collectives and other key figures add additional insight. Levine’s film has the freewheeling do-it-yourself look and feel of the movement she portrays, effectively capturing its spirit and fun. Handmade Nation makes its Seattle premiere at NWFF on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 and 4:00; Levine will join a group of local indie crafters for post-film discussions at both 1:00 showings.

Also at NWFF, the spirit of 69 continues with Salesman, a fascinating documentary by the Maysles brothers of four hyper-aggressive door-to-door salesmen who harass poor Catholic families into buying ornate bibles. The directors took a hands off approach to filming, allowing the events to unfold the natural way they would if they weren’t being observed. Critic Vincent Canby suggested that Salesman is so “fine” and “pure” that he couldn’t ever imagine it becoming irrelevant; although much has changed in the world of sales in the 40 years since its original release, many of the issues it raises are as immediately significant as ever.

Regular readers can’t have missed my great fondness for the films of Alfred Hitchcock since I promote them every time there’s an opportunity. With good reason – the master of suspense made films that are equally great upon repeated viewings as they are for the first time. SIFF Cinema pays homage to the legendary director with a series of Hitchcock double features screened to coincide with Seattle Rep’s presentation of a stage version of Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. Saturday’s features are the excellent Rear Window and Vertigo. Sunday thrill to Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train. Monday it’s The 39 Steps and Hitchcock’s own favorite, Shadow of a Doubt.

Sure, it’s been a while since the Supersonics left town, but you don’t just wipe away 41 years of history overnight, particularly when that history includes a pitched battle in the courts of both law and public opinion. Even if you don’t care about the Sonics or even pro basketball in general, the Sonics saga was an interesting one. Sonicsgate is a new documentary film that tells the story of how Seattle lost the Sonics and it makes its world premier at SIFF Cinema Friday night, with an exclusive attendee afterparty at Spitfire. The screening is unsurprisingly sold out but in the spirit of the subject, you could always try hanging outside with a “need extra ticket” sign. Or you could try catching it at Pacific Place on Saturday at 8pm. (Tickets through Brown Paper Tickets.

Grand Illusion gives you a double dose of Deadites with Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn and Army of Darkness, starring Bruce Campbell and a chainsaw. If these two films aren’t enough blood and guts for you, get your zombie fix on with Zombie, the 1979 Italian horrorfest late night Friday and Saturday.

Central Cinema screens a new indie film, Teenage Dirtbag, an “inspired by true events” drama about a popular high school cheerleader who develops a fragile bond with a delinquent “dirtbag” after they share a creative writing class.

Midnight at the Egyptian: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.