2016 Long Beach QFilm Festival. Now in its 23rd year, Long Beach's oldest continuous lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning film festival kicks off with C. Fitz's documentary Jewel's Catch One, which celebrates the oldest black-owned disco in America and its owner, Jewel Thais-Williams; Bobby R. Poirier's short The Radical Fairy Prince: A Love Story; and Rob Williams' dramedy Shared Rooms, which intertwines the stories of six gay men. Audience Q&As with casts and crews follow. The fest continues Friday through Sunday with many, many more films, after-parties and more. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435; also at LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, 2017 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 434-4455; www.qfilmslongbeach.com. Thurs.-Sun., Sept. 8-11. Visit the website for show times. $12; five-film pass, $50; all-access pass, $150.
Made In Venice. Forty-plus years of skateboarding in Venice—from the formation of the iconic Z-Boys to the creation of the iconic Venice Skatepark—are captured in Jonathan Penson's new documentary. Krikorian Buena Park Metroplex 18, 8290 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, (714) 826-7469; also at Krikorian San Clemente Cinema 6, 641 B Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, (949) 661-SHOW. Thurs., Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. Call for ticket prices.
One More Time With Feeling. Originally intended to be a performance-based movie, this evolved into a different kind of project when director Andrew Dominik (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly) delved into the tragic backdrop of the writing and recording of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' 16th studio album, Skeleton Tree. Interwoven between footage of the band's album performance are interviews, Cave's narration and improvised rumination, all shot in color and black-and-white. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Sept. 8, 8 p.m. $8-$10; also at Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Wed., 6 p.m. $8-$11.
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict. Cinema Orange, the free film program put on by the Orange County Museum of Art and the Newport Beach Film Festival, presents Lisa Immordino Vreeland's documentary on the art (and artist) collector who was ahead of the time (20th century) she helped to define. (For more on the film, see Marsha McCreadie's Nove. 2, 2015, Weekly review, “She Built the Canon.”) Food trucks outside OCMA make this screening a cheap date. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 759-1122. Fri., 7 p.m. Free (as is museum admission).
Toy Story. The next time you pull the cord on the back of your kid's Woody doll and hear “Howdy pardner” or “Reach for the sky,” know that you are hearing the voice of Tom Hanks' brother, as the movie star only voices the theatrical releases. This Casa Cinema presentation is meant to kick off the school year. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, (949) 498-2139. Fri., 7 p.m. Free, but RSVP advised.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Shadow-cast crew K.A.O.S. presents the second annual Back to School Night & School Supplies Drive, with all donated items going to the Orange County Therapeutic Arts Center. Warning: You'll have the Medusa Transducer to contend with if instead of school supplies, you give rice and toast. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 11:30 p.m. $8-$10.
An American Werewolf In London and The Thing Double Feature. Cal State Fullerton film alums Ian Hock and Trevor Dillon make movies under the banner Ghost Party Pictures. For this event, the company presents back-to-back 1980s horror classics from masters John Landis and John Carpenter—for the regular single-ticket price. First, it's the 1981 Oscar-winning An American Werewolf In London, which finds American friends David and Jack backpacking through the misty moors of Britain when a large wolf attacks them. David survives with a bite, but Jack is brutally killed–only to return to haunt David with warnings that he will soon become a werewolf. Carpenter has said he considers the following year's The Thing his best picture. Kurt Russell and a group of American researchers battle a confounding monster that can assume the shape of anyone it touches, forcing the helpless victims to try to find ways of destroying it while treating one another with increasing suspicion. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., 8 p.m. $8-$10.
Spare Parts. This Calle Cuatro Sunday Matinee is a 2015 drama I sadly have not seen yet but have heard great things about. It tells the true story of a group of students from a mostly Latino high school in Phoenix winning first place over M.I.T. in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center's 2004 remotely operated vehicle competition (MATE ROV). As revealed in Joshua Davis' Wired magazine article “La Vida Robot,” which was the basis for director Sean McNamara and screenwriter Elissa Matsueda's film, three of the high school students were undocumented from Mexico. George Lopez plays the teacher who leads them to the competition, although in real-life, two other non-Latino instructors were also part of the group. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sun., 11 a.m. $1-$5.
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The Goonies. A group of misfits seek pirate treasure to save their home in Richard Donner's 1985 take on Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg's script. They are so young that you might not recognize Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Jeff Cohen, but you will recognize Corey Feldman and Martha Plimpton. Directors Cut Cinema at Regency Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues. Call for show time. $8.
After Auschwitz. Remember the six women who shared their unforgettable stories of surviving the Holocaust in Jon Kean's 2007 documentary, Swimming In Auschwitz? The Santa Monica-based filmmaker shoots the next chapters in the stories of the ladies, each of whom immigrated to the United States, settled in Los Angeles, built new lives—and found themselves asking, “Why did I survive?” This screening is presented by Chapman University's Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education. Chapman University, Memorial Hall, 1 University Dr., Orange, (714) 532-7760. Tues., 7 p.m. Free.
2001: A Space Odyssey. The idea that a space ship's onboard computer system would start acting kooky and eventually square off to the death with its human master might have seemed far-fetched in 1968, but the idea of computers supplanting man seems much less impossible now. As for the movie, it took an enigmatic filmmaker like Stanley Kubrick to spin gold out of sci-fi master Arthur C. Clarke's short story. Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Laguna Niguel, 32401 Golden Lantern St., Laguna Niguel, (949) 373-7900; also at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Rancho Santa Margarita, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 835-1888. Tues., 7 p.m. $14-$16.
Saturday Night Fever. The Cinema Classics series, which I apologize for not knowing about sooner so I could have pointed you to the 18 previous 2016 films, continues with this 1977 disco touchstone. Fever made Sweathog John Travolta into an international star, the soundtrack an international smash hit and card-carrying Disco Sucks members (like me) quite perturbed. Starlight Cinema City, 5635 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, (714) 970-6700; starlightcinemas.com. Wed., 7 p.m. $7.
Full Metal Jacket. My favorite Stanley Kubrick film shifts with the wind, but this is among those that most resonate with me. The first section with the interaction between Gunnery Sergeant Hartman and fresh Marine recruits Pyle and Joker is the most memorable part of Kubrick's 1987 take on the Vietnam War, although the sniper repeating, “Shoot me” later in the action-drama is quite haunting. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.
Snowden Live. See Oliver Stone's thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the former CIA contractor and controversial whistleblower who famously leaked classified information to the media, then stick around to see the director, star, co-star Shailene Woodley and the real Edward Snowden talk about it onscreen. Their conversation will be presented live on the East Coast, but West Coast theaters get it on tape delay. The film opens countywide, without the Stone-Gordon-Levitt-Woodley-Snowden chat, on Sept. 16. AMC Downtown Disney, 1565 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, (714) 776-2355; also at AMC Marina Pacifica, 6346 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, (562) 430-8790; AMC Orange 30, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Cinemark at the Pike Outlets, 99 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 435-5754; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; and Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $16-$18.
Lolita. Three Kubrick films in one Special Screenings? I'm in heaven! “How did they ever make a movie of Lolita?” asked the poster for the 1962 film adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's controversial hebephilia novel. Answer: Kubrick hired Nabokov to write the screenplay, filmed far away from Hollywood, politicked various censorship organizations and compromised when he had to. Did somebody say “calculated”? The then-little-known filmmaker and his producing partner bought the film rights for $150,000—before the novel found an American publisher and became a best-seller in 1958. Fullerton Main Library, Osborne Auditorium, Room B, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738.6327. Thurs., Sept. 15, 1 p.m. Free.
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years. Director Ron Howard explores how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together, made creative decisions, and built their collective career. Opie's film follows the band from their early days in Liverpool's Cavern Club to their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966. Art Theatre, (562) 438-5435. Thurs., Sept. 15, 2, 5 & 8 p.m. $8-$11.
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Sonic Sea. Presented by EarthShare California, the documentary posits that oceans are a sonic symphony and their sounds are essential to the survival and prosperity of marine life. But as the footage shows, manmade ocean noise threatens this fragile world. Produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Imaginary Forces, in association with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Diamond Docs, the film is narrated by actress Rachel McAdams; features music by Sting; and includes as talking heads Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Paul Spong, Dr. Christopher Clark and Jean-Michel Cousteau. The Guidance Center Long Beach, 1301 Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 595-1159; www.sonicsea.org. Thurs., Sept. 15, 6 p.m. $10.
Digimon Adventure tri-Chapter 1: Reunion. Fathom Events presents the U.S. premiere of the English-dubbed anime, as well as an extended sneak peek of the English-subbed third chapter and bonus content for viewers. It has been six years since that summer adventure when Tai (now in high school) and the rest of the “DigiDestined” crossed over to the Digital World, nearly three years since the frenzied final battles between warring factions. With the gate to the Digital World closed, time continues to pass until the adventure “digi-volves” once again. AMC Downtown Disney, 1565 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, (714) 776-2355; also at AMC Orange 30, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; and Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342. Thurs., Sept. 15, 7 p.m. $15.
Sold. Based on the international best-selling novel by Patricia McCormick and inspired by true accounts, the film tells the story of a 13-year-old girl who is trafficked from her peaceful, rural village in Nepal to work in a brothel called Happiness House in Kolkata, India. Sold is a call to action, as you'll discover from members of the production team, advocates from the International Justice Mission, A21, Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope, and others who will participate in an audience Q&A. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Thurs., Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. $9.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.