A film festival for the times

Heads up, film buffs: It’s that time of year again, and for its 17th rendition, the Sacramento Film & Music Festival is getting heady. This year’s featured programming is rife with films that revolve around nuanced social issues, and many have strong ties to the history of the region. Short films and fun will abound, of course, but if you want to catch the heavy hitters, consider the following:

On Tuesday, September 6, opening night kicks off with a screening of America is Still the Place, a feature based on the true story of Charlie Walker and the 1971 oil spill in the Bay Area. The complex story is rooted in the context of the black contractor at work, who eventually made off with $375,000, and is set against the racism and environmental politics of the time. The screening starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Wednesday, September 7, features two important and documentaries: At 7 p.m., In the Parlor: The Final Goodbye is local filmmaker Heidi Boucher’s examination of families who opt to provide death care for their loved ones rather than hire funeral professionals to prepare the bodies—it’s unorthodox, fascinating and moving. Following at 9 p.m. is Political Animals, which documents the achievements of California’s first four openly gay legislators and the impact their work had on the eventual passing of gay marriage.

To close things out on Sunday, September 11, documentarian Claudia Katayanagi examines the isolation centers that existed inside Japanese internment camps during World War II and how these precursors to Guantanamo Bay are rarely covered in mainstream history books; A Bitter Legacy screens at 1 p.m.

To be sure, plenty of lighter fare can be found: The popular 10X10 Challenge, wherein 10 local filmmakers have 10 days to make a 10 minute film on a secret theme, will be taking place per usual, as will numerous screenings of narrative short films and Sac Music Scene, a music-centric collection of shorts that takes place at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Most screenings will take place at the Jean Runyon Theatre inside the Memorial Auditorium (1515 J Street). All-day passes as well as single-showing passes are available for $10-$15. Check www.sacfilm.com for a complete list of ticket and pricing information.