Groundhog weekend

Spring is a little more than one week away, but that doesn’t mean people must immediately migrate outside to enjoy the fresh air. If Punxsutawney Phil can crawl back into his hole for a longer winter, movie lovers can huddle up in a dark theater to watch films all weekend. The seventh annual Davis Film Festival begins Thursday with a screening of From the Community to the Classroom; a guest appearance from Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club; and a Q-and-A session with filmmakers. The festival will continue Friday and Saturday with filmmaking workshops; screenings of short films, such as Headbanging Mice, Mary and Jennifer and Kaziah the Goat Woman; stand-up comedy from Denise Hoffner; music videos; and feature-length films, such as Nightbeats. It’s a great way to end the winter.

Davis Film Festival is Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Varsity Theatre, 616 Second Street in Davis; Friday, March 12 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 13 at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Theatre, 203 E. 14th Street in Davis. Tickets are $5 per screening, $10 per screening session, $35 for festival pass; www.davisfilmfest.org.