Locally shot 'Strange Girls' highlights film festival

The Three Rivers Film Festival begins Friday, launching two weeks of new and classic films, performance, parties and appearances by filmmakers.

Hosted by Pittsburgh Filmmakers and co-presented by Dollar Bank, the festival opens Friday with a trio of films: "Grace Is Gone," starring John Cusack as the widower of an Iraq War soldier; a new print of the 1971 film "Walkabout," Australian director Nicolas Roeg's first feature; and the Pittsburgh-, New Kensington- and Connellsville-shot thriller "Strange Girls," directed by Rona Mark and featuring actress Adrienne Wehr, who produced "The Bread, My Sweet." Opening night also features a party at the Pittsburgh Filmmakers' soundstage at the organizations' headquarters on Melwood Avenue in Oakland.

Sunday brings the welcome return of the Alloy Orchestra, a trio of Boston musicians who have carved a niche in the business by composing music to accompany silent films and performing it live with screenings. This year's edition features the orchestra performing with the 1927 Josef von Sternberg film "Underworld," a love triangle set amidst the world of gangsters.

Potential highlights of the festival's opening week include the Norwegian mystery "The Bothersome Man," which has garnered comparison to David Lynch's films; "My Brother's Wedding," the 1983 "lost film" by Charles Burnett, director of "Killer of Sheep"; and the documentary "Punk's Not Dead," featuring clips of performers including The Ramones, Black Flag and Minor Threat. Susan Dynner, the director of the documentary, is scheduled to attend both of this week's screenings of her film.

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The schedule

Friday

7:30 p.m.: "Grace Is Gone," Regent Square. Includes opening-night party, 9 p.m.-midnight at Melwood Screening Room.

7:30 p.m.: "Walkabout," Harris Theater. Includes opening-night party, 9 p.m.-midnight at Melwood Screening Room.

7:30 p.m.: "Strange Girls," Melwood Screening Room. Director Rona Mark is scheduled to attend. Includes opening-night party, 9 p.m.-midnight at Melwood Screening Room.

Saturday

2 p.m.: "Glass Lips," Regent Square

3 p.m.: "Walkabout," Harris

3 p.m.: "Strange Girls," Melwood

4 p.m.: "The Bothersome Man," Regent Square

5:15 p.m.: "The Good Times Kid," Harris

6 p.m.: "The Dhamma Brothers," Melwood. Director Jenny Phillips is scheduled to attend, reception at Melwood immediately following.

7 p.m.: "The Violin," Harris

7:30 p.m.: "Grace Is Gone," Regent Square

9 p.m.: Jacob Ciocci of Paper Rad, Melwood. Reception immediately following at Melwood

9 p.m.: "Beaufort," Regent Square

9:15 p.m.: "Frownland," Harris

Sunday

1 p.m.: "Beaufort," Regent Square

2 p.m.: "The Violin," Harris

2 p.m.: "The Dhamma Brothers," Melwood

3:30 p.m.: "Glass Lips," Regent Square

4 p.m.: "Frownland," Harris

4:30 p.m.: "Golden Days," Melwood. Director Chris Suchorsky is scheduled to attend.

8 p.m.: "Underworld" with Alloy Orchestra, Regent Square

Monday

7:15 p.m.: "The Bothersome Man," Regent Square

7:15 p.m.: "Golden Days," Melwood. Director Chris Suchorsky is scheduled to attend.

Tuesday

7 p.m.: "Terror's Advocate," Regent Square

7 p.m.: "The Good Times Kid," Harris

7 p.m.: "The Eloquent Nude," Melwood

8:45 p.m.: "The Violin," Harris

9 p.m.: "Punk's Not Dead," Melwood. Director Susan Dynner is scheduled to attend.

9:30 p.m.: "Finishing the Game," Regent Square

Wednesday

7 p.m.: "My Brother's Wedding," Regent Square

7 p.m.: "Beauty in Trouble," Harris

7 p.m.: "Pascua Lama," Melwood. Director Carolina Loyola-Garcia is scheduled to attend.

8:45 p.m.: "Terror's Advocate," Regent Square

9 p.m.: "Punk's Not Dead," Melwood. Director Susan Dynner is scheduled to attend.

9:15 p.m.: "The Signal," Harris