So little time, so many indie film choices

Big Star story opens movie fest

In some past years, almost the entire focus of the opening night of the Indie Memphis Film Festival was devoted to the screening of an especially noteworthy film.

This year’s 15th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival is so crowded with interesting and often competing movies that Thursday’s open- ing-night schedule may be as frustrating as it is promising for movie buffs who will want to be in two places at the same time.

The evening’s “gala” screening is the longawaited Memphis debut and U.S. premiere of “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” about the legendary Memphis rock band. But worthwhile films screen all day long.

In addition to “Big Star,” here’s the Thursday schedule:

“The Story of Film: An Odyssey, Part 1”:

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will present all 900 minute — divided into six “parts” — of this landmark 2011 documentary, narrated by Irish film

Mark Cousins, and described by the London Telegraph as “the cinematic event of the year.” “Part 1” begins in 1895 and continues into the 1920s, covering the evolution of film from curiosity to the one of the world’s most influential and popular entertainment mediums. (10:15 a.m., Brooks)

“The Story of Film: An Odyssey, Part 2”:

This second chapter covers the 1930s and ends in 1952, and covers the birth of the sound musical, horror film, gangster film and Western, as well as the emergence of such directors as Hawks and Hitchcock. (6:15 p.m., the

Brooks)

“Sun Don’t Shine”:

Actress turned director Amy Seimetz is scheduled to attend this screening of her “wondrously accomplished and furi- ously expressive” (The New Yorker) feature directorial debut, a sort of “mumble-noir” low-budget “Badlands”-esque story of young lovers (Kate Lyn Sheil and Memphis’ Kentuckery Audley) on the run in Florida. Singer Amy LaVere will perform before the movie, starting at about 6:30. (7 p.m., Circuit Playhouse)

A mustsee for serious film buffs, director Christopher Kenneally’s documentary — produced and hosted by, yes, Keanu Reeves — investigates the impact of digital technology on filmmaking for both artist and audience, especially as it replaces traditional photochemical film. The Who’s Who of great filmmakers who participate include Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, David Lynch, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan and on and on. (8:30 p.m., the Brooks)

“Side by Side”:

“Between Us”:

Julia Stiles, Taye Diggs, Melissa George and David Harbour star in this “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?”-inspired drama about two bickering couples whose longtime friendship is threatened by their acidic personalities. Director Dan Mirvish, a founder of the Slamdance Film Festival, is scheduled to attend. (9:30 p.m., Circuit Playhouse)

“Craig Brewer’s Indie Origins”:

In what is sure to be a festival highlight, Memphis moviemaker Brewer hosts and curated this selection of “classic,” obscure and unjustly forgotten shorts and excerpts from the early years of Indie Memphis, including work by John Pickle, Mike McCarthy, Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury, Brett Cantrell and others. The short “Dreams in Black and White” by Morgan Jon Fox also will screen. (9:30 p.m., Studio on the Square)