Steel city gets set for movie festival

Many of the films can only be seen at this event.
PITTSBURGH -- The 100th anniversary of the movie-going experience is being celebrated this year. Short films from the earliest days of the motion picture will be screened, along with two feature-length silent classics that will be accompanied by live music performed by world-renowned musicians.
The festival features independent American cinema, documentaries and critically acclaimed international films. Some will reappear later this year, some are new prints of groundbreaking films and most are art films that can only be seen during this event.
The Shorts Competition Program includes entries submitted from around the world. Winners will be announced at the Nov. 11 screening.
Special events
Special events at the festival are:
UOpening night reception is planned at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Byham Theater with the film at 7:30. The lost classic starring Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson will be presented with live musical accompaniment by Dr. Philip Carli of Rochester, N.Y. Tickets: $10.
UNickelodeon 5-cent Screening at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Harris Theater. The world's first movie theater, the Nickelodeon, opened in 1905 in Pittsburgh. Relive the experience with nickel admission price. Piano music by Philip Carli will accompany an assortment of short films from the early 1900s.
U"X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes," what may be Roger Corman's finest production, at 11 p.m. Nov. 5 at Regent Square Theater. Avant-garde rock band Pere Ubu will play. Tickets: $15.
UShort films award screening at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Harris Theater with reception following. Tickets: $7.
UUniversity of Pittsburgh Learning Solutions reception at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Melwood Screening Room before the Ballet Russes. Tickets: $7.
UClosing reception Nov. 16 at Melwood Screening Room with photo auction at 7 p.m. and "Real World" shown at 8. Tickets: $7.
UClosing night event at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at Regent Square Theater featuring Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail" and the Alloy Orchestra. Tickets: $10.
Tickets are available at www.3RFF.com online or at box offices of Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave., Edgewood; Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Ave., downtown; or Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland.