Here’s a Quick Guide to the 39th Boston Film Festival

The Boston Film Festival has returned for its 39th year. Let's take a look at some of the films being featured.

The 2023 edition kicks off on September 21, with the Live Festival Program running through September 24. Additionally, there is a Virtual Festival Program that runs from September 22 through September 30. According to the press release, this year's festival "highlights a breadth of films on topics ranging from crime and healing, to environment and sports." So let's see what's screening and where.

BREAKWATER - The Opening Night feature (September 21, 7:00pm @ Shalin Liu Performance Hall, Rockport) from director and writer James Rowe. This crime-thriller follows a young ex-con who risks his newfound freedom to track down the estranged daughter of a fellow inmate, unknowingly delivering trouble straight to her doorstep.

COMMON GROUND - The environmental documentary (September 23, 2:30pm, Boston Public Library, Rabb Hall) is presented in partnership with The Boston Public Library’s season of focus on environmental and global issues

HEALING DAKOTA - The documentary film (September 23, 5:00pm, at the Paramount Theatre) is from local, first-time director James LaMonte and shares the heartfelt story of a service dog rehabilitating from PTSD.

AMERICAN OUTLAWS - The true crime thriller (September 23rd, 8:30pm, Paramount Theatre, Bright Family Screening Room) directed by Sean McEwen is this year’s centerpiece feature screening. Based on the true story of the Dougherty siblings, the three desperate youths take matters into their own hands with a cross country crime spree of epic proportions

CRUZAN COWBOYS - The short documentary (September 24^th, 2:00 pm, 75 Amherst Street, MIT Building E14, 6^th floor) directed by Douglas Wesley Segars chronicles the horse jockey community in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands through the perspective of a young aspiring jockey, native to the island.

Visit the Boston Film Festival website for additional information, screenings, and the Virtual Program schedule. To purchase tickets to the in-person screenings or virtual screenings, click here.

Massachusetts Independent Movie Theaters: for when you're ready to ditch the chains. Hey, they should hire me for marketing!

Sorry, but I'm a little sour on the movie-going experience as of late. Recently, I wrote about my first trip to a chain movie theater in over a year. The movie I saw is irrelevant. The fact that I paid $35 for one movie ticket, one large popcorn, and one ICEE is relevant. For that amount of money, I could subscribe to two streaming services for a month and see unlimited movies. You see the irony here.

So, for the most part, I'm out on the whole going-to-the-movies experience. Which is a shame, because I have so many fond movie theater memories from when I was a kid. In fact, I just talked about a whole bunch of those in a recent 12-Inch Poll. It's all about '80s summer blockbusters and how going to the movies was fun and more affordable back in the day. Check that out here.

The more I think about the whole thing, though, the more I realize that the answer to my grousing isn't in some time machine (Back to the Future reference, baby!) It's in Salem, MA. And in a few other areas around the city. Independent movie theaters are still alive and kicking in the Commonwealth, and they offer affordable tickets and a mix of old and new fare.

To help myself out--and to help you, too--I've gathered a handful of indie movie theaters that are in and around Boston. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, so please cut me some slack if I miss your favorite. Just drop me a line on the ROCK 92.9 Facebook or Twitter and I'll add it in next time around. And now, to quote Gregg Turkington: "It's movie time!"

The legend, since 1933. Coolidge Corner, Brookline. I remember going on a date here in the late '90s and watching David Lynch's Eraserhead. Changed my life.

Located just outside of Harvard Square in Cambridge, The Brattle has been showing movies since 1953. Pretty sure I saw my first Wes Anderson film here: 1998's Rushmore.

Locally-owned and independent, the Somerville Theatre is a double-threat: live music and movies. And the movies are a double-threat, too: classic and newer fare.

On Mass. Ave. in Arlington. Opened in 1925, the Capitol is closing in on the century mark. It's a great place to see a movie, and they'll even let you rent one of their auditoriums!

Another old-school theatre that's still alive and well. This one opened in 1927 in downtown Dedham. $12 matinees before 1 p.m. I like the sound of that.

Revamped and reopened in 2022, you can find them on Summer St. in Maynard. "Our retro themed theatre has modern amenities and reasonable prices."

This one's on the back end of the Witch City Mall in Salem. $11 tickets for adults, $9 for seniors and kids. Affordable. A great space with a great vibe.

An arthouse cinema on Cape Ann, this one's been going strong in Rockport for years. I wonder if they'll let me come down and warm up the crowd?

Smack-dab on Mass. Ave. in Lexington. I saw the Mr. Rogers documentary on a date there a few years back. Lovely theatre, lovely time.