HITCHCOCK FOR THE HOLIDAYS: DEC 16-23, CASTRO THEATRE

Sick and tired of all that holiday cheer? Then duck into a dark theater up Castro way for a Hitchcock thriller or two (or three, or hell, 13). Hitchcock for the Holidays at the Castro Theatre starts today with a continuous double bill ("Rear Window" and "Shadow of a Doubt") and runs through December 23. Thirteen Hitchcock classics playing everyday, many of them double features ($7.50 for bargain matinees, $10 for all other shows).

Click here for schedule.

LADIES OF THE EIGHTIES: TRIPLE FEATURE TONIGHT AT CASTRO THEATRE

It's the Castro Theatre's random Friday nights three-flix -- three flix for just $10, starting at 7:15 pm tonight. As always, when the Midnites for Maniacs crew is involved, this is a triple feature devoted to dismissed, underrated and forgotten films. Tonight's Ladies of the Eighties will showcase one of each!

In the "dismissed" category, check out Whoopi Goldberg in what some say is her funniest film ever, "Jumping Jack Flash" (1986). Underrated is Madonna in the quirky "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985). Damn-near forgotten is "Liquid Sky" (1982) starring Anne Carlisle as an alien trying not to get swallowed up in the mediocrity of the human race -- a truly underground No-Wave, neon gem that put the "M" in Minimalist soundtracks.

Hosted by Jesse Hawthorne Ficks, a special guest will appear before the "Liquid Sky" showing at 11:30.

SF INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL, OPENS TONIGHT

The San Francisco International Animation Festival kicks off tonight, November 11 and runs through Sunday, November 15 at Landmark's Embarcadero Theater.

Lots and lots going on, like Wes Anderson's snarky take on Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox (including voice-acting by George Clooney), an opening night party and some vintage Disney stuff. Click here for deets and tickets. You can get 4 hours of FREE parking (validated) at the Embarcadero parking garage after 5 pm on weekdays and from 10 am on the weekends.

THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL, HALLOWEEN NIGHT, 8:30 PM

Looking for something kinda sorta edgy to do tomorrow night that doesn't involve a costume? Look no further than this double feature put on by Oddball Film and Video, Saturday, October 31, 8:30 pm, 275 Capp Street, $10.

First up, the 1951 classic film noir, The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), which brings suspense, identity theft and murder home to our very own City by the Bay.

Followed by the short The Haunted Mouth (1974), we kid you not. Starring Cesar Romero (TV Batman's original "Joker"). $10 for both films. But you've got to send an email an RSVP to rsvp@info@oddballfilm.com due to limited space.

THREE-MINUTE FILM FEST & BLACK TIE GALA, TOMORROW NIGHT

Now, you tell us where else could you get the heads up on a black tie gala that costs just $5 to $20 (sliding scale) to get in? Why, CheapandEasySF, of course!

Hey, if you can't do a little self-promo when you're posting peeps' things for FREE, when can you do it?

Enough about us. Saturday, August 8, check out the Three-Minute Film Festival and Black Tie Gala. 7-11 pm, at Root Division, 3175 17th Street. The film fest part of this evening is pretty self-explanatory. You're gonna see some really really short flicks. Get your short-attention span on! But the black tie, part -- whoa. That needs some 'splainin':

The afterparty includes a contest for best interpretation of black tie dress, booty-shaking music, delicious cocktails, scrumptious food-cart treats, and an audience-choice awards ceremony, all in a space surrounded by the dynamic work of Root Division resident artists. The invite says "dress to impress," so bring your sartorial A-game to what's sure to be a red carpet-worthy event. (Courtesy Flavorpill).

Get thee to your nearest thrift shop and have fun with this, kids. The films start promptly at 8 pm.

BICYCLE FILM FEST FREE STREET PARTY

Street party! Street party! Street party! Bikes were made for street parties. Come celebrate the Bicycle Film Fest at a FREE street party today on Capp Street (@ 16th) from noon 'til 6 pm. Then pop into the Victoria Theater, right around the corner to catch a couple of the bike flicks showing at the festival.

SAN FRANCISCO SCI-FI, HORROR AND FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL

"Another Hole in the Head", going on now, through June 19th. Features, shorts and parties for our city's resident sci-fi, horror and fantasy freaks. Click here for complete deets.

IT'S A FILM, FILM, FILM FEST CITY

It soon might be a reality. There might actually be more film festivals in San Francisco than there are weeks to dedicate to them. In fact, this may be happening already with an overlap in two film fests -- the Roxie's Film Noir "I Wake Up Dreaming: The Haunted World of the B Film Noir" and the Greek Film Festival at the Delancey Screening Room (600 Brannan St.).

The Roxie fest runs through May 28 with daily double features for just $10. Dude -- that's two old films that aren't even on DVD for less than the price of one new one that's not only available everywhere, you've already got the promotional plastic sippy cup from Mickey D's to go with it.

The Greek flicks kick off tonight and run through May 24. On most nights, $15 gets you a short and a feature of some rare treats, including a screening on Friday, May 22 of the original version of Nikos Koundouros’ 1958 masterpiece "Oi Paranomoi" (The Outlaws) – which was banned for years due to government censorship.

Meanwhile -- we know not everybody out there can love old celluloid and foreign films, so we've got a special treat to reward you for reading this far. FREE movie passes for the first scream-a-thon of the summer, "Drag Me to Hell" are available from the SF Examiner. Send them an email to moviepromo@SFExaminer.com with "Drag Me to Hell" in the subject line before noon on Tuesday, May 19. Passes are for tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 19.

DISPOSABLE FILM FEST BIKE-IN MOVIE SCREENING

The Disposable Film Fest presents the first-ever Bike-In Film Screening tonight, May 13 at 8 pm, in the parking lot across the street from the Good Hotel (7th St. @ Minna).

FREE!

Ok, ok -- so what's a bike-in film screening you may ask? It's like a drive-in, but with bikes, instead of cars. So, bring your bike, or a blanket or cushion to sit on and your radio (so you can listen in) and check it out.

After the film screening, everyone's invited to move indoors to the Good Hotel for an awesome after-party hosted by the SF Bay Guardian. Complete deets are here.

THE POWER OF STRIKES - BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

Do you think there are things more meaningful in life than where to get the best view of the KFOG Kaboom! Fireworks tonight?

Well, there are. Like tonight's International Workers' Holiday Celebration "The Power of Strikes".

Come see two documentary videos about the militancy of the U.S. labor movement during the Great Depression, “Labor on the March” and “We Called It a Work Holiday,” followed by commentary from Toni Mendicino, clerical union activist at UC Berkeley, and a representative from the University Professional & Technical Employees union.

Donations of $3 to $5 are welcome at the door -- but here's the best part -- $9 gets you a Blue Plate Special Meatloaf and Mashed Potato dinner!

6 pm dinner, 7-9:30 pm films and discussion
New Valencia Hall
625 Larkin St., Suite 202

Sponsored by the Freedom Socialist Party. Work exchanges available for low income and unemployed. Everyone welcome!