The Venicessance is here and it kicks off with the 9th Annual Venice Film Festival. The cornerstone of the festival as it moves toward its second decade of life is the loosely configured documentary Venice Film History (2011), a collection of footage from the archives of Venice historian Mary Jane. The ninth of her documentaries on the city by the sea, it's a time capsule stuffed with snippets of life on the boardwalk — stretching back to a century ago — as well as interviews with longtime Venetians. Also on the bill: filmmaker (pictured) Gerry Fialka's Live Evil (inspired by Miles Davis' 1971 jazz-funk fusion album Live-Evil) a meditation on evil and the live music that accompanies silent films. Included in the screenings are performances by Venice pianist and Rickie Lee Jones muse Alfred Johnson, performer-poet Linda Albertano, Venice Beach guitarist Peter Demian and the ever-mysterious “more.” Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice,;Thurs., Jan. 5, 6 p.m.; free. (310) 822-3006, beyondbaroque.org

Thu., Jan. 5, 6 p.m., 2012

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