Art and cinema enjoy a complicated and passionate relationship, from documentaries to avant-garde shorts, biopics, compelling characters and direct inspiration. This array of visionary narratives is celebrated annually at the Fine Arts Film Festival, whose sixth iteration spans three days and two venues, screening around 50 international projects.

This year's big coup is the inclusion of Julian Rosefeldt's epic experimental masterpiece Manifesto, in which Cate Blanchett portrays 13 characters in dramatizations of Western art history's greatest movements. With red carpets, awards ceremonies and surprises, other topics include John Van Hamersveld, Fernando Botero, Jerome & Joel-Peter Witkin, engagement with social economics, and observations on the nature of creative genius itself.

Credit: Courtesy of FAFF

Credit: Courtesy of FAFF

Beyond Baroque, 681 N. Venice Blvd., Venice; Fri.-Sat., May 24-25, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

The Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro; Sun., May 26, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; $12.50-$50.

thefineartsfilmfestival.com

Credit: Courtesy of FAFF

Credit: Courtesy of FAFF

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