Friday, Sept. 19

By now, it’s no spoiler to mention the homage to a certain Marvel character in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy. On Friday, catch the original Howard the Duck, in which the acerbic titular character is tasked with stopping an alien invasion. It’s at the Vintage Vista Theatre at midnight as part of the Nerds Like Us monthly screening series. Come in costume for a chance to win prizes.

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Sunday, Sept. 21

No one will ever forget the horrors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, but 20 years later, hope has returned in the form of the nation’s first all-women drumming troupe, which comprises both Hutu and Tutsi women. Director Lisa Fruchtman’s documentary Sweet Dreams follows these women as they achieve another first: opening the country’s first ice cream shop. A meet-and-greet with Human Rights Watch researcher Lewis Mudge begins at 3 p.m. at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater. A discussion will follow with Fruchtman, Mudge and the L.A. Times’ Kenneth Turan before concluding with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. 

Starting Sunday, across various venues in the city, through Oct. 4 comes the Ambulante 2014 Documentary Festival. A free outdoor screening of the short Ink & Paper, about two local businesses (Aardvark Letterpress and McManus & Morgan), followed by Ryan Murdock’s Bronx Obama, about Obama look-alike Louis Ortiz, kicks off opening night at 7 p.m. at MacArthur Park; bring chairs and blankets for open lawn seating. A Q&A with Murdock and Ortiz will follow the screening. For tickets and the full lineup, go to ambulantecalifornia.com.

See also: More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

Thursday, Sept. 25

The best of fantasy, horror and sci-fi returns for the second annual Beyond Fest at the Egyptian Theatre. Running through Oct. 4, this program includes a mix of sneak previews, special events and rare films, beginning with an advance screening of Horns at 7:30 p.m. The movie finds Ig Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe) growing a pair of horns that give him special powers after he is accused of killing his girlfriend (Juno Temple). Special guests are TBD. More details at beyond-fest.com.

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