Friday, May 2

The L.A. Asian Pacific Film Fest, which began May 1, continues, with two choices starting at 7 p.m. At the CGV Cinemas 2 is a 95-minute program of shorts, collectively titled Earth Is a Moon, including Nighthawks, where a talkative old woman descends upon a quiet, late-night noodle shop, and Sumi, about an aspiring artist who pays the bill by teaching English to foreigners via phone sex. Meanwhile, at the Directors Guild of America Theatre is 9-Man, a sports documentary that follows several regional teams of 9-man, a sport similar to volleyball, as they compete in the “ultimate battle” in 2010 in Boston. Tickets and the full schedule through May 11 are at asianfilmfestla.org.

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Also at 7 p.m., The Birder screens as part of the L.A. Comedy Fest, which winds down this weekend. Tom Cavanagh stars as a high school teacher who, after being passed over for his dream job as head of ornithology, decides to take out his competition. Each screening is $10 and takes place at the Let Live Theatre. More information is available at lacomedyfest.com.

At the Egyptian Theatre, the monthly Humans From Earth series kicks off with Slither at 7:30 p.m. In writer-director James Gunn's debut feature, an alien parasite wreaks havoc on the small town of Wheelsy, South Carolina. Gunn, whose highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy comes out later this year, will be in attendance for a postscreening discussion with Geoff Boucher. The Egyptian also will host tapings of the Humans From Earth podcasts, in partnership with Nerdist, starting May 3 at 2 p.m., with special guests including Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and the Russo brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Future events in this series will be posted at americancinemathequecalendar.com.

Saturday, May 3

In Laemmle theaters as well as other venues, the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival returns with its lineup of shorts, docs, comedies and everything in between. Saturday's highlight, at 8 p.m., is the L.A. premiere of Cupcakes, a musical comedy about a group of neighbors who get together to watch a song-competition show, and one who eventually makes it onto the show. As a bonus treat at this Music Hall 3 screening (encore on May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Center 5), cupcakes will be served courtesy of Mickey Fine Pharmacy & Grill. The full schedule is at lajfilmfest.org.

See also: More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

Thursday, May 8

Over two days, the touring Found Footage Festival will host its 10th-anniversary show at the New Beverly Cinema starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday. The 2014 program will showcase funny and quirky found videos, including: the Chef Keith news prank, an instructional video from 1997 titled How to Have Cybersex on the Internet and an exercise video called Butt Camp. Tickets are $13 at the door or at foundfootagefest.com. 

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