Friday, Jan. 31

This Friday is the LACMA9 Shorts Program at the Performing and Fine Arts Center at the East Los Angeles College. It includes the memorable The Red Balloon (1956), in which a young boy explores the streets with his red, round, floating friend, and The Sound We See: A Los Angeles City Symphony (2010), a collaboration with Echo Park Film Center, which explores Los Angeles' sights and sounds. The free screening starts at 7 p.m.; no reservation needed.

Then at 7:30 p.m., it's more shorts: Les Lutins du Court-Métrage (The Leprechauns of the Short Film) brings the best of new French shorts to Theatre Raymond Kabbaz. The night will include the B&W French Kids from Stephen Castang, showing high school students being interviewed by an aggressive guidance counselor, and The Beauty and the Beat from Yann Le Quellec, about a young woman who feels the uncontrollable need to dance whenever she hears a melody. It wouldn't be a night à la French without complimentary wine and cheese. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students.

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Sunday, Feb. 2

Live from Moscow to the Crest Theatre in Westwood comes a broadcast of Lost Illusions, a ballet choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, which adapts Honoré de Balzac's novel for the stage. Working with French actor-dramaturge Guillaume Gallienne, Ratmansky explores human nature, ambition and disillusionment via the tale of a young composer seduced by fame and money. The screening begins at 12:10 p.m.

See also: More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

Wednesday, Feb. 5

With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, join in on the conversation at The World Is Watching: LGBT Human Rights in Russia on the Eve of Sochi '14, at West Hollywood City Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library at 7:30 p.m. It will be an evening of film (TBD) and discussion that launches the new West Hollywood screening series Outfest Wednesdays. – Sherrie Li

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