Pop Filter Event of the Week: Three Rivers Film Festival

Your cinematic cornucopia begins with the festival's opening night screening of Precious. Already dubbed Oscar-worthy, and winner of the Toronto Film Festival's prestigious Audience Choice Award, Lee Daniels' film follows 16-year-old Harlem native Claireece "Precious" Jones as she battles abuse and seeks empowerment. Featuring performances by Sherri Shepherd, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, the film stars Pittsburgh native Xosha Roquemore.

From a haunting look at domesticity in Dog Tooth to erotic vampire laughs in Thirst, 3RFF will have you rethinking the order of the universe. For movie-goers craving cinema's edgier side, catch Somers Town, Cafe Society and Died Young, Stayed Pretty. In Bronson, one of the most buzzed-about films at Sundance, Nicolas Winding Refn paints a mesmerizing portrait of Britain's "most violent prisoner." Featuring a soundtrack by The Pet Shop Boys, the chilling film chronicles the transformation of boxer-criminal Michael Gordon Peterson to career convict and cult celeb Charles Bronson.

And if they've flown under your radar, don't miss the anti-corporate exploits of Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno in The Yes Men Fix the World. Another highlight is the Nov. 14 screening of Ben Russell's 16 mm film Let Each One Go Where He May, which in 13 ten-minute tracking shots, follows two brothers as they trek upriver in Suriname. Following the film, Russell will perform an experimental sound and projection work called "Mazes."

With the reign of YouTube, you might be asking, Is film dead? Ponder the question Nov. 13 at 3RFF's second annual symposium, which will examine how moving pictures are made and displayed, from 16 mm to HD. Where to start? A kick-off bash on Nov. 6, pre-fest cocktail party at Concept Art Gallery, and a gala reception with featured artist Makiko Miyamoto. For tickets, passes and a full schedule,go here.

To read all the Pop Filter picks, go here.