La Voz

Instead of forking out $10 to check out a sky-surfing silver guy or car-morphing robots, support your local independent film community and catch something different for change. Whether you're a serious or casual moviegoer, here are suggestions to help you avoid long ticket lines and throw-away-popcorn movies this summer.

FILM FESTIVALS

4th Annual Another Hole in the Head Film Festival From the campy to the insanely gory, this festival covers the full, bloody spectrum of horror. If you had to watch two movies before your demise, go see Sean Connery in a screening of his 1973 film

"Zardoz,"

and the incredible film adaptation of

H.P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu."

Tickets are $10 and the festival runs June 1 through June 14. For more information, visit www. holehead.org/home. 2007 Zeitgeist International Film Festival Primarily, it's short films made by directors from all over the world. The atmosphere is very relaxed, as the whole thing takes place outside and the screen is actually a large white block on a wall. Tickets are $5 and are for the 21 and over corwd because they have an awesome bar and tasty barbecue. ZIFF 2007 runs June 11, July 9 and August 13. For more information, visit www.overcookedcinema. com.

FILM VENUES

The Stanford Theatre Located in downtown Palo Alto, this little known gem showcases only glamorous vintage films. If that isn't enough incentive to attend, the luxurious decor is as beautiful and big as an opera house. And if that's not enough for you, an organ player rises out from the stage before and after the movie to play old tunes. Coming up this month are classic flicks such as "Summertime" and "The Solid Gold Cadillac." The Stanford Theatre is located at 221 University Avenue in Palo Alto.

CineArts Located in the heart of Santana Row, this is the kind of theater we all need. It has all the accommodations of the mainstream AMC theatres, but none of the teeny boppers. They play a few new and popular film releases, but also feature foreign films regularly. CineArts is located at 3088 Olsen Drive and Winchester in San Jose.

INDEPENDENT AND FOREIGN FILMS

"Born in Flames" Directed in 1983 by Lizzie Borden, "Born in Flames" is a scathing film on "racism, sexism and socialism." The film tracks a group called The Women's Army, an underground feminist movement. Despite being shot in the past, this film is still very relevant to our present. Tickets are $10 and the film screens on June 22 at 10:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.sfcinematheque.org.

"La Vie en Rose" Famous for her lovers as well as her beautiful voice, "La Vie en Rose" is a french film about the life of singer Edith Piaf. The film favors authenticity wherever possible, dubbing some of the musical numbers over with Piaf's original recordings. The film opens nationwide on June 8. Call (408) 777-FILM or check fandango.com for theaters and showtimes.

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