Never ones to shy from obscurity, City Paper's film crew has previewed nearly two-thirds of the PFF's slate—more than 50 reviews this week, and more to come in next week's issue. In addition to our regular check-mark system, we've selected a handful of highly recommended titles, most of which are unlikely to return for a further run. In other words, if you have to hire a sitter, board the dog, or cancel dinner at Django to see The Sun or The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, do it.

We've also pulled a pair of local success stories from the pages of the PFF's catalogue. Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe, who've gone from Temple film school to Terry Gilliam's inner circle in the space of a decade, are back in town with their first fiction feature, Brothers of the Head. And Norristown natives the Brothers Quay, easily the creepiest filmmakers to emerge from Philadelphia since David Lynch, scored a slot with their second feature, The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes.

And from the Festival of Independents, the fest-within-a-fest dedicated to up-and-coming local filmmakers, we've zoomed in on two documentary portraits of local artists struggling to stay true to their craft in an increasingly arts-unfriendly environment.

As ever, there's too much going on to cover it all here, so don't forget to pick up a catalogue or visit the festival's Web site (www.phillyfests.com). And once the festival's started, be sure to heed the ever-important buzz; ask your friends what they've seen, strike up a conversation with the person next to you, or just eavesdrop as you're waiting in line. The fest works best when you make it your own.