TUCSON FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THIS WEEK Festival features local films, regional premieres and music performances

The Tucson Film & Music Festival begins this week, kicking off on today, Thursday, October 7th, and running through Monday, October 11. The multi-day event is chock full of film and music offerings including narrative features, documentaries, music videos, short films and live music performances at Tucson-area venues.

Among the program offerings are the always-popular "Desert Shorts," featuring Arizona produced and themed short films including the local premiere of "My Father's Son" by Tucson-based director JorDan Fuller. "Music Video-O-Rama" presents videos from local and national bands, including Giant Sand's Howe Gelb, who composed the score and makes his acting debut in the closing night film "MARS" at the Fox Theatre on Sunday, October 10th. Other films to be on the lookout for are the Regional Premieres of the David Byrne concert film "Ride, Rise, Roar" on Friday, October 8th and the Centerpiece Film "Everyday Sunshine" a documentary about the legendary punk-funk rockers Fishbone, who also perform. Both the film and the concert take place at The Rialto Theatre on Saturday, October 9th.

In addition to Fishbone live in concert, music highlights at the festival include performances from local favorites Lunar Light Collectors, Loren Dircks, Andrew Collberg, and Rich Hopkins among others, and from Tempe - The Whisperlights and Banana Gun. The Hut (305 N. 4th Ave.) serves as the main music venue for the Festival, as well as its headquarters.