It's fitting that "Better Than Something: Jay Reatard" will make its Arizona premiere by opening the Tucson Film & Music Festival on Friday at the historic Rialto Theatre.
The Memphis garage rocker made frequent stops in Tucson over the years. Opening for The Black Keys at the Rialto in 2008 turned out to be his last performance here before his death in 2010 at age 29.
"It's an incredible portrait of a really prolific musician," said Michael Toubassi, the festival's director. "The film showcases a broad range of music and the Rialto's the best place for that kind of thing. You want to enjoy that live footage and really ... experience his musical career." "
The Rialto has been part of the festival since it started seven years ago, initially as a music venue but also for screenings.
"The sound is incredible," Toubassi said.
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Most of the films in this year's festival will be making Southwest or Arizona premieres. More than half will include question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers.
The closing night film, "Kumaré," won an audience award as Best Documentary at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival.
Much of the movie, in which filmmaker Vikram Gandhi poses as a guru and builds a core group of followers, takes place in Phoenix and Tucson. People are already buying tickets for the screening, which Gandhi will attend, Toubassi said.
Most of the films will be shown at the Century 20 El Con theater, which is a new venue for the growing festival. Special events will also be held at The Loft Cinema and The Hut.
This year's festival headquarters will be at Café Passé on North Fourth Avenue. It's the go-to spot to pick up festival programs, buy all-access badges and possibly meet some filmmakers.
"We don't make any promises, but that is the place that filmmakers will go," Toubassi said.
Toubassi said the festival has screened more than 150 films since it started in 2005. The Tucson Film Office and Hanson Film Institute are also major sponsors.
If you go
• What: Tucson Film & Music Festival.
• When: Today through Monday.
• Where: Century 20 El Con Theater, 3601 E. Broadway; The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway; The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.; and The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave.
• Tickets: $7 evening screenings; $6 showings before 6 p.m.: $5 Monday movie night at The Hut. Also $50 All-Access Festival Badges at www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/10008 or Café Passé, 415 N. Fourth Avenue.
• More info: www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com
The lineup
Tonight - Festival preview at The Loft
7:30 p.m.: "Barbershop Punk" Documentary about net neutrality and a new meaning of the word punk.
Friday - Opening night at the Rialto
7:30 p.m.: "Better Than Something: Jay Reatard" Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., better known as Jay Reatard, created a massive discography and toured the world with dozens of bands including The Pixies, Spoon, Beck and more. Filmmakers Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz present an intimate portrait, captured just months before Reatard's death.
Saturday at El Con
12:30 p.m.: "Color Me Obsessed: A Film about the Replacements" A fans look at America's "last great rock band."
3 p.m.: Narrative Shorts "Fatakra," "Morning Boy," "Ti-Minou Gros-Minet," "Surprise," "Slant," "After-School Special," and "Sati."
5:30 p.m.: "Pleasant People" Quirky comedy about a musician, office romance and getting her CD back.
7:30 p.m.: "Bloodied But Unbowed" Documentary on Vancouver's original and groundbreaking punk scene includes performances by D.O.A. and others.
9:30 p.m.: "Blood, Sweat + Vinyl: DIY In the 21st Century" Featuring hard rockers Neurosis, Isis, Oxbow, Evangista and others.
Sunday at El Con
11:30 a.m.: "The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi" Documentary about a composer who pioneered the crossover of jazz and pop music, known for his Peanuts scores.
2 p.m.: Music Video-rama An eclectic mix of animation, short films, music videos and more.
3:30 p.m.: "Songs Of The Colorado" Documentary on the Yuman tribes that have developed an oral tradition that is different from other Native American tribes in North America.
3:30 p.m.: "Guru" Peter Scott is a charismatic motivational speaker and life-skills guru, who struggles with depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
5:30 p.m.: "Take Me Home" Road comedy starring actor/director Sam Jaeger (Joel on NBC's "Parenthood").
7:30 p.m.: "Kumaré" Into a society of people searching for something real, filmmaker Vikram Gandhi posed as a guru and built a following in Arizona. His ultimate teaching of finding your true self, becomes a revelation.
9:30 p.m.: "Made A Machine by Describing The Landscape" Featuring Chicago's experimental rock band, Califone.
With "My Caddy Won't Let Me," a documentary short featuring Noah Engh: The Kid Fantastic from Phoenix.
Source: Tucson Film & Music Festival.
Music at The Hut
Saturday
Tickets each night: $5
9:30 - GHIANT
10:30 -Al Perry & Skip Heller
11:30 - Fish Karma
Sunday
10:30 - TBA
11:30 - The Pork Torta
Movies at The Hut
Monday
7:30 p.m.: "Mark Kozelek: On Tour"
9:30 p.m.: "Total Badass"
