Birthed in 2001 to spotlight the contributions of women in, on, and around film, the High Falls Film Festival merged last year with the Rochester International Film Festival (a/k/a Movies on a Shoestring), resulting in a move from the festival's traditional November dates to April 30-May 5. The 2008 Rochester High Falls International Film Festival (as it's now known) showcases an international variety of feature films, shorts, panel discussions on every aspect of moviemaking, as well as programs especially for kids. Oh, and parties, too: this year's minglers will include Susan B. Anthony Award honoree Rita Moreno - winner of every major prize but the Nobel - and Hornell's best-known export, Bill Pullman, on hand to present his lovely new film, "Phoebe In Wonderland."

I'm happy to report that the extra six months bought by this shiny new alliance between festivals seems to have manifested itself in a damn good selection of films. What follows is just a tiny taste, though, so visit the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival's new website at www.rochestersmoviefest.com for up-to-the-minute details, including a complete schedule and ticket info.

"Sita Sings the Blues"

Wednesday, April 30, Little 5, 6:55 p.m.

Thursday, May 1, Memorial Art Gallery, 6:30 p.m.

While many of us would cope with a breakup by getting violent, drunk, or violently drunk, cartoonist Nina Paley chose the more constructive path of Flash animation. The adorably sly "Sita Sings the Blues" juxtaposes the demise of her own marriage against a delightfully unorthodox retelling of "The Ramayana," an ancient Indian epic in which devoted wife Sita is put through trial upon trial to prove to husband Rama that she remained faithful during her abduction by an evil king. Though clearly cathartic, the squiggly Nina subplot is the least interesting, especially in comparison to the vivid bits that find bubble-hipped Sita and lantern-jawed Rama bringing to life the tunes of 20's jazz chanteuse Annette Hanshaw. Woven through all of it is a riotous thread in the cut-and-paste style of Terry Gilliam, where three shadow puppets act as our Greek chorus, explaining, commenting, and arguing.

"Empties" (in Czech with English subtitles)

Wednesday, April 30, Cinema, 7 p.m.

They already share one Oscar for 1996's sweet-n-sour "Kolya." Now, after a brief dramatic detour (2001's "Dark Blue World"), Czech director Jan Sverák and his writer-actor dad Zdenek Sverák are back with "Empties," a gem of a comedy in which retired teacher Josef tries to stay relevant without actually staying at home, where his lovingly resentful wife barely tolerates him. So it's off to a supermarket job, which enables various characters (in both senses of the word) to wander in and out of Josef's orbit, allowing him chances to matchmake, flirt, and thwart the purchase of an automatic can sorter. Teeming with the twinkly charm of a working-class Sean Connery, the elder Sverák is easy to like even though he's grumpy, selfish, conniving...what's the word I'm looking for? Oh, yeah; human.

"American Son"

Thursday, May 1, Little 1, 7 p.m.

Rapper and comedian Nick Cannon, of all people, gives a subtly skillful performance in "American Son," a well-written drama that follows Mike, a young Marine, during his 96-hour leave before deployment to Iraq. A routine visit home is complicated by both a burgeoning interracial romance and the fact that Mike isn't being entirely upfront with anyone about his looming assignment. Cannon's performance is matched by his supporting cast, which includes Chi McBride, excellent as Mike's father; the underrated Jay Hernandez in the role of cautionary tale; and Matt O'Leary, unrecognizable from his stint as the nerdy sidekick in "Brick," as Mike's aimless best friend. Demerits to director Neil Abramson, however, for casting Tom Sizemore (as Mike's stepdad) and woefully neglecting him.

"Jellyfish" (in Hebrew with English subtitles)

Thursday, May 1, Little 3, 7:10 p.m.

The 2007 Cannes Caméra d'Or for the best debut feature went to Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen for this ensemble drama. Though husband Keret is an internationally acclaimed author (his short fiction "Kneller's Happy Campers" was the basis for the recent film "Wristcutters: A Love Story"), this one's penned by wife Geffen. It's a beautifully scripted film about the randomly converging lots of three lonely women in Tel Aviv. Batia, neglected by her own mother, finds a little mermaid girl; Joy cares for a crabby old woman while pining for her young son in the Philippines; and Keren is a new bride whose husband seems to prefer the company of the smart woman occupying the honeymoon suite. Alternately whimsical and melancholy, the artfully composed imagery making up "Jellyfish" should hopefully distract from its intermittent preciosity.

"Chris & Don: A Love Story"

Thursday, May 1, Memorial Art Gallery, 8:15 p.m.

Friday, May 2, Little 3, 5:05 p.m.

Christopher Isherwood's experiences in the anything-goes atmosphere of pre-war Berlin became the basis for "Cabaret." So the 48-year-old writer had already lived quite the life by the time he met Don Bachardy, 30 years his junior, on a California beach in 1953. This stirring documentary chronicles the, well, love story that ensued until Isherwood's death in 1991, spending most of its time with the endearing Bachardy, a successful artist whose gifts flourished under the care of his longtime companion. Most moving are Bachardy's portraits chronicling the decline of Isherwood's health, but copious home movie footage featuring Isherwood's buddies - guys like Igor Stravinsky, Raymond Chandler, Tennessee Williams, and W. Somerset Maugham - should leave you quite starstruck.

"The Last Mistress" (in French with English subtitles)

Thursday, May 1, Little 1, 9:15 p.m.

My hands-down favorite of the films I got to preview this year, this period piece from polarizing filmmaker Catherine Breillat ("Fat Girl") might be her most accessible yet - but that doesn't mean she's lost her edge. The equally intense Asia Argento stars as a scandalous señora railing against the fact that her lusty 10-year affair with an idle Parisian libertine (Fu'ad Ai Attou) is about to end, as he prepares to marry a younger woman of good breeding. Opulent design and sumptuous cinematography both gild Breillat's patented blend of smart, hot, and risky, though it might be the first Breillat film to get shanghai'd by a man. It's his debut, and Attou is stunning. His acting's pretty good, too.

"Phoebe in Wonderland"

Friday, May 2, Dryden, 7:15 p.m.

The newest Fanning off the production line is 10-year-old Elle, possessed of her sister Dakota's talent but with a smiling tranquility all her own. She plays Phoebe, a mostly isolated girl who falls down the rabbit hole when her intriguing drama teacher (screen goddess Patricia Clarkson) invites the students to "attend the tea party." Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman portray Phoebe's distracted parents, who get more involved once her stress-induced quirks are finally recognized as Tourette's Syndrome. Director Daniel Barnz hit the acting jackpot in his second film, working from his first screenplay and painting a realistic - and surprisingly not manipulative - picture of a family desperate to help their daughter feel normal, but letting their egos get in the way.

"Conversations With My Gardener" (in French with English subtitles)

Friday, May 2, Little 5, 7:45 p.m.

Essentially a stage for two of France's greatest actors, Jean Becker's "Conversations With My Gardener" is exactly what it claims to be, and not much more. (That doesn't sound like a compliment, but it actually is.) The ubiquitous Daniel Auteuil plays an out-of-touch artist looking for someone to make sense of his yard, and talented character actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin ("A Very Long Engagement") plays the gardener who shows up and reorders both the artist's land and life. The film observes as the two men - former schoolmates who took very different paths - talk and weed and water and plant, each gaining perspective that they didn't know they needed. Of course there needs to be some conflict, and it takes the form of a calculated cliché that's visible from space. But the draw here is the fine performances and the unforced simplicity with which they're executed.

"The Edge of Heaven" (in German and Turkish with English subtitles)

Friday, May 2, Little 3, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 4, Little 3, 9:15 p.m.

Writer-director Fatih Akin wrecked me with 2004's brutal, beautiful "Head-On," and he cements his position as the future of international cinema with another heart-shatterer about the intersection of German and Turkish lives. Using bravura editing that tells more than dialogue ever could, "The Edge of Heaven" untangles the coincidences revealed among a professor, a prostitute, and a political dissident, and it takes its confident time in doing so. To relate the plot seems unfair, as the pleasures and tragedies within are a result of the film's slow bloom, and the shocks are somehow still shocking despite the fact that Akin uses title cards to seal the fate of certain characters. I understand this is vague, and I do apologize. All you really need to know is that Akin is a filmmaker to be reckoned with.

"I Served the King of England" (in Czech with English subtitles)

Saturday, May 3, Little 5, 5:40 p.m.

The other reason (besides "Empties," another High Falls entry) that 2007 was such a banner year for the Czech film industry is this quasi-fairy tale, told in flashback, about a young man living his surreal life as Hitler kicked in Czechoslovakia's door. The plot unfolds as Jan Dite reminisces after spending a 15-year stint in the pokey following the fall of the Third Reich. Small in stature but very ambitious, aspiring waiter Dite hopes to master the art of attending to others and open his own hotel. He also enjoys much success with gorgeous women, thanks to some handy skills, and sunny Julia Jentsch, from "The Edukators" and "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days," pops up to steal a few scenes as Dite's Nazi sweetheart. The title is awful and unworthy of this big-hearted film by Jiri Menzel, Best Foreign Film Oscar winner for 1966's "Closely Watched Trains."

"Fermat's Room" (in Spanish with English subtitles)

Saturday, May 3, Little 1, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 4, Little 1, 9:10 p.m.

My theory that all movies about arithmetic are boring got permanently shot to hell with "Fermat's Room," a taut, tense Spanish thriller in the vein of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." Four brilliant strangers have been lured to a remote farmhouse with the promise of a spectacular numbers geekout, and after a delicious dinner, the walls literally begin to close in, their progress halted only by the correct solution of math problems. So why is this happening? We find out as our potential victims do, when it finally comes to light that none of them have been particularly truthful about anything. Filmmakers Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopeña shoot their debut in a most clever and resourceful fashion, and their intricate machinations seem airtight. Grand, breathless fun, in a homicidal way.

"Beyond Belief"

Sunday, May 4, Little 3, 1 p.m.

Both Susan Retik and Patti Quigley were pregnant when they lost their husbands at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and when a mutual friend set them up on a blind playdate of sorts, the two women would eventually find a unique way to channel their grief. Beth Murphy's touching documentary "Beyond Belief" tracks Susan and Patti as they rebuild their lives by helping widows in Afghanistan do the same, raising money for single mothers who were left with far less than they were. The prospect of a trip to the Middle East to see how funds are used fills Patti with dread at the remote, yet very real possibility of rendering her children orphans, but while the pain Susan and Patti feel is still palpable and raw, there are both commitments and memories to honor. Most affecting are Susan and Patti's Afghani counterparts, whose daily struggles don't leave them time to mourn, and their compassion for the two American women who want for nothing might leave you ashamed.

"Hollywood Chinese"

Sunday, May 4, Little 1, 4:45 p.m.

Documentarian Arthur Dong takes a break from his award-winning examinations of homosexuality in America to explore the legacy he's inherited as a Chinese-American in the business they call show. His fascinating, elegant "Hollywood Chinese" combines archival footage with commentary about the typecasting and intolerance faced by Chinese people in Hollywood, especially when it came to progressing beyond roles that were strictly Asian. Interviewees range from 98-year-old Luise Rainer, Oscar winner in 1937 for her yellowface casting in "The Good Earth," to actress Nancy Kwan (a/k/a "Suzie Wong"), to filmmaker Ang Lee, all of whom pay tribute to pioneers like Anna May Wong, America's first Chinese movie star... and the only one until the 60's. But it's not all that surprising, given that this country doesn't discriminate against who it discriminates against.

"Smoking Laws"

Sunday, May 4, Little 1, 7 p.m.

Matt Ehlers filmed his debut feature "Smoking Laws" at Mex, and in the interest of full disclosure, I used to prep-cook there and I know half the people in his movie, so there's no way I'd trash it even if it sucked (which it doesn't). The inventively shot film is a comedy in which people are brought together by that filthy habit that now drives people out of doors even in the coldest weather; the film eavesdrops on their interactions, as well as the "Clerks"-ish hijinks going on behind the scenes. I should put on the movie-critic hat and mention that "Smoking Laws" ain't perfect (the bizarre twist involving Marc Raco's mayoral candidate makes no sense), but it definitely has its side-splitting moments. Mike Koldan's deadpan portrayal of the weary restaurant owner is totally on, as is the soundtrack, which features local luminaries like the Isotopes, Hinkley, and the dearly departed Priests.

2008 Rochester High Falls International Film Festival Schedule

Wednesday, April 30

6:45 p.m.: "Son of Rambow" Little Theatre ($15)

6:55 p.m.: "Sita Sings The Blues" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Nina Paley)

7 p.m.: "Empties" Cinema Theater

7:05 p.m.: Movies on a Shoestring Shorts 1 Little Theatre

9:05 p.m.: "Return To Afghanistan" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Vida Zaher-Khadem & John Roche)

9:05 p.m.: "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" Cinema Theater (Q&A w/Sara Simmonds)

9:10 p.m.: "Then She Found Me" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Elinor Lipman)

9:20 p.m.: "Irina Palm" Little Theatre

9:30 p.m.-midnight: OpeningNightParty City Hall, 30 Church St. ($25)

Thursday, May 1

11 a.m.-noon: Coffee With... Spot Coffee, 200 East Ave. (Free)

6:30 p.m.: "Sita Sings The Blues" Memorial Art Gallery

6:45 p.m.: "Vito After" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Vito Friscia & Maria Pusateri)

7 p.m.: "American Son" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Chris Frisina & April Grace)

7:10 p.m.: "Jellyfish" Little Theatre

8:15 p.m.: "Chris & Don: A Love Story" MAG (Q&A w/Tina Mascara, Guido Santi, Don Bachardy)

8:30 p.m.: Movies on a Shoestring Shorts 2 Little Theatre

9 p.m.: "A Jihad For Love" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Juliet Weber)

9:15 p.m.: "The Last Mistress" Little Theatre 9:15

10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.: Filmmakers After Dark Eros, 37 Charlotte St.

Friday, May 2

11 a.m.-noon: Coffee With... Spot Coffee, 200 East Ave. (Free)

2 p.m.: "Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture" Memorial Art Gallery (Q&A w/Paul Sanderson; lecture/reception w/Marjorie Searl)

5 p.m.: "Bride of Fire" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Shahin Monshipour)

5:05 p.m.: "Chris & Don: A Love Story" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Tina Mascara, Guido Santi, and Don Bachardy)

5:30 p.m.: Special Guest Reception The Social, 330 East Ave.

5:30 p.m.: Young Filmmakers Competition Dryden Theatre

7 p.m.: Movies on a Shoestring Shorts 3/50th Anniversary & Awards Little Theatre

7:15 p.m.: "Phoebe In Wonderland" Dryden Theatre (Guest Appearance by Bill Pullman) ($15)

7:20 p.m.: "Beauty Remains" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Vivian Wu)

7:30 p.m.: Screenplay Live! "Loved Ones" Curtis Theater, George Eastman House

7:45 p.m.: "Conversations With My Gardener" Little Theatre

9:30 p.m.: "The Edge of Heaven" Little Theatre

9:40 p.m.: "Young People F*cking" Little Theatre

9:45 p.m.: "Gonzo: The Life & Work of Hunter S. Thompson" Dryden Theatre

10 p.m.: "Urban Explorers: Into The Darkness" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Melody Gilbert)

10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.: Filmmakers After Dark Javas, 16 Gibbs St.

Saturday, May 3

11 a.m.: "BlindMountain" Little Theatre

11 a.m.: Rochester Film Women Have H & D Curves Little Theatre Café

11:10 a.m.: Children's Shorts From Around The World Little Theatre

11:15 a.m.: More Magazine Shorts Competition Little Theatre (Q&A w/filmmakers)

12:15 p.m.: Navigating The "Maze": A Major Indie Comes To RochesterLittle Theatre Café

12:50 p.m.: "Diminished Capacity" Little Theatre

1 p.m.: Special Guest: Linda Simensky Little Theatre

1:05 p.m.: "Flow: For The Love Of Water" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Irena Salina & Dr. Rajendra Singh)

1:30 p.m.: Screenplay Live! "The Stones" Little Theatre Café

2:35 p.m.: Women Behind The Camera Little Theatre (Q&A: Alexis Krasilovsky)

2:50 p.m.: Movies on a Shoestring Shorts 4 Little Theatre

3:15 p.m.: "Secrecy" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Ruth Stella Lingford)

4:50 p.m.: "Poisoned By Polonium" Little Theatre

5:30 p.m.: "The Greatest Silence: Rape In The Congo" Little Theatre

5:30 p.m.: Special Guest Reception Edibles, 704 University Ave.

5:40 p.m.: "I Served The King Of England" Little Theatre

7 p.m.: "Surfwise" Little Theatre

7:15 p.m.: "Fermat's Room" Little Theatre (Susan B. Anthony Presentation: Rita Moreno) ($25)

7:30 p.m.: Kids Movies at the Bowl Highland Bowl, South Ave. (Free)

8:10 p.m.: "Mongol" Little Theatre

9 p.m.: "Irina Palm" Little Theatre

9:30 p.m.: "Young People F*cking" Little Theatre

9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.: GalaNightParty Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main St. ($35)

Sunday, May 4

11 a.m.: Jack Garner And Rita Moreno In Conversation Little Theatre

11:05 a.m.: Lunafest 2008 Little Theatre

11:15 a.m.: "The Oldest Mother On The Block" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Cat Ashworth)

Noon: Documentarians Speak Their Minds Little Theatre Café

12:30 p.m.: "American Harvest" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Angelo Mancuso & Lidiya Gavrilenko)

12:50 p.m.: "Autism: The Musical" Little Theatre

1 p.m.: "Beyond Belief" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Beth Murphy)

2:55 p.m.: "And Along Came Tourists" Little Theatre

3:10 p.m.: "Operation Filmmaker" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Nina Davenport)

3:20 p.m.: Women of School of Film and Animation Little Theatre

4:45 p.m.: "Hollywood Chinese" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Arthur Dong)

5 p.m.: "Conversations With My Gardener" Little Theatre

5:30 p.m.: "Who Am I: The Found Children Of Argentina" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Estela Bravo)

7 p.m.: "Smoking Laws" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Jane Ford, Matthew Ehlers)

7:15 p.m.: "Mister Foe" Little Theatre

7:30 p.m.: "Beauty Remains" Little Theatre (Q&A w/Vivian Wu)

9:10 p.m.: "Fermat's Room" Little Theatre

9:15 p.m.: "The Edge Of Heaven" Little Theatre

9:30 p.m.-midnight: "Smoking Laws" Premiere Party German House, 315 Gregory St.

9:40 p.m.: "Poisoned By Polonium" Little Theatre

Monday, May 5

7 p.m.: Audience Award Film Winner-Narrative Little Theatre

9:15 p.m.: Audience Award Film Winner-Documentary Little Theatre

VENUES:

Cinema Theater, 957 S Clinton Ave.

Dryden Theatre/Curtis Theatre, George Eastman House, 900 East Ave.

Little Theatre, 240 East Ave.

Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave.

TICKETS:

Unless otherwise noted, individual events cost $8-$12, and tickets can be purchased one hour before show time at the venue's box office. All-Access Passes, which grant entry to all festival films, events, and parties, cost $175 and are available at the RHFIFF ticket office (45 East Ave, Suite 400) April 24-May 3. For more information visit rochestersmoviefest.com.