Film: Film fans, rejoice: The High Falls Film Festival has returned! After taking a hiatus last year, the festival is back with its original name and a variety of independent treasures from across the world. The festival kicks off tonight with screenings of “Watchtower,” “Facing Mirrors,” “The Girls With the Band,” and a selection of short films, all of which will be screened at The Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). There will also be an opening night party at The Inn on Broadway (26 Broadway), starting at 9 p.m.; tickets are $23-$25. To purchase tickets for the party, check showtimes for tonight’s films, and see the schedule for the rest of the festival’s screenings and special events, go to highfallsfilmfestival.com.
Music: The Swaggerin’ Growlers describes itself as a “Folk Punk Rolling Riot Bastard Brigade” on its Facebook page, and if that combination of band name and self-presentation doesn’t entice you, we don’t know what will. The band/bastard brigade plays Thirsty Frog (511 East Ridge Rd., 1thirstyfrog.com) at 9 p.m., with special guest S.S. Webb. The show is free.
Festival: See new works from members of Rochester Community Television (RCTV15) at its annual Output community video festival, starting at 7 p.m. in the RCTV Studios (21 Gorham St.). The screenings are free, and will be followed by a Q&A session with the producers. Learn more about RCTV works and events at rctv15.org.
Music: You won’t actually see any movies at the Brockport Symphony Orchestra’s “A Night at the Movies,” but the evening’s music will help create movies in your mind. The concert features music from classic films including "Around the World in 80 Days," "Calamity Jane," "Juno," and more. The movies – er, music – starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Seymour College Union Ballroom, located on Residence Drive on the SUNY Brockport campus. The concert is free. See more shows at brockport.edu/finearts.
Art: Celebrate the blend of art, science, technology, and engineering at this year’s SageFest at the University of Rochester. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., visitors can enjoy free food, music, art, and competitions between UR artists and scientists. SageFest will be held in Sage Art Center on UR’s River Campus (252 Elmwood Ave.). For more info and campus events, go to rochester.edu.
Music: No, it’s called “Eroica,” not “Erotica” – so don’t get too excited. But if Beethoven is your thing, you’ll be aroused by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of his “Eroica” symphony, in Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre (26 Gibbs St.). The symphony will be performed tonight at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15-$82 and can be purchased through rpo.org or by calling 454-2100.
Art: The next First Friday is a few weeks away, but hey, it’s time for Third Thursday! From 5 to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., mag.rochester.edu), visitors can enjoy half price admission, live music, tapas, wine, and beer from Max at the Gallery, and a special gift at the gallery store. At 6:30 p.m., there will also be a free, multimedia reading and book signing from Kim Bixler, author of the memoir "Growing Up in a Frank Lloyd Wright House," about her years living in the Wright-designed Boynton House in Rochester.
Music: Upstate New York native Gordon Munding is the star of the latest Son House Blues Night at The Beale (689 South Ave., bealestreetcafe.com). Munding’s blues starts at 7 p.m., free of cover charge.
Dance: Dance fans who happen to be venturing a little beyond the Rochester borders in the next few days can check out new dance shows at two nearby SUNY schools. SUNY Brockport’s DANCE/Hartwell show features new works from Brockport undergraduate and graduate students, including MFA theses. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20 in Hartwell Dance Theater on the Brockport campus (Kenyon Street, Brockport). Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for seniors, alumni, faculty, and staff, and $8 for students, and can be purchased by calling 395-2787. Visit brockport.edu/finearts for more info and campus events. Over at SUNY Geneseo, the Geneseo Dance Ensemble presents “Dancing Past to Present: Celebrating 45 Years,” a reunion show with choreography and performances from alumni artists. The show runs at 8 p.m. tonight, and continues through Sunday, April 21 with matinee and evening performances in the Alice Austin Theatre on the Geneseo campus (1 College Rd., Geneseo). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 245-5516 or through bbo.geneseo.edu.
