Ty Evans, Spike Jonze, Corey Weincheque; USA 2007, 90 min
After nearly four years in production, the most anticipated skateboarding video ever made lives up to the hype, while marking codirector Spike Jonze’s return to the genre after his groundbreaker, Blind’s Video Days. With Fully Flared, featuring topnotch skateboarders, the opening shots alone—on an exploding obstacle course that requires a mix of deft technique and dazzling tricks to navigate—might be the most insanely weird and beautiful sequence you ever see. Further propelled by a soundtrack including Arcade Fire, Bad Brains, Calexico, Flaming Lips and David Bowie, it’s no stretch to call Fully Flared an awesome achievement. $5 with RSVP to sf360@sffs.org or $8 at the door.

Une vieille maitresse
Catherine Breillat, France 2007, 114 min
Catherine Breillat is expected to be in attendance
With The Last Mistress, the masterful Catherine Breillat continues her candid exploration of female sexuality in a smartly crafted period drama starring the alluringly vulpine Asia Argento. Arguably the most accessible film to date from Breillat, this sophisticated chamber piece adapted from Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly’s controversial novel is erotic, funny, cruel and supremely intelligent. After the film, Opening Night continues with a lavish party at the new, stylish urban gateway of City View at Metreon. Enjoy culinary delights from local restaurants, sophisticated cocktails and, of course, dancing. The party begins at 9:30 pm. Opening Night is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways. Tickets are $70 and include the film and the after party. Tickets are available only to year-round Film Society members whose memberships are valid through May 31, 2008 and to Festival Fans valid through May 9, 2008. General public sales begin April 3.

Der Golem: wie er in die Welt kam
Pauls Wegener, Carl Boese; Germany 1920, 82 min
Live musical accompaniment by Black Francis

Black Francis, former front man of the Pixies, will perform the world premiere of his original score to the silent German Expressionist classic, The Golem, live at the Castro Theatre. The story unfolds in 16th century Prague, where a rabbi fashions a kind of proto-Frankenstein called the Golem, sculpted from rough clay and brought to life through sorcery. Aiming to protect the labyrinthine Jewish ghetto from the Christian emperor’s annihilating decree, the well-intentioned rabbi soon loses control of his creation. Masterfully photographed by Karl Freund (Metropolis), and featuring Francis’s unique accompaniment, The Golem promises to be a sensory feast. Tickets are $15 and are available only to year-round Film Society members whose memberships are valid through May 31, 2008 and to Festival Fans valid through May 9, 2008. General public sales begin on April 3.

Miwa Matreyek, Chi-wang Yang, Anna Oxygen, USA 2007, 90 min
Live performance
Cloud Eye Control—Chi-wang Yang, Miwa Matreyek and Anna Oxygen—is a multidisciplinary performance group fusing animation, experimental theater, pop music and puppetry. Like nothing you have seen, CEC uses deceptively simple video technology to produce interactive, virtual theater sets, integrated with moving screens and the haunting voice of Anna Oxygen. Their work highlights the lo-fi, while maintaining a playful sense of wonder and trickery. CEC will perform live three narratives: Final Space, Dream of Lucid Living and Subterranean Heart. Afterward, Oxygen, object of a cult following for her live shows, will lead the audience in an interactive aerobics workout. This event is sponsored by Esurance. Tickets $9 and are available only to year-round Film Society members whose memberships are valid through May 31, 2008 and to Festival Fans valid through May 9, 2008. General public sales begin on April 3.