Dinner and a movie could do more than expand your waistline and entertain your brain in the case of Audubon Arizona’s Nature Film Festival.

Greta Gerwig is one of those actresses you just want to have brunch with someday. Watching her in the irresistible new film “Frances Ha” (which she co-wrote with director Noah Baumbach), you get the sense that she’s one of those down-to-earth stars, like Jennifer Lawrence and Lena Dunham, that aren’t afraid to be a bit goofy and can spin even the most mundane topic into something worth laughing about.

Jerome; Willcox; Mormon Lake

With the onslaught of Oscar contenders that debuted last November, there’s a good chance that a little-seen indie gem, “Starlet,” managed to fall off your radar during its short, theatrical run. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 SXSW film festival, “Starlet” explores the unlikely friendship between a cheerful, aspiring actress (played by the winsome Dree Hemingway) and a cantankerous, elderly widow (the late Besedka Johnson).

LOS ANGELES — Isabella Rossellini's search for the meaning of maternal instinct in "Mammas" looks at nine animals where things like polygamy, lying and dying convince her that "anything goes."

Screening the film adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” isn’t exactly the most festive way to celebrate one’s upcoming birthday, but after reading the Tribune’s “Nerdvana” column’s recommending it this coming Friday, I couldn’t help but reserve a seat.

When one thinks of the Holocaust film genre, dramas such as “Schindler’s List” and “The Pianist” instantly come to mind for their harrowing portrayals of victims and survivors who suffered at the hands of Nazis. But what about the German survivors – more specifically, the children of Nazi war criminals forced to come to terms with the atrocities of their parents? This is a question posed by the exceptional new German-language film, “Lore,” Cate Shortland’s follow-up to her acclaimed 2004 feature “Somersault.”

MIAMI — When you're talking about rum, how much does the Caribbean really matter?

“Reality” is not only a modern-day fairytale, but also a reflection on the pitfalls of fame, wealth and celebrity culture.

Although we have yet to see an official trailer or production still, I already have mixed feelings about “The Delivery Man.” This upcoming dramedy starring Vince Vaughn follows a middle-aged slouch whose life is turned on its head when he discovers that he’s fathered more than 500 children as a sperm donor – 142 of whom wish to determine who their biological dad is.

Riveting, intelligent and a masterclass in acting, “Beyond the Hills” is likely to be the best film you’ll see this spring or maybe even this year.

Phoenix Film Festival: This annual week-long festival draws over 20,000 movie buffs and includes new shorts and feature films alongside fan favorites.

Up there with “Stoker” and “Like Someone in Love” as one of the best films to hit theaters this spring, “War Witch” is devastating, beautiful and truly not to be missed. An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, this gut-wrenching tale of a child soldier has been reeling in the accolades: Best Actress awards for young star Rachel Mwanza at both the Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, along with a whopping 10 honors (including Best Picture) at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

They brought folk back to mainstream radio long before The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men hit it big, with blissful, down-home tunes popping up in jaunty car commercials and adorable father-daughter YouTube covers. This weekend, you can find the 10-piece Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Phoenix, where they’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Shins, Dr. Dog and The Roots.

Much like recent arthouse films “Weekend” and “Keep The Lights On,” “North Sea Texas” is a realistic portrait of gay life and romance – not the frequent clichés one may find on TV’s “Modern Family” or “The New Normal.” Adapted from the novel “This is Everlasting” by Flemish writer André Sollie, the film follows a young teen growing up along the Belgian coast as he falls in love with a neighborhood boy. Unlike the star-crossed lovers at the heart of “Brokeback Mountain,” this story luckily has a more hopeful ending for its burgeoning protagonist.

The Oscars were announced a mere week ago and pundits are already making bets on whom to expect in the 2014 lineup. While it may seem premature, I can’t say I blame them – we have yet another killer batch of films in-store, one that will surely give 2013’s nominees a run for their money. “Fruitvale,” “August: Osage County,” “Wolf of Wall Street” and a couple dozen more are in the pipeline, all of which you’ll want to keep on your radar for fall if they weren’t there already.

When Alexis Bristor graduates from Arizona State University in December with a degree in film and media production, she plans to pack her bags and head straight to Hollywood.

Larger-than-life and a true embodiment of New York’s audacious spirit, former NYC mayor Ed Koch lived his life in the public eye. With the bulk of his three-term career encompassing the turbulent 1980s, Koch went head-to-head with issues such as race relations, the AIDS crisis and the crack epidemic – drumming up controversy along the way while still maintaining his likable if outspoken persona.

Amidst a gloomy batch of nominees – addressing themes such as lost love, sacrifice and coping with death – “Curfew” springs forth as a welcome jolt of energy to the live action shorts. The premise is fairly simple: a dejected young man gets a call from his estranged sister, asking that he look after his 9-year-old niece for a couple hours. What transpires is a droll, heartfelt and often tender story that explores forgiveness and discovering a renewed sense of purpose in one’s life.

A former board member and longtime volunteer, Jim Colletti returns to this year’s Sedona International Film Festival in an entirely new role: first-time filmmaker. Originally from New York, Colletti moved to the East Valley nearly 20 years ago – buying his first home in Chandler and opening a business in Gilbert before relocating to Mesa. He has been living in central Phoenix for about 2 years now, where he runs his graphic art/advertising agency Element Design along with his artist management/record label OEO Entertainment.

Few recent documentaries have stirred audiences quite like “How to Survive a Plague,” with its harrowing yet inspiring look into an oft-forgotten period of American history: the early years of the AIDS epidemic that rocked the nation in the 1980s and '90s. In his powerful filmmaking debut, journalist David France explores the ACT UP and TAG movements as they fought for change against an indifferent government and health care system, primarily told through activist-shot footage from those years.