Academy Award-winning writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen will appear in a dialogue and retrospective of all their feature films at Walker Art Center this fall. The program will mark the 25th anniversary of their debut film, "Blood Simple," and the Oct. 2 release of their latest feature, "A Serious Man," a comedy shot in the Twin Cities last summer.

The publicity-shy St. Louis Park natives agreed to take part in the program because "growing up in Minnesota they were well aware of the Walker" and its film programming, said Walker film and video curator Sheryl Mousley. The hometown heroes fit comfortably alongside such recent Regis honorees as Ang Lee, Mike Leigh and Milos Forman, she said. "They're very influential and innovative."

The 13-film retrospective opens Sept. 18 with "Blood Simple" and concludes Oct. 17, with the Coens scheduled to appear Sept. 25. Tickets to that conversation are $100 and will be available to Walker contributing members beginning Aug. 17. Any remaining tickets will be released for sale to Walker general members Sept. 10.

COLIN COVERT