Who says you have to have mega-corporate sponsors, an apartment overlooking the beach at Cannes and scads of money to put on a film festival? Not the plucky crew behind the Minneapolis Cine-Fest, a two-day cavalcade of locally produced short films. Organizers Matt Bjorklund and Adam Zuehlke promise two distinctly different evenings, each with about 10 films running the gamut from animation to docudrama, for a total of approximately 90 minutes.
His personal fave is "Nihilist," a World War I featurette shot in the Twin Cities that "really gives the impression they had a battlefield for a set, an amazing accomplishment on their budget." Other offerings include "Karma," about a depressed loser's power struggle with his overbearing aunt; "Lament," a barroom tale of crime and fate, and "Captive" (pictured), a story of a young schoolgirl battling authority figures who discovers that breaking free is tougher than she hoped. Turn out and support the home team; even the Coens started small. Filmmakers will be on hand opening night for a special awards ceremony. (9:30 p.m. Thu., Aug. 14, & 10:30 a.m. Sat., Aug. 16, Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Av. S., Mpls. $8.)

COLIN COVERT