EDGE San Francisco

The 11th annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival--promising more than 100 features and shorts that will never show at the multiplex, including several shot produced--will expand beyond its two traditional venues for extra showings in Berkeley and at a Lake Tahoe ski resort in February.

IndieFest opens Feb. 5 at San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre with the British film "Somers Town," about a troubled runaway from the Midlands who meets a stray Polish teenager and the bond they form.

Feature films and shorts continue through Feb. 19 at the Roxie Cinema, nearby in San Francisco’s Mission District. Eight films will get repeat showings Feb. 19-22 at the Shattuck Cinema in Berkeley. Extra screenings are scheduled Feb. 27-28 at Sugarbowl ski resort.

The full schedule, ticket information and preview trailers for many films are on the festival’s web site, www.sfindie.com.

Bay Area productions include "The Men’s Story Project," documenting a performance at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley. It includes first-person stories about masculinity, platonic love between men, transgender identity and other issues. Directed by Josie Lehrer, it will be shown Feb. 8, 10 and 22.

"The Men’s Story Project" highlights 16 Bay Area artists, activists and other presenters, ages 22 to 60, sharing their stories through monologues, slam poetry, music and dance. They include Robert Haaland, the first transgender candidate elected to public office in San Francisco.

Bay Area documentaries include "Lezbro: Don’t Cha Know?" a 12-minute film described by its makers as "a sassy mix of faux anthropology, reality TV and techno-pop music video" highlighting "the unique friendship between guys and dykes." Directed by Dara Sklar, it’s on a program Feb. 7 and 8.

Other films range from "Abraham Obama," a documentary about a street artist who plasters merged images of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama across the country, to "I Am Curious (Pink)," two hours of low-budget, soft-core sex films from Japan known as"pinku."

IndieFest founder and director Jeff Ross, and two of the festival’s programmers, previewed the event Tuesday. Ross also touted five celebrations beginning even before the screenings. "I like parties," he said.

Ross and his crew will put the fest in the festival with a benefit launch party Jan. 23 at the Elbo Room, including film previews. Also set are an opening night party Feb. 5 (with a discount for patrons in costume); a roller disco party Feb. 13; a "Big Lebowski" party Feb. 7; and a "Grease"-themed "Hand Jive Wrap Party" Feb. 20. The launch party is at the Elbo Room, the others at CellSpace, both clubs within blocks of the Roxie Cinema.

Other film highlights:

"Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash," a 90-minute compilation from Japanese television, including bawdy situation comedies, extreme pro-wrestling, and American celebrities hawking Japanese products. It’s considered a tribute to veteran TV funnyman Hitoshi Matsumoto. Feb. 6 and 10.

"The Teeth of the Night," from France, by directors Stephen Cafiero and Vincent Lobelle, a "horror-zombie-comedy" about an exclusive party where guests are whisked by helicopter to a mountaintop castle. Feb. 14 and 15.

"The 27 Club" by filmmaker Erica Dunton, about a rock band member who dies on his 27th birthday, and a friend who mourns him and makes the connection with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, who died at the same age. Feb. 14 and 17.

"Idiots and Angels," the latest shaded-pencil animation feature from Bill Plympton, about a man who discovers angel’s wings growing on his back. IndieFest has shown every one of Plympton’s features since 2001. Feb. 15 and 16.

Festival info: Tickets are $10 in advance, $11 at the door, $20 for opening night, including the after-party. (415) 820-3907 or www.sfindie.com The Roxie Cinema is at 3117 16th St. and the Victoria is at 2961 16th St., both near the 16th Street BART station. Shattuck Cinema is at 2230 Shattuck Ave., near the downtown Berkeley BART station.