AMBLER THEATER
108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-345-7855, amblertheater.org. Backwards (2012, U.S, 89 min.): Local auteur Ben Hickernell directed this shot-in-Philly sports drama about a professional rower who settles for a teaching gig after repeatedly failing to qualify for the Olympic team. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director. Sat., Sept. 22, 1 p.m., $7.25.
THE BALCONY
1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888, thetroc.com. The Cabin in the Woods (2011, U.S., 95 min.): You may want to rethink that fall trip to the Poconos. Mon., Sept. 24, 8 p.m., $3.
COLONIAL THEATRE
227 Bridge St., Phoenixville, 610-917-1228, thecolonialtheatre.com. RoboCop (1987, U.S., 102 min.): “Your move, creep.” Fri., Sept. 21, 9:45 p.m., $8. Out of the Past (1947, U.S., 97 min.): This fine example of film noir stars Robert Mitchum as a private eye attempting to escape his past. Sun., Sept. 23, 2 p.m., $8. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011, U.S., 81 min.): So far, this doc about 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono is City Paper’s only A+ film of the year. Sun., Sept. 23, 4:30 p.m., $8.
FRIENDS OF THE PHILADELPHIA CITY INSTITUTE LIBRARY
Free Library, Philadelphia City Institute Branch, 1905 Locust St., 215-685-6621, freelibrary.org. Delicatessen (1991, France, 99 min.): Not your typical French cuisine but, hey, it’s chewy. Wed., Sept. 26, 2 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, ihousephilly.org. Slavery by Another Name (2011, U.S., 87 min.): Sam Pollard ‘s insightful documentary challenges the opinion that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation by spotlighting the “insidious new forms of forced labor [that later] emerged in the American South.” Thu., Sept. 20, 6 p.m., $10. The Enchanted Drawing: A screening of two films shown at the Enchanted Drawing: Animation across the Disciplines Conference at Penn. Fri., Sept. 21, 7 p.m., free. The Observers (2011, U.S., 67 min.): A film that finds art in the goings on at the Mount Washington Weather Observatory. Will be preceded by The Lakes (2010, U.S., 9 min.), a 16mm-to-video short by Jesse Cain. Sat., Sept. 22, 8 p.m., $9.
MOSAIC AT THE MOVIES
Anderson Hall, Temple University, 2129 N. Broad St., temple.edu. Grizzly Man (2005, U.S., 103 min.): You may want to rethink that trip to Alaska to live among the grizzlies. Tue., Sept. 25, 5:30 p.m., free.
SHOOTING WALL
PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 267-519-9651, philamoca.org. This fall screening series focusing on independently made films by local directors kicks off with a screening of Vacant Guillotine Blues (U.S., 4 min.), the first of a four-part film anthology by Joe Kramer, and Joshua Martin’s feature-length Episodes from an Investigation (U.S., 115 min.). Mon., Sept. 24, 7 p.m., free.
TERRITORIES: AFRICA
African American Museum, 701 Arch St., 215-574-0380, aampmuseum.org. Africa, I Will Fleece You! (1993, France, 88 min.): Political oppression in Cameroon is examined in this well-researched doc by Jean-Marie Téno. Thu., Sept. 20, 6 p.m., free.
