Egyptian Theatre

The love story in Penelope Spheeris' "I Don't Know" is more than boy-meets-girl. The 18-minute black-and-white short shot in 1972 starts in an elevator where a lesbian meets a transgender man and the two become lovers (then exes) while French music plays. These are the sort of expectation-defying stories that will be told with "Same Sex/Different Sex: Queer Identity and Culture," part of the Filmforum's Alternative Projections exploring experimental film in Los Angeles. Spheeris, whose later directoral credits include the era-defining "Wayne's World" and the 1981 punk documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization," shot "I Don't Know" while in film school at UCLA.

'Once Upon a Time: The Films of Sergio Leone' at American Cinematheque Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, and Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica When: Fri. and Sat., Thu. and Feb. 24 Fri., 7:30 p.m., Aero: "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) and "For a Few Dollars More" (1965) Sat., 7:30 p.m., Aero: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966) Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian: "Duck, You Sucker" (1971) Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian: "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968)

What: Screenings of "Nothing to Declare" and "Welcome to the Sticks" with a conversation with writer-director-comedian Dany Boon between them. When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Information: http://www.americancinematheque.com.

Nicholas Ray Centennial When: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 3 ("Rebel Without a Cause") Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood When: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 5 ("Johnny Guitar," "In a Lonely Place"); 7:30 p.m., Aug. 7 ("Bigger Than Life," "Knock on Any Door") Where: Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica Price: $11 general; $9 seniors and students Info: http://www.americancinematheque.com

Lonesome Country: An In-Person Tribute to Monte Hellman Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, "Road to Nowhere" Admission: $11 Information: http://www.americancinematheque.com

MOVIES Killer Klowns From Outer Space Attend a screening of the camp classic featuring creepy clown puppets by the Chiodo Brothers, who are masters of special-effects puppetry. Their handiwork has spanned decades, from the toothy fur balls in the "Critters" franchise to the gun-toting, epically vomiting marionettes in "Team America: World Police. " The Chiodos will host a Q&A after the film. Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.. 11:50 p.m. $10. (323)

For "Noir City: Hollywood, 13th Annual Festival of Film Noir," the Film Noir Foundation has scoured the studio archives to assemble a feast of the genre, which is best consumed in its original 35-millimeter format. This year's program features several new prints, including "High Wall," "Loophole," "The Hunted," "Strangers in the Night" and "The Dark Mirror. " Out of 28 films, 23 are not available on DVD, making this a rare opportunity to see your favorite shadowy tale of hidden weapons, hidden motives and stealth plans.

Turner Classic Movies has lined up screenings of such films as "Citizen Kane," "Taxi Driver," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "An American in Paris," "Shaft" and "La Dolce Vita," and appearances by such performers as Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron, Hayley Mills, Richard Roundtree and Jane Powell for its second TCM Classic Film Festival, which will run April 28-May 1 in Hollywood. The festival will screen more than 60 films and will feature salutes to Gregory Peck, Roy Rogers, Bernard Herrmann and George and Ira Gershwin.