No doubt about it, this week’s main event is the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers’ $100 Film Festival. Now in its 18th year, the fest has long since abandoned its titular budget limit, but it has stayed true to the fest’s spirit in every other way. From March 4 through March 6, the Plaza Theatre will host screenings of nearly 50 films, from Canada, the U.S., Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Australia, all culminating in an awards ceremony on Saturday night. For that night only, the Plaza is officially a licensed venue, so feel free to imbibe while you take in the glamour.

The CSIF’s gala may be the pre-eminent awards show of the weekend, but keen cinephiles are probably aware of another film celebration taking place on Sunday, March 7. The Oscars aren’t exactly known for their glitz or glamour, though, which is why Calgary’s venerable Marquee Room is stepping in with their third annual Oscar Du screening, to bring a bit of class to the proceedings. Dress up in your Sunday best, and bring your best arguments about how Star Trek was robbed of its nomination by a bunch of snooty Academy members.

But, back to CSIF again: Tuesday, March 9 is the second Tuesday in March, which means it’s once again time for a mystery classic film screening at the Sofa Cinema in the Currie Barracks. As usual, there’s no word yet on what the movie will be, but with a theatre this comfortable, that hardly matters.

Sticking to the local front, Wednesday, March 10 will see the Plaza screen Spencer Eastabrook’s short opus, Deadwalkers. How no one else hit on the idea of combining zombies and cowboys I’ll never know, but Eastabrook’s film, shot on the outskirts of Calgary back in 2008, doesn’t have much company in the undead cowpoke subgenre.

Lastly, in brief: On International Women’s Day (Monday, March 8), Amnesty International will present a screening of Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathi, the story of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. And if you missed Jean-Luc Godard’s Pierrot le fou on March 2, make sure to catch the encore screening on Saturday, March 6. It’s your last chance to take in the Calgary Cinematheque Society’s excellent French New Wave series. Both films screen at the Plaza.