All day: Movies

More than 75 films will be screened at Bear Fest 2000--Big Bear Lake International Film Festival this weekend at the mountain resort. The festival, which includes features, documentaries, shorts and student films, will open with Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” preceded by a semiformal wine and cheese party and a lifetime and community awards presentation. There will also be Digital Bearfest (https://www.digitalbearfest.com), a program of digital films and panel discussions on digital filmmaking and Internet subjects on Saturday.

* Bear Fest 2000--Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, Performing Arts Center/City Hall, 39707 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. Opening night begins Friday at 6. $15. Screenings: Performing Arts Center and other venues, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. $5 per program. Wrap party, Saturday, 6 to 11 p.m. $40. Free screenings of festival award winners and awards presentation Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (909) 866-3433 or https://www.bigbearlakefilmfestival.com.

All day: Movies

Six disparate individuals hit the road to fulfill their dreams via an Omaha, Neb., karaoke competition in the ensemble comedy “Duets.” Gwyneth Paltrow, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis and Scott Speedman fire up their courage to stand up and croon for Gwyneth’s dad, director Bruce Paltrow.

* “Duets,” rated R for language and some sexuality, opens Friday in general release.

8 pm: Reading

An appearance by critically acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood begins the performing arts season at UCLA. Presented in conjunction with the group Writers Bloc, Atwood will discuss her latest work, “The Blind Assassin.” It’s a mysterious story set in the 1940s of two sisters, one of whom drives off a bridge in the opening pages.

* An Evening With Margaret Atwood, 8 p.m. at Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Westwood. $15 to $25. (310) 825-2101.

8 pm: Theater

The original New York production of “Fully Committed,” Becky Mode’s solo comedy about a harried reservations clerk at a four-star hotel, stars Mark Setlock under the direction of Nicholas Martin. Setlock not only plays the clerk, but a high-strung maitre d’, an egomaniacal chef and everyone who comes into the hotel, from supermodels and Wall Street high rollers to little old rich ladies, Hollywood producers and the Mafia.

* “Fully Committed,” Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 and 8 p.m; Sundays, 3 and 7 p.m. Ends Nov. 19. $25 to $45. (310) 657-7377.

8 pm: Performance Art

The Rachel Rosenthal Company presents the Bald Ambition Festival, Los Angeles premieres of a rotating double bill of new works, emceed by Rachel Rosenthal. It kicks off with Pat Payne’s “A Body Condensed Light” and Tad Coughenour’s “Avion.” Other artists who will perform during the festival are Franc Baliton, Rochelle Fabb, Michael Morrissey and Michael Sakamoto.

* The Bald Ambition Festival, Espace DbD, 2847 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, Fridays through Sundays at 8 p.m. Call for specific show dates. Ends Oct. 1. $12; $28 for a festival pass to all three bills.

8 pm: Dance

Although State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara is kicking off its fall season with a gala benefit, the focus of the event is not on the company but a stellar guest: the accomplished, versatile, ever-glamorous film dancer Cyd Charisse. UC Santa Barbara professor Frank W. Ries hosts an assortment of digitally restored Charisse clips from “The Ziegfeld Follies” (1946), “Words and Music” (1948), “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), “The Band Wagon” (1953), “Brigadoon” (1954) and “Silk Stockings” (1957), along with outtakes and whole numbers omitted from release prints. Charisse herself will be introduced by fashion designer Luis Estevez and, yes, State Street Ballet will dance a little here and there.

* State Street Ballet’s tribute to Cyd Charisse, Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara. $38 to $175 (with gala buffet reception included). (805) 963-0761.

All day: Art

The Southwest Museum of Art pays tribute to six influential artists in “Native American Artists of the 21st Century,” an exhibit at the museum’s LACMA West space. Teri Greeves, Michael Horse, Parker Boyiddle, Bernie Granados Jr., Kim Seyesnem Obrzut and Elizabeth Abeyta will be featured in this diverse show of works ranging from paintings and sculpture to pottery, jewelry and beadwork.

* “Native American Artists of the 21st Century.” Southwest Museum at LACMA West, 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. Ends Dec. 31. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, noon-8 p.m.; Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Adults, $6; seniors and students, $4; visitors 6-17, $3; children under 6, free. (323) 933-4510.

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FREEBIE: Actress-poet Sarah Jones explores race and prejudice in “Surface Transit: More Sketches of Ordinary People,” California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Noon. (213) 687-2159.