all day: Movies

The second annual Silver Lake Film Festival launches Sunday with 46 programs over eight days, doubling the size of last year’s inaugural event. Highlights of this year’s festival include the opening night gala, featuring the West Coast premiere of “Elvira’s Haunted Hills,” starring Cassandra Peterson; the centerpiece gala next Thursday, the West Coast premiere of Penelope Spheeris’ documentary on Ozzfest, “We Sold Our Souls for Rock ‘n’ Roll”; the Sept. 21 Locals Only centerpiece, the U.S. premiere of “The Fluffer”; and a closing night gala Sept. 23, with an outdoor screening of a newly restored print of the 1927 Clara Bow film “It.” Peterson, a.k.a. Elvira, and Spheeris will also receive Spirit of Silver Lake awards. In addition to screenings, there will also be a fringe fest, musical performances, readings and book signings at venues throughout Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Echo Park. The first event of the festival will be Sunday at noon, a kickoff brunch at Vermont Restaurant, featuring author Albert Sonnenfeld’s lecture-video presentation on food-oriented films such as “Babette’s Feast,” “Tampopo” and “Like Water for Chocolate.”

* Silver Lake Film Festival, Vermont Restaurant, 714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; Vista Theater, 4473 Sunset Drive, Los Feliz. Sunday, kickoff brunch at Vermont restaurant, “Sex, Food and Videotape.” Opening night gala at the Vista, “Elvira’s Haunted Hills,” 7 p.m. Screenings and related events through Sept. 23. Brunch, $40 for individuals, $75 for two, or $125 for four; Opening night gala, centerpiece gala and Locals Only centerpiece, $25; closing night gala, $50; screenings, $10. (323) 993-7225 or https://www.silverlakefilmfestival.com.

5 pm: Theater

Hal Holbrook and Rick Stear star in David Mamet’s “A Life in the Theatre,” about the changing dynamics between a seasoned veteran actor and an aspiring young star who share a dressing room and the stage during a theater’s repertory season.

* “A Life in the Theatre,” Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, Sunday, 5 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays to Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 and 9 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Oct. 21. $15 to $42.50. (626) 356-PLAY.

all day: Architecture

“What’s Shakin’: New Architecture in LA,” a two-part exhibition opening today at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Gallery at the Pacific Design Center and the Geffen Contemporary, presents plans and models for architectural projects under construction in Los Angeles, including Frank Gehry’s Disney Hall and Jose Rafael Moneo’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.* “What’s Shakin’: New Architecture in LA,” MOCA Gallery at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., and MOCA at the Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave. , L.A. Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ends Jan. 20. Adults, $6; students and seniors, $4. (213) 626-6222.

7 pm: Theater

Susan Blakely heads the cast in the premiere of Howard M. Gould’s new comedy “Diva” at the La Jolla Playhouse. Blakely plays a spoiled yet irresistible film star intent on breaking into television and letting nothing stand in her way.

* “Diva,” La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 7 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Oct. 14.

Freebies

* The Family Concert series at the Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, continues at 2 p.m. with a recital by soprano Jeralyn Lambourne, with pianist Mark Salters. (714) 993-5075.

* Keyboardist Dennis Thurmond offers “400 years of keyboard improvisations and free-form compositions” in Alfred Newman Recital Hall at USC, 3 p.m. (213) 740-3229.