The must-see movies

‘PAPER MAN’

It’s tough to say who is taking the bigger risk by screening the world premiere of a looking-for-distribution title from debut directors as the opening night film, the festival or the filmmakers. It could be a make-or-break moment for the film, written and directed by Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney about a man (Jeff Daniels) who imagines a superhero (Ryan Reynolds) as his lifelong confidant, as this will be a high-pressure, industry-heavy audience. For the festival organizers, it could either boost the perception that they can “make” a film or it could make for one bummer of an after-party.

June 18, 7:30 p.m., Mann Village Theater

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‘IT MIGHT GET LOUD’ ‘ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES’ ‘13 MOST BEAUTIFUL . . . SONGS FOR ANDY WARHOL’S SCREEN TESTS’

Three music films, each satisfying to your inner nerd in its own way. “It Might Get Loud,” directed by Davis Guggenheim, brings together three towering figures in the rock pantheon, featuring Jimmy Page digging through his record collection, the Edge explaining his effects pedals and Jack White building a guitar from a pile of junk. “All Tomorrow’s Parties” creates an Expressionistic portrait of the ongoing British festival series, with footage of Sonic Youth, Belle and Sebastian, Nick Cave, Mogwai and others. And with “13 Most Beautiful,” a screening of Andy Warhol’s screen tests is rare enough, but live, languid musical accompaniment by group Dean & Britta makes the event an aural bull’s-eye.

“It Might Get Loud” -- June 19, 7 p.m., Mann Festival; June 22, 2 p.m., Landmark 8

“All Tomorrow’s Parties” -- June 24, 8:30 p.m.,

Ford Amphitheatre

“13 Most Beautiful . . . Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Test” -- June 20, 8:30 p.m., Ford Amphitheatre

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‘DEAR LEMON LIMA’

Words like “charming” and “quirky” have become signposts for “Danger! Keep out!” among most indie films, but with this debut feature by writer-director Suzi Yoonessi, those adjectives seem apt, and the film revives the very notion that sometimes a certain tweeness, when done right, can be as refreshing as an Astro-Pop on a summer’s day. At a high school in Alaska, a young outcast -- played with an uncanny mix of bounce and angst by teenager Savanah Wiltfong -- struggles with issues of heritage, identity and fitting in.

June 20, 7:15 p.m., Mann Festival Theater; June 23,

4:30 p.m., Landmark 8

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‘BIG RIVER MAN’ ‘NO IMPACT MAN’

Two films that focus on the power of the individual and just what one person can accomplish, these documentaries manage to be thoughtful, informative and fun. In “Big River Man,” filmmaker John Maringouin follows a portly Slovenian as he swims the length of the Amazon. In “No Impact Man,” environmentalist Colin Beavan tries to live for one year with the smallest environmental footprint possible. Guess what? It’s not easy.

“Big River Man” -- June 20, 10 p.m., Majestic Crest; June 24, 2:15 p.m., Landmark 8

“No Impact Man” -- June 26, 9:45 p.m., the Regent;

June 28, 2:30 p.m., Landmark 8

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‘BRONSON’ ‘BRANSON’

What a difference one little letter can make. In “Bronson,” director Nicolas Winding Refn creates a searing, operatic vision of one of Britain’s most notorious criminals, a phantasmagoria motored by a dazzling performance by Tom Hardy in the title role. In the documentary “Branson,” filmmaker Brent Meeske looks at the travails of those who travel to the small Missouri town, a tourist destination for country-themed stage shows billed as “the Vegas of the Bible Belt,” seeking a small slice of the spotlight.

“Bronson” -- June 20, 10 p.m., Mann Festival; June 21, 10 p.m., Landmark 4

“Branson” -- June 21, 7 p.m., the Regent; June 23,

4:30 p.m., the Regent

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‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’

Winner of the documentary jury prize at Sundance this year, “We Live in Public” director Ondi Timoner follows the irascible ‘90s dot-com playboy Josh Harris across the ups and downs of his multifaceted career as a pioneer of Internet community-building and interaction. An often disturbing look at the evolution of our fame-and-information-obsessed society, the film examines how media and technology have altered perceptions of privacy and identity.

June 21, 7:15 p.m., Mann Festival Theater; June 24,

9:30 p.m., Landmark 8

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‘CONVENTION’

Something of a dream team of filmmakers from the burgeoning new documentary scene -- corralled by director AJ Schnack -- came together last summer to cover the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Focusing on the local impact of such a large-scale event, the filmmakers follow city officials, local journalists and protesters for a fascinatingly detailed look at how various forces converge and intersect, and what enacting change really looks like.

June 22, 7 p.m., Majestic Crest; June 27,

9:45 p.m., Landmark 8

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‘PUBLIC ENEMIES’

Probably the single most anticipated high-profile screening in the festival, the centerpiece showing of the latest film from director Michael Mann, starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, has folks buzzing. Though it will open in theaters shortly after this preview, people can’t wait for their first look at the Depression-era gangster tale, pitting charismatic bank robber John Dillinger against the FBI, and Mann’s high-style, digital-age aesthetics against the film’s Dust Bowl period setting.

June 23, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Crest

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‘MIDNIGHT COWBOY’

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, and with a scheduled discussion with star Jon Voight, the always-fresh “Midnight Cowboy” rides into the festival lineup. The Oscar-winning film, directed by John Schlesinger, still feels shockingly frank in its depiction of street-level life in New York City and bracingly real in its emotional earnestness and volatility.

June 25, 7:30 p.m., Billy Wilder Theater

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‘BLACK DYNAMITE’

Outrageously spot-on, this loving re-creation of a 1970s blaxploitation film seems like some unearthed rarity sent by a time machine to remind us of what it really means to be super-cool, extra-funky and trained in deadly martial arts. Director Scott Sanders never betrays a knowing wink, amazingly keeping a straight face no matter how out-there it gets.

June 25, 8:30 p.m., Ford Amphitheatre