Get Outta Dodge Issue #41

By Erica Phillips
Published: September 1st, 2009 | 12:00am

Fall is the time of year when the open road is at its most beautiful. As for your choice in destination, look no further than the movies. Showcasing independent works and mainstream premieres, dozens of film festivals around the country are enticing us to put the pedal down and get outta dodge. These five unique fests top our list:

Red Rock Film Festival: Screens and amphitheater seating are set up outdoors against the canyon backdrop of Utah’s Zion National Park. Read: There are no bad views here. (ophilia.com; Nov. 12-15)

ThrillSpy International Film Festival: Celebrating film, television, novels, and comics in the thriller and spy genres, this festival is just the thing for the secret agent lady in all of us. (thrillspy.org; Oct. 7-10)

MadCat Women’s International Film Festival: Focusing on women-directed avant-garde and experimental films from around the world, this year’s San Francisco-based festival reaches into its archives for the best 16mm films. (madcatfilmfestival.org; Sept. 19, 23)

Indie Memphis Film Festival: Local blues and rocknroll history inspires Indie Memphis, a 12-year-old festival showcasing Southern stories. Just don’t forget to try the local BBQ. (indiememphis.com; Oct. 8-15)

Bicycle Film Festival: It all comes together — art, film, music, and performance — in celebration of the bicycle. Needless to say, the after-parties are particularly fun (and bike messenger-ridden) at this fest. (bicyclefilmfestival.com; Las Vegas, Sept. 25; Denver, Oct. 28-31)