A perennial favorite, the Jerusalem Film Festival returns to venues across town this week. This year's festival, which runs from July 8th to 17th, opens on the serious side, with an outdoor screening (at the lovely Sultan's Pool) of La Rafle (pictured), a film about Jewish children in Nazi-occupied France. The screening will be attended by noted French actor Jean Reno, one of the film's stars.

The festival's serious side will likewise be reflected in the many documentaries that lie at the heart of the formidable lineup of screenings, including those competing for awards in the Best Documentary and Best Director of a Documentary categories.

On the lighter side are events like "The Dude in Nachalot," part of the Festival's D'eachka program, in which three local stand-up comics screen the films they find most funny. For Big Lebowski fans, it's a big event. Jackie Levy, Jerusalem's own Renaissance man - television and radio personality and host of Beit Avi Chai's Kalabbat Shabbat program - will speak about the themes of the movie, and their local manifestations, at a screening in Jerusalem's Independence Park. For those who, dude-like, wish to keep the party going after the open-air screening, there's even a post-movie get-together at Beit Avi Chai's P7 bar (free admission).

Indeed, one of the great things about the festival (besides the fact that it's one of Jerusalem's most exciting cultural events on the annual calendar - with offerings comparable in variety, if not glitz, with Cannes and Sundance), is that there is something for everyone.

From those with cinematic nostalgia, there's the Classics series, featuring such beloved films as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Saturday, July 10th, at the Begin Center, pictured) and the Hitchcock stalwart To Catch a Thief (Thursday, July 15th, at the Cinematheque).

For Jerusalem history buffs, and Achinoam Nini fans, there's The Golden Pomegranate (Tuesday, July 13th, at the Begin Center), which tells the story of a child bride from Yemen's transition to adulthood in early 20th century Jerusalem. For the party crowd, there's the D'eachka series mentioned above, which incorportes special late-night happy hour discounts (11pm-12pm) at central Jerusalem area bars following the movie screenings.

Film buffs of Jerusalem, this one's for you.