Move over, Sundance, Telluride, Tribeca: The Valley’s two homegrown film festivals, the Woodstock Film Festival and FilmColumbia, each mark their 15th anniversary this month. And to celebrate, both events promise a lineup of quality flicks that should make even the most casual cinephile swoon.
The larger of the two fests, Woodstock screens more than 150 films of all types — indie features, documentaries, animated shorts — at theaters located in Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Kingston, and Saugerties. Among the offerings are two features — Little White Lie and The Sisterhood of Night — that were shot locally (in Woodstock and Kingston, respectively). And actress Courteney Cox makes her directorial debut with Just Before I Go; the Friends star also takes part in one of the festival’s celebrity-led panel discussions. In fact, celeb sightings at the festival’s concerts, parties, and other events are part of its allure; last year, actors Paul Rudd, Vera Farmiga, and Andy Garcia were all in attendance (Oct. 15-19; www.woodstockfilmfestival.com).
The big news from the FilmColumbia camp is that the five-day event is expanding; this year, screenings and related events — including opening night parties and “Meet the Filmmaker” brunches — take place in the city of Hudson as well as in Chatham (the festival’s home base). The full lineup of movies was still being firmed up at press time, but four films nominated for the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival — Foxcatcher, Wild Tales, Mr. Turner, and Leviafan — are all on the schedule. If you’re a fan of the red carpet, take note: This fest has a knack of featuring flicks (last year’s Dallas Buyer’s Club, August: Osage County, and The Book Thief are three examples) that end up in the running for an Oscar or two come March (Oct. 22-26; www.filmcolumbia.com).
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Rosanne Cash — daughter of iconic musician Johnny Cash — began her own country music career at the tender age of 19, when she sang on one of her daddy’s albums. From there, the singer/songwriter went on to record 13 LPs of her own, including 1981’s Seven Year Ache (the single of the same name was a solid hit on both the C&W and pop music charts). Her most recent release, this year’s The River and the Thread, has racked up red-hot reviews from sources as diverse as USA Today and the online magazine Paste. Cash graces the stage at the Bardavon this month, accompanied by a full band, and performs songs from throughout her long career. Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. $54-$74. 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, 845-473-2072; www.bardavon.org
Outdoor festivals of various types are common in the Valley at this time of year. But the O+ Festival in Kingston offers arts and entertainment with an unusual twist. A slew of artists — 40 bands and 20 visual artists — perform at the three-day event in exchange for healthcare and wellness services from local doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and other providers. Along with music, the fest features a wellness expo; yoga, dance, and other movement classes; children’s activities; a dance party; and a 50-mile bike ride. Less ambitious cyclists can opt to join the mural-to-mural ride, which is a tour of the large and colorful public artworks created at previous festivals. Oct. 10-12 in Uptown Kingston. Visit Web site for complete information. www.opositivefestival.org
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Here’s a way to have your (cultural) cake and eat it, too: Gas up the car and head out to the ArtEast Open Studio Tour. Visit the working spaces of more than 40 artists who ply their trade in eastern Dutchess and Putnam counties. Both well-established and up-and-coming painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, and other creative types are on hand at the tour’s 26 stops, ready and willing to chat with guests about their work — and to offer it for sale at affordable prices. And just think of all the leaf-peeping you can do traveling from studio to studio along the Taconic and Route 22. Oct. 18-19 and 25-26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call or visit Web site for complete information, including a map of studio locations. 845-855-1676; www.arteastdutchess.com