Cinequest Film Festival has a lot to offer this year, with hundreds of films and indie filmmakers and celebrities Harrison Ford and Chuck Palahniuk visiting San Jose. The Festival starts its 23rd year on Feb. 26 at California Theatre and continues at various venues in San Jose through March 10.

In addition to film screenings, Cinequest provides the opportunity for filmmakers and fans to share their passion and discuss films at meet-ups, forums and parties throughout the festival.

Artist and Innovator Forums feature business leaders and tastemakers discussing important topics and Maverick Meet-ups give film fans the opportunity to talk about their interests at San Jose restaurants and bars.

This year, a Maverick Spirit Award will be given to actor Harrison Ford on March 3 at 7pm. Ford received his first big role in the hit movie, American Graffiti (1972), before his career took off with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, among numerous other features.

Another Maverick Spirit Award will be given to novelist Chuck Palahniuk, most famous for writing Fight Club, which was adapted into a film by David Fincher in 1999. Palahniuk’s short film Romance will also shown at Cinequest.

General admission for regular screenings is $10. The Film Lover Pass is for all regular film screenings and all encore day screenings and is $145 and the VIP all access pass is $500.

More Cinequest coverage from Metro Newspaper:

Cinequest XXIII
by Richard von Busack
For 13 days a year, downtown San Jose is flooded with dreamers. They are of two kinds: There are fans who immerse themselves in a flood of movies from around the globe, letting a day of films take them away. And there are moviemakers with their own dreams—who hope that their slaved-over film will break through the pack and garner some attention.

Meet the Spartans
by Richard von Busack
A summer program at SJSU gives novice filmmakers a chance to create a feature at a fraction of the price of NYU or USC

Ginger & Rosa
by Richard von Busack
Cinequest opens strong with Sally Potter’s ‘Ginger & Rosa’

Cinequest Critic’s Picks
by Richard von Busack