Minneapolis–St. Paul International Film Festival

What to watch for: There’s much more to movie-viewing than escaping to another world. Try viewing a film from a technical perspective—watch for lighting changes and continuity flows (or mishaps). Try to figure out the director’s point of view. It’s an entirely different experience.

What to say: Brush up on your film- speak before critiquing the picture. You’ll save face and gain a new understanding of filmmaking. Mise-en-scene is a good term to start with. It refers to the whole feel of a scene and the technical aspects within it.

What not to say: Instead of “jerky cuts,” say “jump cuts.” Don’t say “scary, harsh lighting,” but rather, “chiaroscuro lighting.” Use “overcrank” instead of “slow motion.”

If you must name-drop: Brad and Angie aren’t the only actors out there, and Scorsese and Soderbergh aren’t the only directors. Follow up-and-comers, including directors Jeffrey Blitz (Spellbound), James Strouse (Grace Is Gone), and Mitchell Lichtenstein (Teeth).

Big hint: The Twin Cities has a vibrant film-industry scene, and the M–SPIFF always includes films by local directors. Keep your eyes open for work by Ali Selim, Christine Walker, Bill Pohlad, Melody Gilbert, Matt Ehling, Shawn Otto, and Diablo Cody.

April 12–29. Various locations, 612-331-3134