A film festival, anime and a 'sick and twisted' Threepenny Opera: CBC Manitoba's weekend picks for Feb. 22-24

A festival of films by black artists including one up for a best picture Oscar on Sunday a chance to pull out your best anime costume and a uniquetake on a classic of musical theatre are among your entertainment options in Winnipeg this weekend.

Three of CBCManitoba's on-air personalities share their top picks forthe final weekend of February.

Sam Samson's pick:Afro Prairie Film Festival

Instead of trying to find a new movie on Netflix this weekend, head out to Cinematheque for the second Afro Prairie Film Festival.

The four-day festival, which started Thursday night, is put on by Black Space Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Film Group. It celebrates black filmmakers from around the world, with more than a dozen films all screening in the Exchange District theatre, including the Oscar-nominated filmBlacKkKlansmanand the Canadian Screen Award-nominatedBrown Girl Begins.

The offerings range from documentariesto Brown Girl Begins a movie that falls into the Afrofuturistgenre, which explores the intersection of black culture and technology.

"You have all these different new voices that are starting to sprout up and say, 'This is our vision of what we see in the future for us,'"said Ben Williams, anorganizer with the Winnipeg Film Group.

"You don't see too many futurism-related themes that black people are either stars of, or even in. You can look in a lot of sci-fi films in the past, and we're barely even extras. So it's cool to see some themes that deal with Afrofuturism. It's finally seeing somebody like yourself."

Williams says there aren't a lot of black filmmakers who come through their organization, but you can see one Winnipegger's workon Sunday. Bisong Taiwo's five-minute short Dreamchaserswill screen on Sunday at 7 p.m. CT as part of a presentation of short movies.

Single film screening tickets cost $10, but check out the festival website for more information on festival passes.

Shannah-Lee Vidal's pick:Ai-Kon Winterfest

This weekend, you can celebrate Japanese anime and pop culture at Ai-Kon's Winterfest. The daylong event on Saturday is a smaller version of the annual Ai-Konanime convention that takes place in the summer.

The event is an opportunity to meet other fans of the genre, while you cosplay as your favourite anime character, watch a traditional fashion show and learn how to wear a yukata(a type of kimono), or even unleash yourinner Mario or Zeldaby joining in some role-playing games.

There will be plenty of live entertainment, including a performance by the Seishun Youth Academy.

The Vancouver-based group was created as a "sister group" to Japan's Seishun Gakuen. The musical team sings original songs in Japanese and English.

See Seishun Youth Academy in performance:

Of course, itwouldn't be an anime event without watching some anime. There will be a screening of the film Liz and the Blue Bird, whichfollows two high school friends who are in band class together. As their lives change, so does the music they make.

Ai-Kon's Winterfestwill run at the RBC Convention Centre from noon until 11 p.m. on Saturday. Day passes for thefamily-friendly event are $24 and can be purchased onlineor at the door.

For those bringing the little ones, the first child (aged 12 or under) is free with the price of an adult pass. You can also purchase up to three additional children's tickets for $5each.

Ismaila Alfa's pick: Threepenny Opera

I want to send you to aunique production ofTheThreepenny Opera.

It's not really exactly the opera the 1928 "play with music" by master playwright Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill isactually a parody of an opera, sort of poking fun at the pretentiousness of the form.

You'll recognize some of the music from Threepenny Opera, as some tunes have becomestandards, including Pirate Jennyand Mack the Knifewhich has been covered by everyone from FrankSinatrato MichaelBubl.

Here's the story: Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. The problem is the boy is Macheath, a.k.a. Mackie, a.k.a Mack The Knife!

As you might guess, the girl's father is not pleased with this and pushes to get Mack arrested and hanged. Second major problem for dad the police chief is Mack the Knife's BFF.So of course, Mack is able to avoid execution. Mack somehow is arrested and imprisoned again, butmanages to be freed and actually comes out in a better position on the other side.

That's a quick synopsis of the story, butthe production you can see in Winnipeg this weekend at the West End Cultural Centreis being put to stage as a co-production by the Sick + Twistedand AA Battery theatre companies.

Sick + Twisted is a local company run by Winnipeg actor, director and writer Debbie Patterson, who lives with multiple sclerosis, and her company focuses oncreating work that exploresthe experience of living with a disability.

Threepenny Operawill be performed by dancers, singers and actors ofall abilities including some actors who are deaf, some who are physically disabledand somewho live without physical disability.

You can see Threepenny Opera at the West End Cultural Centre on opening night Friday,or any other day this weekend at 7:30 p.m. It also runsWednesday through Friday next week at 7:30 p.m.,and there's a Saturday matinee on March 2 at 2 p.m.

The Feb.23 and March 2 shows will have ASL interpretation.

Tickets are $30and are available online.