The Davis Feminist Film Festival is set for next week, featuring a special preview screening of UC Davis faculty member Julie Wyman’s new documentary Strong!

This intimate and compelling documentary chronicles the efforts of Cheryl Haworth to be the strongest woman in the world. As the 300-pound Olympic weightlifter prepares for Beijing 2008, she struggles with injury and confidence — and her place in a world where large women are not readily accepted.

The festival, co-sponsored by the Consortium for Women and Research, and other campus units, is scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights, April 12 and 13, at the Veterans Memorial Center Theatre, 203 E. 14th St. (at B Street). Each night's program begins with a reception (food and beverages) at 5. The films start at 6.

Strong! is the last film on the Thursday night program. Wyman, an assistant professor of cinema and technocultural studies, plans to attend the screening and participate in a question-and-answer session after.

Strong! runs for 78 minutes, while the festival's 16 other films run from four to 28 minutes.

More information, including the complete program.

Strong! trailer and behind-the-scenes profile.

A festival with an edge

The Department of Theatre and Dance is taking it to the edge again, for the second annual Edge Performance Festival, starting Thursday (April 12) and continuing April 13-15 and 19-22, with some events overlapping.

New this year: Caridad Svich’s The Way of Water (a staged reading) and Hour of 5s Performance Work (five-minute scenes, monologues, dances, songs and the like, by undergraduate students).

And, back for another year: Solo Explorations (individual pieces by graduating Master of Fine Arts candidates in acting), Main Stage Dance (seven new choreographies by first-year graduate students and eligible undergraduates) and Undergraduate One-Acts (student-written plays).

Plus: two midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with rental costumes available!.

Read the complete news release.

Danzantes del Alma's annual show

UC Davis’ ballet folklorico dance troupe, Danzantes del Alma, presents its 35th annual show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14. The student performers specialize in a diverse repertoire from around Mexico.

This year’s show theme is “Recordando Nuestro Pasado Prevé Nuestro Futuro” (“Remembering Our Past Foresees Our Future”).

Advance tickets: $12 general, $10 for students, at the Freeborn Hall box office; $3 more at the door. Children 12 and under: $6 in advance or at the door. To inquire about group discounts, contact Veronica Serrato, vserrato@ucdavis.edu, or Fabian Iglesias, figlesias@ucdavis.edu, or call the Cross Cultural Center, (530) 752-4938