Coming up in repertory film: Classics, late-night horror, and Chantal Akerman

Each spring, the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby takes over the streets of the River Wards with a fleet of colorful, pedal-powered, DIY floats. After it all goes down on May 21 this year, Cinema Ray will treat derby-goers with a free screening of The Great Race, a 1965 slapstick comedy starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood. Head to Liberty Vintage Motorcycles (a notorious custom bike shop starring on the Discovery Channel) at 6:30pm to catch the flick.

For a different kind of vintage film experience, head to the Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center in Manayunk, where on May 15 Secret Cinema will do what it does best — showcasing a host of obscure TV commercials, public service announcements, and film trailers from the mid-20th century. All will be projected in 16mm film, of course. Admission costs $8.

ICYMI

Earlier this year, Deadpool made a splash in theaters as a farcical, R-rated take on the seemingly never-ending trend of gritty superhero reboots. If you missed out on the hype, don’t fear: The coffee shop/video rental hybrid CineMug will host a free screening on May 12. It’s BYOB, too, with a $2 corking fee.

For something a little weirder in the same venue, check out what the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival has in store on May 14 when it screens Late Night Double Feature. The super-meta 2015 flick follows a taping of an Elvira’s Movie Macabre-style TV horror program that itself turns horrific. This screening is also free to attend, with a $2 BYOB corking fee.

Over at the Roxy, the Philadelphia Film Society’s Rerun program allows viewers to catch up on titles from the last five years in a big-screen setting. From May 13-19, Rerun will show Gimme the Loot, a delightful romp about two teenage graffiti artists ambling around New York City. Believe me, it’s one of the most engaging films about tagging since Wild Style.

Highlights from I-House:

Local history buffs should hit up International House on May 19, when the Scribe Video Center will host a series of educational films about notable sites across the city, especially as they relate to the Great Migration. An installment in Scribe’s Precious Places Community History Project, the screening will shed light on the stories behind the John Coltrane House, William Penn High School, and other landmarks to which passersby rarely give a second thought.

Last October, the film world lost one of its underrated greats: Chantal Akerman, the Belgian director who broke down barriers for women, LGBTQ people, and experimental filmmakers in the movie business. On May 20, I-House will show excerpts from some of the more than 40 films in her oeuvre. Tickets cost $9.