Well, it's more than a little mind-blowing that 10 years have flown by since 2001's inaugural High Falls Film Festival, originally conceived to honor Rochester's unique place in the histories of both film and women's rights. The past decade has seen HF3, as it was affectionately known back then, morph into what is now called the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival. The 2011 version goes down April 27-May 2, with 21 countries represented by the 100 or so films - narrative and documentary, full-length and fun-sized - that will be flickering upon screens at four separate venues around town.

One constant throughout the festival's various incarnations has been the Susan B. Anthony "Failure Is Impossible" Award; this year the honor goes to director Julie Taymor, who most recently hit theaters with her gender-bent take on Shakespeare's "The Tempest" but is probably best known for her Tony-winning stage adaptation of "The Lion King." Other 2011 honorees are Ken Burns' cinematographer Buddy Squires, as well as "Cannonball Run" screenwriter Brock Yates, who currently resides in Wyoming County.

This year's films were selected by 360 | 365 Managing Director Linda Moroney, retired Gannett movie man Jack Garner, and Dryden programmer Lori Donnelly, so keep reading for City's take on just a few of the films that they've chosen for us. Need more? Visit the festival's website at film360365.com for further details, including ticket information along with a comprehensive schedule of films, panels, and parties.

"Tracker"

Both England's Ray Winstone and New Zealand's Temuera Morrison first earned art-house notice in 1994 with intense performances as abusive husbands; Winstone in Ken Loach's "Ladybird Ladybird" and Morrison in Lee Tamahori's "Once Were Warriors." The ensuing years saw each man successfully adhering to the character-actor path, and now the two talents converge in "Tracker," a sturdy period adventure kept aloft by its skillful central duet. Winstone stars as Arjan, a South African refugee of the Second Boer War who relocates to New Zealand in 1903, while Morrison plays Kereama, a Maori sailor on the run across some stunning Kiwi scenery after being wrongly accused of murder.

Arjan, an experienced tracker, joins the lucrative hunt for Kereama, but once he catches up with his prey, "Tracker" becomes a strange sort of buddy movie, as the two men find they have a common enemy thanks to their experiences with British colonialism and its heavy price. At times Arjan and Kereama indulge in some incongruous screwball bickering that would be more at home in "Lethal Weapon," but director Ian Sharp and screenwriter Nicolas van Pallandt never let us forget that they're dealing with matters of life, death, and honor. (Wednesday, April 27, Dryden, 6:45 p.m.)

"Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone"

There have been so many documentaries about musicians that detail their rise to fame, followed by their fall from grace, then hopefully the peace that they've made with where they ultimately land. But there aren't too many bands like Fishbone, who've spent the last 20 years honing a nearly unclassifiable blend of ska, punk, funk, reggae, and whatever else strikes them. ("I've seen them do every style," reports Minutemen co-founder Mike Watt. "In the same song.") With dramatic narration by Laurence Fishburne, "Everyday Sunshine" chronicles the evolution of Fishbone, from South Central kids in a San Fernando Valley high school to the main stage at Lollapalooza ‘93 to the ego-fueled breakdown of the chemistry that originally propelled their shared vision.

Filmmakers Chris Metzler and Lev Anderson get reminiscences of Fishbone from a Who's Who of alternative rock, including Les Claypool, Perry Farrell, Flea, and Vernon Reid, all of whom recall a peerless band that didn't get the recognition it deserved. But "Everyday Sunshine" focuses most of its attention on Fishbone's odd-couple nucleus of manic Angelo Moore and thoughtful Norwood Fisher, perhaps unwittingly providing them with a forum to air long-standing resentments and find harmonious ground on which to move forward. (Wednesday, April 27, Little 1, 7 p.m.)

"My Dog Tulip"

Truman Capote once referred to J.R. Ackerley's 1956 memoir "My Dog Tulip" as "one of the greatest books ever written by anybody in the world." It's been adapted for the screen by veteran animator Paul Fierlinger and his wife, Sandra, into an imaginatively lo-fi watercolor cartoon for adults, one which recounts the 16 years of mutual adoration between the English writer and his German Shepherd. Hot off Pixar's gorgeous "Up," the tireless Christopher Plummer provides the voice for Ackerley, who sums up the bond between Britons and their pets thusly: "Unable to love each other, the English turn naturally to dogs."

Ackerley takes us through his initial encounters with the 18-month-old Tulip as they try to co-exist, him offering up uncommonly profound analyses on the inner life of a dog who actually has very simple needs and motivations. The film spends an inordinate amount of time on the gooier aspects of Tulip's body, including her efforts to conceive with the matchmaking assistance of Ackerley. He thought she might like a husband, but she was clearly already in love. (Wednesday, April 27, Little 5, 7:15 p.m.; Friday, April 29, Dryden, 10 p.m.)

"Bill Cunningham New York"

Someone likens Bill Cunningham to a war photographer, and as you watch footage of the helmetless octogenarian snaking through Manhattan traffic on his rickety bicycle, occasionally with a camera in one hand, you can't help but fear for the man's well-being. What's he doing out there? "The fashion show is definitely on the street; always has been, always will be," Cunningham declares, and Richard Press' absorbing documentary "Bill Cunningham New York" takes a look at the man who studies the sidewalks, hoping to spot trends in style or perhaps just capture an everyday person's unique flair.

Cunningham's photographs have been appearing in the New York Times for the last 40 years, and interviews with the industry elite make the case for his impact on fashion. ("We all get dressed for Bill," confesses Vogue Editor Anna Wintour.) Most enjoyably, though, we spend time with the down-to-earth charmer himself, who takes us to his cramped studio and regales us with memorable tales of a life utterly devoted to work, even to the exclusion of romance. It's a startling revelation that Cunningham states with his typical Yankee matter-of-factness, but it still might make you a bit sad. (Wednesday, April 27, Little 1, 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 30, Little 1, 12:30 p.m.)

"Harmony: The Road to Carnegie Hall"

Those who've been operating under the impression that the internet is basically just a shopping mecca or a clearinghouse for free porn should know that some constructive, creative good can come from it as well. Back in January of 2009 a virtual call went out into cyberspace for musicians to upload their auditions for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. The online community voted, and in April more than 90 musicians from 30-plus countries converged on New York City, with only two days to rehearse for a concert on one of the world's most famous stages.

Stephen Higgins' inspirational "Harmony: The Road to Carnegie Hall" introduces us to a few of the winners before they begin intensive preparations, with the language barrier and limited rehearsal time potentially conspiring to turn this act of global goodwill into a cacophonous disaster. And while the participants, under the tutelage of Grammy-winning conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun, may not be professional musicians, they're nonetheless passionately committed, their hopes and fears becoming ours as they get one step closer to realizing their musical dreams. (Thursday, April 28, Little 1, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 1, Little 5, 6:15 p.m.)

"Poetry"

On its surface, Lee Chang-dong's "Poetry" can't help but bring to mind "Mother," by fellow South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. Both feature older maternal figures who will seemingly do anything to protect their guilty young, no matter what the crime. But where Bong's film was a nifty little thriller, Lee's is a meditative character study, one that showcases the heavenly performance of Yun Jung-hee.

Yun stars as Mija, a cheery, selfless 66-year-old who lives with her lazy teenage grandson and takes care of an old man who is unable to care for himself. Mija begins taking a poetry class on a whim, but her newfound purpose and joy is soon hindered by the onset of Alzheimer's as well as her grandson's implication in a horrific crime. "Poetry" observes as Mija attempts to come to terms with both her power and powerlessness in the lives of those around her, all the while trying to complete a poem by finding the words that will capture her thoughts and feelings before they elude her permanently. (In Korean with English subtitles; Thursday, April 28, Dryden, 9 p.m.)

"Wrecked"

First Ryan Reynolds in "Buried," then James Franco in "127 Hours," and now Adrien Brody in "Wrecked": the last few months have seen a run on the guy-trapped-in-a-tight-spot solo act, with the latest featuring the Oscar winner (for 2002's "The Pianist"; remember?) as a car-crash victim unable to remember exactly what happened. We first meet Brody's unnamed and injured man when he regains consciousness, his struggle to free himself from the wreckage hampered by an uncooperative glove compartment. Details reveal themselves slowly... a gun, a couple of corpses, and a whole lot of cash. Is this man, who we've been rooting for to survive, a dangerously amoral bank robber?

Shot in the woods of British Columbia, "Wrecked" is the directorial debut of Canadian filmmaker Michael Greenspan, who parcels out information about his protagonist with confidence and patience, though occasionally allowing his aspiring thriller to drag. The film's ability to engage rests solely on the shoulders of Brody, who holds our attention and our sympathies while putting himself through the grueling paces of army-crawling on the muddy forest floor and sharing his most emotive scenes with a dog. (Friday, April 29, Little 1, 8:15 p.m.)

"Louder Than A Bomb"

This probably isn't the most criticky way to start a review, but I love this movie so much. To be honest, though, the premise of "Louder Than A Bomb" is nothing new: cameras roll while eager children participate in activities that aren't typically associated with young-people fun, like the little wordsmiths in 2002's "Spellbound" or the school-age hoofers of "Mad Hot Ballroom." Unfolding against the backdrop of a 2008 Chicagoland poetry slam for teens, "Louder Than A Bomb" sets itself both apart and above due to its treasure trove of brilliantly spirited kids, so-called opponents who are also each other's biggest fans.

Co-director Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel begin their chronicle six months before the competition - also called Louder Than A Bomb - and narrow their focus to a quartet of poets, like the determined Nova, who has learned to channel her anger into her art, and Nate, a self-described "nerd" whose accomplished wordplay belies his age. We learn about what inspires these kids to write, whether it be family or social issues, but the most rousing parts take place at LTAB, where everyone cheers on their competitors as they hit the stage to spill their hearts and guts. Do not miss this one. (Saturday, April 30, Nazareth Arts Center, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 1, Little 1, 3 p.m.)

"The Lie"

Out of the three principal actors in 1999's "The Blair Witch Project," it seemed like the handsome, magnetic Joshua Leonard would be the star. And he still may be, though he's certainly taken his sweet time about it. After a decade of slogging it out on the fringe (including 2009's excellent "Humpday"), Leonard makes his feature-directing debut with a darkly funny adaptation of a T. Coraghessan Boyle short story about a man and the repercussions of his early mid-life crisis. Leonard also stars as Lonnie, and "The Lie" begins to take shape when the unhappy video editor begins manufacturing reasons to get out of work, culminating in a nearly unforgivable untruth, one that Lonnie will try very hard to keep aloft.

But as good as Leonard is as a man whose idealistic aspirations have been quashed by the real-world responsibilities attendant to providing for a family, co-star Jess Weixler steals "The Lie" from her director and co-writer. Best known for her turn in 2007's vagina dentata cult classic "Teeth," Weixler offers up a beautifully controlled performance as Lonnie's wife, juggling new motherhood with career decisions and now a husband who has essentially stopped functioning. She also has to pretend to like one of Lonnie's terrible songs, which is perhaps the most difficult acting of all. (Saturday, April 30, Little 1, 6 p.m.)

"Three"

At various points in a relationship the romantic part of it will wane; that's where Hanna (Sophie Rois, "The Inheritors") and Simon (Sebastian Schipper, "The English Patient") are when we meet them. They've been together for about 20 years - never married, no kids, demanding careers - and they're both ripe for the picking. That each will have a secret affair with the same person, a bisexual stem-cell researcher, is the premise of Tom Tykwer's "Three," a drama that offers a distinctive view of modern commitment and its ability to weather time and change.

Since his first international success with 1998's "Run Lola Run," Tykwer has been delightfully tough to pin down; his reported next project, for instance, will star a young up-and-comer named Tom Hanks. Now, some might find Tykwer's stance in "Three" rather utopian, while others could scoff at a resolution that's perhaps a bit too tidy. But with the help of believable and unaffected performances, especially Schipper as a man surprised by the easy fluidity of his sexuality, Tykwer has crafted an intriguing love story with moments of natural humor. (In German with English subtitles; Saturday, April 30, Little 1, 8:30 p.m.)

"Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff"

More than a decade in the making, Craig McCall's wonderful documentary "Cameraman" trains its lens on Jack Cardiff, the celebrated cinematographer who combined his milieu's art and science to game-changing effect. First appearing in front of the camera in 1918 at 4 years old, it wasn't long before he found his way to the other side, his skill with the new process of Technicolor eventually earning him a chance to shoot for the renowned team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Cardiff would win an Oscar in 1947 for their "The Red Shoes," effectively providing the painterly blueprint for future generations of cinematographers.

"Cameraman" features remembrances from Cardiff's peers and fans, names like Lauren Bacall, Kirk Douglas, and Martin Scorsese, unfortunately lit as though he's telling a ghost story. McCall's ace-in-the-hole, however, is copious interviews with the humble man himself; though we lost Cardiff in 2009 at the age of 94, we get a personal tour of his accomplished artwork, candid observations about fellow legends (on Marlene Dietrich: "She would have been a great cameraman"), as well as interesting anecdotes from famous film sets like 1951's "The African Queen," where the drinking water was so bad that John Huston and Humphrey Bogart bravely made do with whiskey. (Sunday, May 1, Dryden, 11 a.m.)

"Copacabana"

At one point or another you've probably been embarrassed by your parents, but the recently engaged Esmé is so mortified by the self-centered eccentricity of her mother Babou that she's concocted a lie that will keep Babou away from her own daughter's wedding. This galvanizes the blowzy Babou into making something of herself by selling timeshares in a dreary Belgian town, thereby proving to her daughter that she's worthy of her respect. This sounds like the premise for a predictable, feel-good comedy, and it totally is. But what distinguishes "Copacabana" from the million other coming-of-middle-age tales is its Babou, French cinema grande dame Isabelle Huppert.

Truthfully, "Copacabana" is a bit of a lark for La Huppert, who could play Babou in her sleep. But she fully embraces the cotton-candyness of it all as an aging bohemian who realizes that her daughter (played by her actual spawn, the Winslet-resembling Lolita Chammah) may have a valid point about the short-sighted futility of Babou's living for the moment, while Esmé discovers that her mother isn't without her particular brand of weird wisdom... something we all eventually learn, over and over again. (In French with English subtitles; Sunday, May 1, Little 1, 1 p.m.)

Festival Schedule

Wednesday, April 27

6:45 p.m.: "Tracker" Dryden Theatre

7 p.m.: "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" Little1

7:15 p.m.: "My Dog Tulip" Little 5

9 p.m.: Opening Night 10th Anniversary Party Potter Peristyle

9:15 p.m.: "Armadillo" Little 5

9:30 p.m.: "Bill Cunningham New York" Little1

9:30 p.m.: "A Useful Life" Dryden Theatre

Thursday, April 28

11 a.m.: Coffee With... Strathallan

6:30 p.m.: "Harmony: The Road to Carnegie Hall" Little1

6:45 p.m.: Honored Guest: Buddy Squires Dryden Theatre

6:45 p.m.: Shorts Program: Adventures & Challenges Little 5

8 p.m.: "Across the Universe" Memorial Art Gallery

8:30 p.m.: "Aftershock" Little1

9 p.m.: 2 Vine Party Restaurant 2 Vine

9 p.m.: "Poetry" Dryden Theatre

9:15 p.m.: "Second-Story Man" Little 5

Friday, April 29

11 a.m.: Coffee With... Strathallan

6 p.m.: "Roll Out, Cowboy" Little 1

6:30 p.m.: Shorts Program: Love & Memory Little 5

6:30 p.m.: "The Tempest" Dryden Theatre

7 p.m.: "Summer Pasture" Nazareth College Arts Center

8:15 p.m.: "Wrecked" Little1

8:45 p.m.: "Trollhunter" Little 5

10 p.m.: "My Dog Tulip" Dryden Theatre

Saturday, April 30

10:30 a.m.: "Gone to Earth" Dryden Theatre

10:30 a.m.: Kids Shorts From Around the World Little1

11 a.m.: Media Literacy & Youth Filmmaking Curtis Theatre

11 a.m.: Conversation with Julie Taymor Little 5

12:30 p.m.: NY Loves Film Panel Curtis Theatre

12:30 p.m.: "Bill Cunningham New York" Little1

1 p.m.: Rochester Teen Film Festival + One Little 5

1:15 p.m.: "The Woodmans" Dryden Theatre

1:45 p.m.: Screenwriters Panel Curtis Theatre

2:30 p.m.: RIT SoFA Program Little 5

3 p.m.: "Kinyarwanda" Little1

3:30 p.m.: Screenplay Live Curtis Theatre

4 p.m.: "The Animated World of John Canemaker" Dryden Theatre

5 p.m.: "Made In India" Little 5

5:30 p.m.: "Louder Than a Bomb" Nazareth College Arts Center

6 p.m.: "The Lie" Little1

7:15 p.m.: "The First Grader" Dryden Theatre

7:45 p.m.: "How to Die in Oregon" Little 5

8 p.m.: "The Robber" Nazareth College Arts Center

8:30 p.m.: "Three" Little1

9 p.m.: The Studio Party Young Lion Studio

10 p.m.: "Another Earth" Little 5

10 p.m.: "Tracker" Dryden Theatre

Sunday, May 1

11 a.m.: "Cameraman: The Life of Jack Cardiff" Dryden Theatre

11 a.m.: "The White Meadows" Little1

11:15 a.m.: "Windfall" Little 5

1 p.m.: "Copacabana" Little1

1 p.m.: "A Matter of Life and Death" Dryden Theatre

1:45 p.m.: Shorts Program: Wishes & Wants Little 5

3 p.m.: "Louder Than a Bomb" Little1

3:45 p.m.: "Jazzmania" Dryden Theatre

4:15 p.m.: "Nostalgia for the Light" Little 5

5:45 p.m.: "Meek's Cutoff" Little1

6:15 p.m.: "Harmony: The Road to Carnegie Hall" Little 5

6:45 p.m.: "Not My Life" Dryden Theatre

7:45 p.m.: "Precious Life" Little1

8:15 p.m.: "Aftershock" Little 5

Monday, May 2

7 p.m.: Best of the Festival Audience Favorite: Narrative Little1

9:15 p.m.: Best of Festival Audience Favorite: Documentary Little1