1-night stand for 'Wizard,' and a fantastic film fest

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, "The Wizard of Oz" will return to theaters one night only on Wednesday, showing with a taped introduction by Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne and some special behind-the-scenes clips. Participating local theaters include Pacific Place, Alderwood 7, Bella Bottega, Auburn 17, Kent Station 14 and Century Theatres Federal Way 16; tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased at theater box offices or online at www.fathomevents.com.

Northwest Film Forum this Sunday presents the documentary "Speaking in Tongues," about bilingual education in America; the 3 p.m. screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Also at NWFF this week: Sufjan Stevens' cinematic suite of music and images, "The BQE" (inspired in part by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway), screens Sunday through Tuesday; the Crash Pad Series presents Shine Louise Houston's "Champion" on Tuesday night only; and an evening of vintage short films, "Heavy Visuals '69: Electronic Cinema and Experimental Films," will screen Wednesday. All take place at 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; for more information on any of these events, call 206-267-5380 or see www.nwfilmforum.org.

Metro Classics continues its Wednesday-night "Liars, Thieves and Cheats" series with Preston Sturges' 1948 screwball, "Unfaithfully Yours," starring Rex Harrison as a conductor who wonders if his wife is having an affair. 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday only, Metro, 4500 Ninth Ave. N.E., Seattle; 206-781-5755 or www.landmarktheatres.com.

SIFF Cinema hosts the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival this weekend, with three days of horror, fantasy, animation and science-fiction film. The horror film "The Revenant" begins the festival tonight, with Saturday and Sunday bringing several themed packages of short films (including a locally made science-fiction double feature) and the feature-length films "Pig Hunt," "Until the Light Takes Us" and "Strigoi," with writer/director Faye Jackson present. A full festival pass is $65; day passes are $30, individual tickets $10. SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; for more information, see www.siff.net or www.mifff.org.

And finally, this weekend's midnight show at the Egyptian is everyone's favorite cult comedy: 1972's "Harold and Maude," starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort as one of cinema's most unlikely couples. Tonight and Saturday, 805 E. Pine St., Seattle; 206-781-5755 or www.landmarktheatres.com.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com