A popular weekend activity for Penn Staters is going to the movies.

Local theaters have boasted sold-out shows on more than one occasion in recent weeks and the overall box office revenue reflects a record-breaking holiday season for Hollywood fare across the nation.

GSA CAFE schedule Today and tomorrow Moulin Rouge The Closet Jan. 25, 26 The Princess and the Warrior Ballad of Ramblin' Jack Feb. 1, 2 Nico and Dani Curse of the Jade Scorpion Feb. 8, 9 Made A Time for Drunken Horses Feb. 15, 16 O Chunhyang Feb. 22, 23 Sobibor, Oct. 14, 1943, 4 p.m. Muholland Drive March 1, 2 Life As A House Life and Debt March 22, 23 Waking Life Solas March 29, 30 The Man Who Wasn't There Kandahar April 5, 6 ABC Africa Affair of the Necklace April 12, 13 I Am Sam Together April 19, 20 A Beautiful Mind (tentative) Lantana

What many students may not realize, however, is that there is a free, alternative showcase for theatrical releases on campus.

The Graduate Students Association once again presents its Critically Acclaimed Film Experience (CAFE) series this semester as it has done since 1990.

Co-chairperson Melissa Ho explained, "The goal is to provide an alternative venue for less mainstream films."

One of those "less mainstream" films that the CAFE series will exhibit is Kandahar.

"It's really topical right now," Ho (graduate-plant physiology) said.

The highly praised French-Iranian film, released in 2001 before the events of Sept. 11, focuses on an Afghan-born female reporter's perilous trek to rescue her sister from the clutches of the Taliban.

"The interest stems from people wanting to see films that aren't going to be around here," suggested co-chairperson Ryan Elmore (graduate-statistics).

"Generally," he added, "they are higher quality films than what you normally get at local movie theaters."

Ho agreed, stating that the criteria for selecting the films include "critical appeal, success at film festivals and good reviews."

Co-chairperson Ryan Vraney feels the films' appeal has more to do with a rite of passage.

"College students and graduate students are looking for something different in movies. They want to see more intellectual films," Vraney (graduate-statistics) said.

She added that the CAFE films are "more thought-provoking than the by-the-numbers big budget blockbusters."

CAFE's semester begins today with the presentation of Oscar-hopeful Moulin Rouge, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.

The film will be shown at 6:45 and 9 p.m. in 112 Kern Building.

The offbeat French comedy, The Closet, is also being shown at 7 and 9:15 p.m. in 101 Chambers Building.

As always, students and State College residents will be admitted free of charge.