Independent Film Festival of Boston 2011

No sooner has the Boston Underground Film Festival reminded us of the capabilities of subversive cinema than the upcoming (April 27- May 4) Ninth Annual Independent Film Festival of Boston further boosts our faith in the medium by releasing its line-up of goods.

It's such a truism by now that it almost doesn't bear mentioning that the IFFB is THE premier film event  in Boston, if not in New England (pace, BUFF, Provincetown, Nantucket...) and this year's program merely confirms the obvious. A few of the highlights include:

13 ASSASSINS, a samurai film by the prolific and eclectic Takashi Miike.

THE TRIP, a comedy  by the equally prolific and eclectic Michael Winterbottom's featuring one of the world's funniest people, Steve Coogan.

THE FUTURE,  the latest brilliant, offbeat bauble by Miranda July, who is also slated to attend

PROJECT NIM, the new doc by James Marsh, Best Documentary Oscar winner and a Boston Society of Film Critics honoree for his  "Man On Wire" (2008).

THE WHISTLE BLOWER, Larysa Kondracki's true-life drama starring three of the world's best actresses, Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci. And David Strathairn.

THE TROLL HUNTER, Andre Ovredal's "frightening and hilarious faux documentary."

And a personal favorite, Mike Ott's deceptively low key and minimalist  LITTLE ROCK.

Not to mention the usual exhaustingly provocative, amusing, and enlightening panel discussions, celebrity appearances and parties.

Find the full program and all other information here.