(Courtesy of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

By Ed Blank

Kevin Smith's locally made, already controversial "Dogma" will make its local debut as one of 46 programs in the 18th annual Three Rivers Film Festival, Nov. 5 through 18.

"Dogma," starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as fallen angels on an evil mission, will have a single festival showing, at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Regent Square. The picture will begin its regular engagements here Nov. 12.

All of the 45 movies, plus one TV program, will be shown at the three venues run by Pittsburgh Filmmakers: Regent Square, 1035 S. Braddock Ave.; Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave., North Oakland; and the Harris, 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown.

Besides "Dogma," other festival films made in and around Pittsburgh include John Connor's "The Parting Glass," to be introduced by former Pittsburgher and cinematographer Paul Van Haute at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7:15 p.m. Nov. 7 at Melwood.

Other local movies: Meredith Cole's "Achilles' Heel," Wen Hwa Ts'ao's "Cola for Tea," Steve Staso's "Pay Dirt," David Moreton's "Edge of 17" - set in Sandusky, Ohio - plus "Terminal Time," a TV program by Steffi Domike, Paul Vanouse and Michael Mateas.

A few nonlocal productions notable for the stars or filmmakers involved:

"All the Little Animals" with John Hurt; "Elles" with Marthe Keller, Miou Miou and Marisa Berenson; "The Boys" with Toni Collette; Ken Russell's "Lair of the White Worm" with Hugh Grant; "Three Seasons" with Harvey Keitel; "Eternity and a Day" with Bruno Ganz; Deepa Mehta's "Earth"; "Genghis Blues" with blind blues singer Paul Pena; "Man Woman Film" with Cameron Diaz in a guest appearance; Patrice Chereau's "Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train"; and Yvan Le Moine's "The Red Dwarf."

Some older films of note are included, too:

Ingmar Bergman's classic "Wild Strawberries," with Victor Sjostrom, Bibi Andersson and Ingrid Thulin; "Jason and the Argonauts" (enjoyably dated special effects and a great Bernard Herrmann score); and Jonathan Demme's "Stop Making Sense" with David Byrne and the Talking Heads.

Each film or program will be shown one to three times and always at the same site.

The Three Rivers Film Festival runs Nov. 5 to 18. Tickets: $6 per film at the door. $60 for a Bakers Dozen Pass of 13 admissions, available at the Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave., North Oakland; and the Harris, 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown, during regular screenings or by calling the Pittsburgh Filmmakers between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Details: (412) 681-5449.