Here's a rundown of notable film events in our fair city over the coming week.

Dialogues between Canada and Brazil

The second annual Brazilian Film Festival of Vancouver kicks off tonight and runs until Sunday (July 12).

In addition to the rich mix of cinematic selections are two free panel discussions at Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street) that will appeal to film industry professionals.

On July 9 (at 4 p.m.), Co-Production—The Future will address the complexities of coproducing a film with international partners. Panelists will include directors Joel Zito Araí¹jo (Cinderellas, Wolves, and One Enchanted Prince, which plays on July 11) and Bruno Barreto (Last Stop 174, playing on July 9), director and festival founder Adriana L. Dutra (Smoking I Wait, on July 12); producers Joana Vieria (Verí´nica, which opens the festival tonight), Iain Smith (Children of Men, Seven Years in Tibet), and Shawn Williamson (Wicker Man); and BC Film's Robert Wong.

Then on July 11 (at 4 p.m.), the differences and similarities between the Canadian and Brazilian film industry and filmmaking process will be examined in Directing—Different Ways to See Cinema. Directors Araí¹jo, Barreto, and Dutra will be joined by writer-director Gary Hawes and actor-singer Blu Mankuma (Look Who's Talking, 2012).

Queer fundraising festivities for films

Out on Screen, the fine folk who bring us the annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival, will be presenting this year's Queerwood fundraiser at the Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) on July 10 (doors at 7 p.m.).

Entertainment will include A Fish Called Pirahna, a rock opera music project; comedian Morgan Brayton; and silk aerialist and trapeze artist Jillian Deri. Back again to host the evening is the ever-hilarious David C. Jones.

Among the silent auction items are Wanda Sykes tickets, an Alaskan Adventure Cruise, weekend stays at Blue Moon Resort (Las Vegas) and La Dolce Vita Resort & Spa (Palm Springs), and more items from MAC Cosmetics, the Vancouver Art Gallery, Mac Station, Fluevog, Helijet International and more.

Tickets are $20 and available from the VQFF Web site or Little Sister's Bookstore (1238 Davie Street).

Fast filmmaking fun

Think you can make a 4-minute short film in 24 hours?

The 2009 Vancouver Film Racing Tour is back to put filmmakers to the test in a filmmaking frenzy that will run from July 17 to 18.

All completed entries will be shown at a public screening shortly thereafter and compete against filmmakers across North America for prizes, including cash awards.

The entry fee is $115, and the deadline is July 15.

For full details, visit the Vancouver Film Racing Tour Web site.

But if you're more interested in watching short films than making them (or both), or to even get a peek at some of the shorts that have won filmmaking contests, you might want to check out the Celluloid Social Club's monthly screening of shorts tonight (doors 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m.) at the ANZA Club (3 West 9th Avenue). Tickets are a mere $5.

Content will include episodes from Web series "My Pal Satan" by Dennis Heaton; Patrick Henry's "Robogreed", which won the 2008 Vancouver Film Race; and Tracy D. Smith's "Curse of the Jade Falcon", which won the Vancouver Asian Film Festival Movie-Making Competition.