A special day for young filmmakers

Many of today’s biggest film directors, Steven Spielberg among them, began by making Super 8 movies as kids. On Saturday, the work of budding Spielbergs will unspool at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

“Tripleplay: A Showcase of Short Films From the Students of Cleveland, Hollywood and Kennedy High Schools, 2009,” featuring narrative shorts from some of the L.A. Unified School District’s top film and video programs, will play at the Egyptian. www.americancinematheque.com

Student Oscars

Later in the day, academy members will hand out the 36th Annual Student Academy Awards, which honor filmmakers in alternative, animation, documentary and narrative categories. Past winners include John Lasseter, Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis and Trey Parker. www.oscars.org

Jazz clips

With the Playboy Jazz Festival on tap for this weekend, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents its annual “Playboy’s Jazz on Film” program this evening. Film archivist Mark Cantor presents clips of performances from Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, among others. www.lacma.org

Wit and swordplay

The Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre is quite literally going to the birds tonight with a newly restored 35-millimeter print of the 1963 rock ‘n’ roll musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” In a tribute to the film’s late screenwriter, Irving Brecher, the program will be introduced by Hank Rosenfeld, author of a new book on Brecher, “The Wicked Wit of the West.”

The Aero also celebrates the centennial of swashbuckling film star Errol Flynn Sunday with two of his best: 1938’s Technicolor classic “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and 1935’s “Captain Blood,” the action-adventure that made him a star. There will also be a demonstration of swordplay by veteran stunt coordinator Robert Goodwin and his team. www.americancinematheque.com

Celluloid steps

For dance aficionados, the Skirball Cultural Center goes en pointe Saturday with two documentaries: “The Dancing Room,” which examines the work of choreographer Kate Flatt, and “Mary Anthony: A Life in Modern Dance,” a profile of the modern dance pioneer. www.skirball.org

Wild times

The Egyptian and the Pasadena Playhouse are teaming up for a screening Monday of the superb 1941 version of Lillian Hellman’s Southern melodrama “The Little Foxes,” starring Bette Davis and directed by William Wyler. Cast members from the current Playhouse production of “Foxes,” as well as Wyler’s son, David, are scheduled to appear.

For those who like to walk on the wild side, the Silent Movie Theatre presents “A Night With Bobcat Goldthwait,” which features a discussion with the comedian, footage from his private collection and a screening of his controversial and much maligned 1991 feature directorial debut, “Shakes the Clown.” www.silentmovietheatre.com

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susan.king@latimes.com