The Best Thing You Can Do Today: Kick off a fab filmfest with Molly Shannon as Emily Dickinson

It’s become almost a cliché to say that the Tampa International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (TIGLFF) has something for everyone, but this year’s edition (the festival’s 29th) looks like the most convincing evidence yet. The lineup includes buzzed-about documentaries like Paternal Rites, Making Montgomery Clift and Studio 54; highly anticipated features like Mapplethorpe, with Matt Smith of Dr. Who and The Crown fame as the controversial photographer; big-time Hollywood stars like Paul Rudd, playing half of a bitchy gay couple in Ideal Home; eclectic, entertaining shorts programs; and a raft of movies from around the world that local audiences would likely never have the chance to see otherwise. Tonight’s festival opener is a good example of the 2018 fest’s broad appeal: The hilarious (and lately ubiquitous) SNL vet Molly Shannon stars as poet Emily Dickinson (also having rather a moment) in a randy bio-pic, Wild Nights with Emily (Tampa Theatre, 7:15 p.m., $15). As always, expect lots of filmmakers, panels and parties throughout the festival’s nine-day run. TIGLFF, Oct. 5-13. Screenings at Tampa Theatre, freeFall Theatre, and AMC Sundial; look for schedules and related events at tiglff.com.

With so much going on in Tampa Bay these days, how do you decide what to do? Your trusty guide to the best things in life, duPont Registry Tampa Bay, is here to help. Each day, check out dupontregistrytampabay.com for dR Daily — our daily recommendation for The Best Thing You Can Do Today. And if you’d like to suggest something that you think should be considered for dR Daily, drop me a note at dwarner@dupontregistry.com