Spring has finally arrived in New York City, which means that it’s time for the Tribeca Film Festival! If you live in or around NYC, this two-week event is not to be missed. Neighborhood movie theatres open their doors to big, blockbuster premieres (such as Spider-Man 3) and indies hoping to find a distributor. (Transamerica and Air Guitar Nation both found audiences at past TFFs.) Best of all, most events are open to the public for an $18 ticket.

Two years ago, Jen and I saw a live-action version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that was originally shot in German but had been dubbed in English. The movie was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, and the entire cast had flown from Germany for the screening. You just don’t get that in Iowa.

Check out picks and daily coverage from New York magazine. Fly Away Cafe has a list of free festival events. And of course, don’t forget the Festival’s official site for synopses on all 150-plus movies.

See, we look out for you. Vanity Fair is presenting free screenings of Fracture tonight in cities across the country. To RSVP, click here.

It’s Oscar Weekend, so tomorrow is the Oscar Movie Marathon at AMC Theatres across the country. For $30 bucks you can sit through all five of the Best Picture nominees during AMC’s Best Picture Showcase. AMC’s official info is here.

If you live in the New York City area and are interested in seeing all the Oscar nominated short movies, the IFC Center is showing them. Buy one ticket and you can see all the live action shorts or all the animated shorts. These are the toughest categories to handicap and here is your chance to gain a real edge in your Oscar pool. Showtimes are here.

(Side note: We’ll be live-blogging the Oscars on Sunday, starting around 7pm.)

On a non-Oscar topic, if you live in the NYC or NJ area, a trip to the Loew’s Jersey is a must. This is an old movie palace, the kind that most of us have only seen in films. If you can imagine the grand cinemas where old movie premieres were held, then you are on the right track. The screen is several stories tall, and there are ornate paintings on the ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and grand staircases. Built in 1929, the theatre fell into disrepair and it is now being painstakingly restored by volunteers.

Loew’s Jersey only shows films one weekend a month, and this weekend they are screening their top 3 most-requested movies. If you’ve ever wanted to see one of these classics on a five-story screen, here is your chance.

Friday, 8pm: Back To The Future
Saturday, 2pm: Gone With The Wind
Saturday, 8pm: Casablanca

Adult tickets are just $6 and all proceeds benefit the theatre’s restoration. Snacks are cheap too. The Loew’s Jersey Theatre is surprisingly easy to reach from Manhattan, just steps away from the Journal Square PATH stop.

I can’t tell you how much I recommend visiting the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre, at least once. Their official site is here.