New films to open at Cinema Art Theater Aug. 11

New films opening Friday, Aug. 11, at the Cinema Art Theater near Lewes are “Shortcomings,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and “Afire.”

A witty comedy, “Shortcomings” examines personal growth and maturity. Ben (Justin H. Min), a struggling filmmaker who works for a local Asian American film festival, lives in Berkeley, Calif., with his girlfriend Miko. When he's not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs and eating in diners with his best friend Alice, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When Miko moves to New York for an internship, Ben is left to his own devices and begins to explore what he thinks he might want.

”Bobi Wine: The People’s President” is a gripping documentary about a musician turned politician. This film charts the inspiring activism of Bobi Wine, the pop star-turned-politician seeking to end Uganda's brutal dictatorship. Rising from the ghetto slums of Kampala to be one of the country's most beloved superstars, Bobi begins to use his music to call out corruption, then becomes an independent member of Parliament to defend the rights of his people. The country's institutions are controlled by President Museveni, an autocratic tyrant who has held power since 1986. Bobi and his wife Barbie choose to risk their careers, their family and their lives to challenge him and bring democracy to their country. But the state is determined to silence not only them, but anyone who supports their cause.

A riveting romantic drama, “Afire” centers on four friends who navigate how to be housemates. While vacationing near the Baltic Sea, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised by the presence of Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at the holiday home of Felix's family. Nadja distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel, and with brutal honesty forces him to confront his caustic temperament and self-absorption. As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group, and tensions escalate when a handsome lifeguard and Leon's tight-lipped book editor also arrive. This film is Director Christian Petzold's acclaimed latest winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.

The Summer Surf Series offers classic beach film screenings at 7 p.m., every Thursday in August, with encore screenings at 2 p.m., Fridays, at the Cinema Art Theater. 

“Beach Party” is set for Aug. 17 and 18. Anthropology professor Robert Orwell Sutwell and his secretary Marianne are studying the sex habits of teenagers. The surfing teens led by Frankie and Dee Dee don't have much sex, but they sing, battle the motorcycle rats and mice led by Eric Von Zipper, and dance to Dick Dale and the Del Tones.

“Muscle Beach Party” screenings will be Aug. 24 and 25. In this film, local youngsters find that their beach has been taken over by a businessman training a stable of body builders.

“Beach Blanket Bingo” wraps up the series Aug. 31 and Sept 1. In the fourth of the highly successful Frankie and Annette beach party movies, a motorcycle gang led by Eric Von Zipper kidnaps singing star Sugar Kane, managed by Bullets, who hires sky-diving surfers Steve and Bonnie from Big Drop for a publicity stunt. This film features the usual gang of kids and a mermaid named Lorelei.

Admission is $9 for film society members, $11.50 for general audience and $5 for students.

For all screening times and dates, and to purchase tickets, go to rehobothfilm.com or visit the box office from 12 to 8 p.m, Wednesday to Friday.