If you don’t have the option of crawling into a cave and hibernating the winter away, holing up in a dark theater is the next best thing.

While there is a plethora of Hollywood films from which to choose this time of year, there’s a crop of excellent homegrown movies on the marquee at the Historic Lynwood Theatre this weekend for the Eighth Annual Celluloid Bainbridge Film Festival.

The theater is donating its space for the event, which is sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council and features more than 30 films. The topics vary widely, from political documentaries to children’s animation projects, but they all have one thing in common: a Bainbridge connection.

Some were shot on the island, others were directed by or feature Bainbridge residents, former and current. Looking over the packed schedule it’s clear that there’s a lot of talent on the little island. And some very odd people.

The weekend kicks off at 9 a.m. Feb. 11 with a story near and dear to many islanders’ hearts, the closing of Winslow Hardware & Mercantile on Winslow Way.

“The Whake: Winslow Hardware A**-Kicking Event,” (get it, “Whake” is an acronym), documents the final, door-closing party at the landmark store.

While that film is festive, many seem to have a more somber tone. “Politics Aside: Soldiers’ Voices in the War on Terror” chronicles the Iraq War experiences of four Washington state soldiers; “Out of Gas” looks at humankind’s dependence on fossil fuels; and “Torrents of Change” tells of the series of catastrophic events that lead to the National Forest Roadless Areas rule.

Two films may be of particular interest to islanders: “Eagle Harbor Liveaboards,” is a thesis project by Amelia Sericova, who lived aboard a boat in Eagle Harbor, and tells about this unique community, which is the subject of debate at town meetings on harbor use. “Bicycle Blues in the key of E” is a short film about Bainbridge doctor Ernie Franz, who was critically injured when a car ran into his bicycle in August 2004, yet defied predictions that he would never walk again.

Art is represented in the series, with “The Immigrant” and “Art is Everything,” among others.

“The Immigrant” tells the story behind the dead madrona tree that artist Diana Liljelund painted bright red and “transplanted” to Pritchard Park as part of the outdoor art installation there.

“Art is Everything” follows a group of Woodward Middle School eighth graders who transform a Hansville beach into a nature-inspired work of art, in the style of artist Andy Goldsworthy.

In the “odd” category, “Night Vision” is a nine-minute short feature by Ned Thorne and Harry and Marshall Langhor that is listed as a “tongue-in-cheek tribute to director David Lynch.” The filmmakers ask that if any moviegoers know that the heck this film is about, please let them know.

Thorne also contributes “Graham’s Ashes,” a 30-minute short feature film about “lies, deceit, betrayal, love, romance, passion, guns, bombs, national security and snack cakes.” Whew. The film features local thespians Claire Hostermark and Brandon Belieu.

The film festival won’t start with a red carpet premier, but there is one well-known actor on the schedule.

The 13-minute narrative “8 Minutes to Love” stars Sandra Oh, who just won a Grammy for her role on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Filmed in two long nights at a Seattle Tully’s, it’s the story of a cheating ex-boyfriend who has eight minutes, during a round of speed dating, to win back his ex-girlfriend.

One way to ensure an audience is to present films by children, and the festival has a good assortment. Many of them were created in animated film workshops led by Wendy Hall Jackson.

Films produced by students include “Legosabers,” a Lego Star Wars lightsaber duel, done in stop-motion animation by seventh grade student Arron Schmidt and “The Two-Faced Story,” a reenactment of a childhood argument, by Grace Porter, 12, Clara Dunn, 13 and Corey Dunn, 10.

Before her untimely death last fall, Jackson Hall mentored teens at the Bainbridge Island Boys and Girls Club and worked in local schools as an artist-in-residence and through the Bainbridge Island Arts Education Community Consortium.

“Wendy’s creative spirit and commitment to sharing her artistic talents have left a lasting legacy on Bainbridge,” Kathleen Thorne, film festival coordinator, said.

She is also remembered for spearheading the construction of the giant puppets which have become a highlight of the Bainbridge Fourth of July parade.

“Puppets on Parade 2005” was the final documentary project by Jackson Hall, and has become a memorial to her contribution to her community. It shows at 1:45 p.m. Feb. 12.

The film festival wraps up Sunday night with a full length documentary, “Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story.” Wood grew up on Bainbridge, and was the lead singer of the Seattle rock band Mother Love Bone in 1990, before he died at age 24 of a drug overdose. Several of his family members still live on the island.

This list is only a keyhole look at the film festival’s offerings. For the full schedule, visit the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council Web site at www.artshum.org.

The festival runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Historic Lynwood Theatre, 4569 Lynwood Center Rd., Bainbridge Island.

Admission is by donation, so if you want to hibernate at the theatre, pay accordingly. wu