Silicon Valley’s trademark “Maverick” film festival remains one of the last big festival bastions for the discovery of new and emerging film artists. This dynamic 13-day event features 200 international films exhibiting unique social and artistic visions from around the globe, with over 700+ filmmakers, technologists, and professionals from 48 countries in attendance. The spirit of Cinequest is innovation: in technology, filmmaking and the festival-going experience, with each year raising the bar a little higher. This year’s noteworthy events include: A discussion with Maverick Spirit Award recipient and popular author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) accompanied by a screening of the short film Romance, based on a Palahniuk story (3/2, 1:30pm); an evening award ceremony with Maverick Spirit Award recipient and iconic actor Harrison Ford (3/3, 7pm); screenings of newly-restored masterpieces such as David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia (3/2, 2:15pm), Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (3/6, 7:15pm) and Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove (3/9, 1pm); and a closing night screening of Midnight’s Children, the film based on the magical Booker Prize-winning novel by renowned author Salman Rushdie, with a Maverick Spirit Award reception with Rushdie to follow the screening. (3/10, 7pm)