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Need a reason to go screenin’?

Only seven days until the Beloit International Film Festival. If you haven’t already bought your tickets, you better get them now because they’ll go fast.

If you’ve never been to the film festival, here are the top 10 reasons to go:

1. Big names, part one. Alejandro Monteverde, director of the award winning “Bella,” will attend a festival event. “Bella” won the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, and critics predict it will become a classic. “Bella” will be shown at the festival.

2. Big names, part two. David Zucker, funny guy and director of “Airplane!” will be at the festival. He is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer period after a screening of his comedy classic. Do you speak jive?

3. $7 movie tickets. That’s right, $7 to see award-winning films.

4. Limos carry patrons from venue to venue, giving ordinary schmucks like us a taste of the celebrity life. The rides are free.

5. A new venue for family-friendly films. The Rotary River Center will show thoughtful and entertaining features and documentary films for young people of a variety of ages.

6. The Silent Film Showcase. It’s a big hit every year, and this year promises to be even bigger. Beloit Janesville Symphony conductor Rob Tomaro composed a score for Fritz Lang’s silent movie classic, “Metropolis.” The event will feature live music, dance and special lighting effects.

7. Movies you won’t get to see unless you travel to Madison, Milwaukee or Chicago. Let’s be honest, Rock County isn’t Film Central. We’re lucky to get the first run movies.

8. Parties, parties, parties. At the end of a long day of seeing films, relax and rub shoulders with filmmakers and film aficionados. See today’s kicks section for a complete schedule of special events.

9. And speaking of film makers … more than 60 filmmakers are attending the festival and will be at the screening of their films, giving moviegoers a chance to ask them questions, get their autographs or invite them for drinks.

10. The festival will feature 150 films including documentaries, shorts and features. So yes, there’ll be something for everyone including husbands who hate subtitles, teens with bad attitudes, kids who love animals, burgeoning filmmakers, sour old uncles who hate artists and like a story with a beginning, middle and an end, college students in berets and ordinary people who never imagined they’d go to a film festival.