Only at the San Francisco World Film Festival can a person travel to bead-making factories in China, the war in Iraq and an LSD-tainted Passover Seder - all without leaving their seat.

The film festival takes place from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 and will screen more than 40 films from international and local filmmakers, most of which will be making their Bay Area premiere.

Films will screen at the Delancey Street Screening Room and Landmark Theater's Embarcadero Center Cinema and CineArts / Empire Theater in West Portal.

This year the 2003-born festival will screen films at multiple venues and include musical performances by artists like Michael Franti, director of “I Know I Am Not Alone,” a film meant to take audiences on a musical journey through war and occupation in Iraq, Israel and Palestine.

The films will carry out the theme of this year’s festival, “Exposed.”

“The name was given to expose what we felt were really hot issues in the world that aren’t getting much attention,” Gabai said. “But at the same time they’re all really hopeful positive films that give you an idea of what’s going on in an objective and positive way.”

The film “Mardi Gras: Made in China,” focuses on workers in China responsible for making beaded Mardi Gras necklaces.

“That’s something everybody should see,” said Gabai. “It will make everybody want to talk about it.”

Another festival highlight is a screening of “THX 1138 EB” George Lucas’ 14-minute student film made in 1971, which will be airing at the Empire Theater in West Portal.

“It’s a great piece of film,” Gabai said. “It really shows what he was going to do.
“It plants a seed, sort of, for what he’s capable of doing. It’s an amazing thing to watch. It’s very advanced for that time.”

Featuring a slew of real world coverage, Gabai said she hopes the festival will encourage people to come out and take advantage of the chance to connect with the community.

Berenice Diaz, 20, said she’d like to take advantage of the festival and make a day of it.

“I would want to have a whole day of chilling and watching movies, because you can’t just go and watch one,” the business major said. “And it’s better than being at home - I get bored being here.

“I’d like to check out some of the more depressing films and cry,” she said. “I like that kind of stuff.”

Jerry Stein, a Bay Area native will celebrate the 25th anniversary and DVD release of his reggae documentary “World, Sound, & Power,” with a special screening and Q&A session at the festival.

“It looks beautiful,” Stein said of his newly revamped 1980 film that has developed a cult-like following.

“It’s as close to the original as it gets. It’s a nice balance and blend of talk and musical elements,” Stein said of his film, which played at SF State 20 years ago. “We really hope to appeal to a new generation of kids because it gives a real, solid history of reggae.”

Other notable films include “Red Dust” and “When Do We Eat,” according to Gabai.

Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank stars in Troy Kennedy-Martin’s “Red Dust” as a lawyer who returns to her hometown in South Africa to defend a client at the Truth and Reconciliation Trial.

“When Do We Eat,” directed by Salvador Litwak, is a comedy about a traditional Jewish family’s dinner gone awry when a son sneaks his overbearing father a dose of LSD "to give him a new perspective."

For more information on the festival, visit http://www.sfworldfilmfestival.com