The films chosen for Film Streams' second Local Filmmaker Showcase, which opens for a weeklong run Friday at the Ruth Sokolof Theater, are as eclectic and varied as the movies you've come to expect from the nonprofit arthouse movie theater.

Film Streams director Rachel Jacobson said the 10-member jury that selected the seven films from about 50 entries was also diverse in tastes and backgrounds. Though Nebraskans, Iowans and South Dakotans were invited to submit films, all of the chosen works are by Nebraskans.

"It's such a subjective thing," Jacobson said. "Left to themselves, each juror would curate a different showcase. But this program is truly representative of what the entire jury thought was best."

What Jacobson didn't want was to be a juror herself, since she knows many of the local filmmakers.

"I didn't want that kind of bias where it's all about the relationships with jurors."

Architect-designer Roger duRand, serving for a second year on the jury, said the process was improved this year. The panel broke into groups, each of which watched specific genres (documentary, animated shorts, music video, narrative fiction, art films, etc.) and advanced the best to a second round of selection.

All the jurors then watched those finalists over the course of about five hours.

"We wanted variety in the show, and to let the public know all the different kinds of film being made," Durand said. "I wish we could do a longer program. We hated eliminating some films just to keep it under 2 hours. But it's a showcase, not a festival."

What the jurors chose:

"Irma" 12 minutes. Director: Charles Fairbanks of Lexington, Neb. Fairbanks, a professional wrestler in Mexico who had two films in last year's showcase, profiles the former world champion of women's professional wrestling, Irma Gonzalez, in a mini-documentary. He filmed in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, a notorious part of Mexico City. A visually rich portrait of Irma's past and her present, including her music.

"Frontier Renaissance #8" 4 minutes. Director: Joshua France of Omaha. France presents a music video of "Home Office," performed by Omaha band Thunder Power. Look for fast editing, jumpy camera work and sometimes grainy cinematography packed with striking images. France also had a film in last year's showcase.

"In Silence and Tears" 51 minutes Director: Molly Zavitz of Omaha. Zavitz and her husband, Aaron, founded Hunger Artist Films and wrote this narrative fictional piece. A nurse (Scott Kurz) sacrifices his job and sanity caring for his ill wife. The film's strengths are its stark, penetrating black-and-white cinematography and strong acting. Widely known local cast members include David Landis, Eric Grant-Leanna, Melissa Jarecke, Mary Kelly and Scott Working.

"Tongue Is Scissor" 2 minutes Director: Teal Gardner of Lincoln. An interdisciplinary artist, Gardner works with video, paint and photography. She blogs, sings in a band and publishes an online magazine. Described by Jacobs and duRand as a "gallery kind of film," "Tongue Is Scissor" is the result of an exploration in the deconstruction of linguistic meaning.

"My Dad's Illness" 21 minutes Director: Megan Plouzek of Hickman, Neb. While an intern at Nebraska Educational Television, Plouzek made this intensely personal documentary about her father's mental illness and the impact it has had on him, his wife and his four children. The film strives to break the silence and social stigmas that often surround mental illness. It will air on NET at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sept. 9, with repeats through Sept. 21.

"One Too Many" 5 minutes Director: Ryle Smith of Omaha. Smith is a local actor, fine-art painter, musician, commercial illustrator and videographer. He also had a film in last year's showcase, "One Good Turn." Again he takes a humorous look at romantic relationships. Laura Marr plays a woman in a bar, drinking alone on the two-week anniversary of a relationship while reviewing a disastrous history with men.

"The Snake Show" 2 minutes Director: Joel Sartore of Lincoln. The lifelong Nebraskan is known primarily as a professional still photographer for National Geographic. This time he uses hundreds of still photos of a Rattlesnake Derby in Mangum, Okla., to create what feels at times like stop-motion animation — except the snakes and people are startlingly real.

Many of the filmmakers will be at the theater on Friday night for the showcase's 7:30 p.m. opening. A lively discussion is sure to follow in the theater's lobby. Information: 402-933-0259, ext. 11, or online at filmstreams.org

If you missed last year's showcase, much of it will air on NET Friday night at 7 p.m., with repeats through Aug. 28.