DocFest is one of the longer-running documentary festivals in the city, and the opening-night pick tends to signal what the programmers think has crossover appeal beyond the core doc crowd. A Deadhead film fits that: you don't have to own a lot of tie-dye to find the subculture interesting as a subject. Watch for additional screenings and the full schedule on the DocFest website — opening night is usually not the only chance to catch the headliner.

Practical tip: festival passes and individual tickets sell separately, so if you're only coming for this one, a single-ticket purchase or the giveaway is your move. Don't buy a pass assuming it covers everything without checking the fine print on premium screenings.

If you've got two hours, enter the giveaway, and if you don't win, check whether walk-up tickets are available at the door thirty minutes before showtime — DocFest usually holds a small number.