The SF International Arts Festival is back, and one of the early highlights is Duane Forrest's Tree of Dreams, a cinematic theatre experience running May 1–3. If you're not familiar with the format, cinematic theatre blends live performance with film elements — think immersive storytelling that sits somewhere between a stage play and a movie, designed to mess with your expectations in the best way possible.

Here's what we appreciate about events like this: they represent the kind of cultural vitality that makes San Francisco worth the absurd cost of living. And unlike, say, a $1.7 million public toilet or a six-figure consulting contract to study why people litter, the International Arts Festival is the type of programming that actually draws people into the city, supports working artists, and gives residents something to do that doesn't involve stepping over needles on the way to a $22 cocktail.

The festival has long been a platform for independent and experimental artists — the kind of creators who aren't waiting around for a government grant to greenlight their vision. That entrepreneurial spirit in the arts is something we can always get behind. Duane Forrest's work in particular promises a unique hybrid of visual media and live performance that pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre.

If you're looking for something genuinely interesting to do this first weekend of May, Tree of Dreams is worth checking out. Support the artists who make this city's culture worth defending — especially when they're doing it without blowing through your tax dollars to get there.

Tickets and details are available through the SF International Arts Festival website. Three nights only — May 1 through 3.