THE SEVENTH ANNUAL San Francisco Black Film Festival packs an incredibly diverse program into its five-day span, with narratives, documentaries, several dozen short films, a star-studded panel discussion dubbed "Inside the Black Actor's and Director's Studio," and tributes to actor Regina King (always a class act, from 227 to Ray) and director Michael Schultz (Woman, Thou Art Loosed). The fest kicks off with the Canadian film On the Verge of a Fever, a coming-of-age tale set in 1971 Haiti. As news of dictator Papa Doc's death fills the airwaves, 14-year-old Fanfan – a poetry-reading sensitive type, much to the annoyance of his streetwise pal Gégé – finds his sheltered life (daily high point: daydreaming about the quartet of beauties next door) torn asunder when he inadvertently runs afoul of the dreaded secret police. Director John L'Ecuyer compresses the boy's long weekend of terror (and excitement, as he hides out among the neighbors who've long supplied his fantasy material) into an atmospheric film that also comments on Haiti's political troubles, as well as on how the country is viewed by the West, thanks to a semisleazy Rolling Stone writer who happens upon the girls and likes what he sees. Other notable picks include Stanley Nelson's Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice, an affectionate study of the consciousness-raising singing group as they practice, perform, and search for a new member after their founder – Bernice Johnson Reagon, who sang at 1963's civil rights march on Washington, D.C. – decides to retire. Kwame Akoaku's The Industry turns an MTV-style spotlight on the movers, shakers, and cell-phone screamers who manage some of hip-hop's biggest names (OutKast, Kanye West, and Ludacris among them). Prepare to chair-dance during Press On, Gillian Grisman's ebullient doc about Grammy-nominated guitarist Robert Randolph, whose talents came to light while playing in his church's "sacred steel" tradition, and whose word-of-mouth fame grew thanks to an unlikely group of supporters: jam band fans. See Film listings for schedule, ticket, and venue information. (Cheryl Eddy)