As ever, the maniacs of the Maine indie movie scene present us (the maniacs of the Maine movie watching scene) with an embarrassment of unexpected big screen riches over the next few weeks. This time around, look for Italian witches, crypto scams, revolutionary shoplifters, hero strikers, a collection of new Maine talents, and more. 

‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’

Through May 26, Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland, rocklandstrand.com

A title doesn’t get more straightforward than that. Which is apt, as actor-turned-director Ben McKenzie (“Gotham,” “Southland”) argues in his eye-opening new documentary that the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry is one of the most corrupt and shady enterprises in financial history.

With revealing interviews with leading crypto-bros (some of whom are now in jail) and regular people lured in with promises of quick, untraceable riches, McKenzie’s documentary culminates with the filmmaker’s passionate plea in front of Congress to regulate, investigate, and otherwise curb the biggest grift currently going. Did it work? You’ll have to watch this deeply necessary film to find out (Spoiler: Just watch celebrities like Tom Brady and Matt Damon still pitching crypto scams on your TV). 

‘I Love Boosters’

Through May 28, Maine Film Center, 93 Main St., Waterville, watervillecreates.org

Filmmaker Boots Reilly delivered onstage one of the boldest, weirdest, and most insightfully loopy American films in years with his 2018 satire, “Sorry to Bother You.” Now Boots is back with his follow-up, a similarly over-the-top, visually stunning, ideologically explosive film about a gang of professional shoplifters banding together for vengeance after a rich fashion icon swipes one of their outrageous designs.

With Reilly, that’s just the surface of the roiling, raucous, slyly satirical ocean, with a stellar cast (Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Poppy Liu, LaKeith Stanfield, Demi Moore, Don Cheadle, Will Poulter) populating another of the damnedest movies you’ll catch at the theaters this year. In other words, it’s the new Boots Reilly movie. 

Maine Mayhem Film Festival

May 23, PMA Films,  7 Congress Square, Portland, portlandmuseum.org/films

Maine Mayhem is the aptly named short film festival made up of the final filmmaking projects from Southern Maine Community College’s up-and-coming directors. The culmination of a semesterlong lesson in learning by doing, the eight shorts (and 15 “micro-shorts”) making up this year’s festival (the 16th!) feature the wildly diverse cinematic visions of Maine’s latest generation of moviemaking talents. Each year’s festival is a reliably fascinating and varied treat, with young, energetic filmmakers bringing their singular cinematic projects to vivid life. This year’s program includes films titled, “Pushover,” “The Loon,” “It’s Just a Common Nightmare,” “The Dog,” “Not So Different,” “Social Kews,” “Fret,” and “Blueprint.” With the nearly two-hour program packed full of energy, style, and exceptional young talent. 

‘Belfast, Maine’

May 23, Colonial Theatre, 163 High St., Belfast, colonialtheatre.com

When legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman died back in February, he left behind an astounding legacy of insightful, exquisitely observed films on subjects huge and seemingly insignificant. That each of them remains as fascinating as the films are (very) long is a tribute to the power of a master filmmaker with an eye trained to observe the enormous truths contained in the everyday. That Wiseman, in 1996, trained that eye on the tiny Maine town of Belfast invites us Mainers to view ourselves as seen by one of the world’s great filmmaking minds. His expansive (four-plus hour) observation of the inner workings of a seemingly ordinary little town is a document of a time and place, and an unexpectedly mesmerizing rumination on who we are. (And yes, there’s an intermission so you can stretch your legs in the actual Belfast, Maine).

‘The Witch’

May 27 and 30, Kinonik, 121 Cassidy Point Drive, Portland, kinonik.org

Is there any director with a better name for dreamy supernatural horror than Italian horror maestro Damiano Damiani? This 1966 cult classic (presented as ever on glorious film by Kinonik) is about a staid academic falling under the spell of a seductive mother and daughter who live in an opulent, ancient mansion that might be alive. Or dead. Undead? It’s all rather vague, swoony, erotic, spooky and very, very Italian. 

‘North By Northwest’

May 27, Nickelodeon Cinemas, 1 Temple St., Portland, patriotcinemas.com

Will the impossibly dapper Cary Grant outrun that crop duster this time? You’ll have to treat yourself to a big screen viewing (thanks to the Nick’s Wayback Wednesday series) of Alfred Hitchcock’s enduringly, ludicrously entertaining 1959 thriller to find out. Grant is an innocent businessman mistaken for a spy and things escalate with masterful set pieces from there, as the befuddled but un-rumpled Grant romances Eva Marie Saint, is menaced by Martin Landau and James Mason, and winds up literally dangling from Mt. Rushmore to clear his name and save the day. 

‘Harlan County USA’ and ‘American Dream‘ double feature

May 31, Space, 538 Congress St. Portland, space538.org.

Unprincipled oligarchs exploit workers through unfair labor practices and unsafe working conditions and basically say, “What are you gonna do about it?” Well, in this timely/timeless pair of documentaries from legendary filmmaker Barbara Kopple, American workers showed their bosses that they were prepared to do quite a lot, actually. Two of the most important films in the history of the American labor movement (and America generally), Kopple’s groundbreaking works embed deep within collective action from ordinary people simply fed up with being used as disposable parts in rich owners’ money-making machines. “Harlan” coal miners and “Dream” meat packers are subjected to legal harassment and strike-breaking violence as they make previously unthinkable choices. The films’ unflinching message that collective action can prevail over institutional thuggery is more necessary now than ever. 

Dennis Perkins is a freelance writer who lives in Auburn with his wife and his cat.