On Saturday night, March 15, at 7 p.m., the Century Center Cinema will present a double feature: director Tod Browning's 1932 classic, "Freaks," and the premiere screening of a brand-new short film by local filmmaker Nic Beery called "Nightlife."

Beery's film features Melissa Lozoff, a company member of the Ghost & Spice Productions theater group and the founder and director of the Movie Makers camp for children and teens.

"This 11-minute film tells the story of a woman who is out of luck, out of love and out of gas," Beery said. "I was extremely fortunate to have a dream cast and crew, featuring Melissa Lozoff in the lead."

Lozoff has performed in numerous television and film productions, and the Independent Weekly named her the year's best supporting performer in 2007 for her role in "The Miss Firecracker Contest."

Beery, owner of BeeryMedia.com, wrote, produced, directed and edited and edited the film. A longtime video and film professional, he got his start as, of all things, a clown in Ringling Bros. Circus.

"Every town we visited, the local TV news reporter was there," he said. "When they interviewed my buddies and myself and put it on TV, it wasn't the same as what they shot. I later found out that was called 'editing,' and I liked it. Somebody was manipulating the story to fit their desires, interests and whims. I wanted to do that. Now, after many years in the industry, I still enjoy it."

Many from the cast and crew of "Nightlife" will be in attendance Saturday.

BeeryMedia.com and the Carrboro Recreation and Parks and Parks Department present the Century Center Cinema each month at the Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Beery coordinates the series, which presents independent, foreign and classic films.

After "Nightlife," the cinema will present Browning's "Freaks," one of the most controversial and remarkable pictures in film history. Like Beery, Browning -- the director of films including "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi -- had once worked in a circus, and he cast real sideshow performers as the "freaks" of the title, in a morality tale disguised as a horror movie.

When it originally appeared, "Freaks" was considered so disturbing that it was banned in Great Britain for decades, and it virtually ruined Browning's career. Many years later the film resurfaced and gained a following and is considered one of the greatest cult films of all time.

Admission is $4, and popcorn and soft drinks are free.

For information, go to www.centurycentercinema.com