Thurs. July 12

Men are from Mars; women are from Venus. We never quite bought that bit of pop psychology, but we suppose there's truth beyond the simple logic. Men and women do have different thought processes, needs, desires and goals. Often these coincide or overlap, but sometimes they don't and you'll realize there's a whole other way of looking at things. This is to say Women in Film & Video/New England is presenting its outdoor summer series called "Garden Shorts" Thursday July 12 at dusk at the Growing Center just outside of Union Square in Somerville. The films are all under 20 minutes. The July program features films by Patricia Rozema, Lana Z. Caplan, Jennifer Matotek, Carly Short and C.C. Webster. Rozema (in photo) is a Canadian and won a Prix de la Jeunesse at Director's Fortnight in Cannes back in 1988 for her first full-length feature, "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing." She's also collaborated with the great Harold Pinter  Here, she'll show "Suspect," a 7-minute tale involving gender reversal. Caplan specializes in experimental films and she has "Half Light." Short, who recently graduated Mass College of Art, will conduct a Q/A after her documentary "Come On Baby Remember," which is about memory and imagery. Webster is contributing "Civil War," which is also on the current festival circuit. Free.

22 Vinal Ave., Somerville, 617-666-2969  www.womeninfilm.org