You may not have noticed since they've been largely under the radar, but the Boston Film Festival starts this weekend at the AMC Loews Boston Common, and they have some good movies. The Boston Film Festival website has the full schedule, and Bostonist has pulled out some highlights:

Lars and the Real Girl, Saturday, September 15, 7:30-9:30
Have you ever wondered what might happen if a fella bought a blow-up doll and actually fell in love with it? Ryan Gosling works on bouncing his emotions off a curiously quiet costar.

Rails & Ties, Sunday, September 16, 4:00-6:00 pm and 9:00-11:00 pm
Kevin Bacon stars as a train driver who is dealing with the tragedy of a wife (Marcia Gay Harden) dying of cancer. When his train strikes a car, killing a suicidal woman inside, the incident provides him and his wife a glimmer of hope. Looks like one of those serious, tender, autumnal movies that have a standard plot but great performances.

Stiffs, Tuesday, September 18, 8:30 pm
Nothing like a dose of hearse humor to lighten up a film festival. Funeral home owners in the North End try to drum up business. Guess how they do it? Boston Movie Tours has declared that Stiffs, with Danny Aiello, is the first movie to enjoy the Massachusetts tax credit for filmmakers. Thanks, guys!

We're not sure why the Boston Film Festival is hiding its light under a bushel. The Boston Independent Film Festival, the Boston Underground Film Festival, and the Roxbury Film Festival did a great job of reaching out to the community.

Image of "Stiffs" from Mavex Films.