Love Horror Short Film Festival

If you’re just dying—yes, dying—for the September return of the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, here’s your temporary reprieve: four hours of ghoulishly themed live music, aerial acts, stand-up comedy, burlesque, puppetry and yeah, short horror films, including Toys for Lovely Men (pictured above). The synopsis: “Bill finds love in Helga, a beautiful doll who can laugh and smile. Helga finds joy in Bill, a foolish mortal who can bleed and cry.” 3522 Stockton Boulevard, www.sachorrorfilmfest.com.