Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

Tuesday, May 8: A prop, character, and line of dialogue—that’s all participants in DC’s 48-Hour Film Festival received on Friday when they were told to go forth and create a short film in 48 hours or less. The results are screened at AFI Silver (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring) this evening (as well as Wednesday and Thursday), and they’re sure to be hilarious. This evening’s screenings are at 7 and 9:30. Tickets are $9.25.

Wednesday, May 9: The French duo Air bring its breathy, atmospheric electronica to the 9:30 Club this evening. $40. Doors open at 7.

Granta, the respected British literary journal, has made its once-a-decade selection of best young American novelists­­. Tonight’s your chance to see several of its choices—Kevin Brockmeier, Olga Grushin, and John Wray—read from their work at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., NW). 7 pm.

Thursday, May 10: Ever been a lifelong dream of yours to busk in the nation’s capital? Now’s your chance: Metro will hold auditions this evening for performing artists who want to play live at Metrorail stations. Metro, along with local arts councils, selects participants to perform near various Metro station entrances from spring through fall and during the holiday season. 5 to 8 pm at 600 Fifth Street, NW. Auditions are first-come, first-served. Bring a photograph and one-page resume.

I’ve long been a fan of local rockers The Alphabetical Order, who play melodic guitar rock with mid-’90s alternative tinges—and are all-around fun folks to boot. They headline an excellent local bill tonight at the Iota in Arlington (2832 Wilson Boulevard), with folk-rocker Paul Michel and Baltimore’s Two if by Sea, who play lush, theatrical rock. $10. 9 pm.