5 things to do this weekend, including 'Good Will Hunting' and a ukulele concert

The Boston Marathon will take place this upcoming Monday, bringing thousands of runners across the finish line at Copley Square, with many more spectators cheering on athletes. This weekend, there’s an opportunity to get together with other fans and make posters at a nearby bookstore, but we’ve also identified other events in Greater Boston that offer hope for a beautiful spring. Watch powerful movies at The National Center for Jewish Film’s Annual Film Festival and hear the words of poets at a reading organized by the City of Boston in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. These and more engagements, below.

Fans of virtuosic ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro will have a chance to see the star perform live at The Center for Arts in Natick. Originally from Hawaii, Shimabukuro has a repertoire that fuses many different genres of music, from pop to classical, blues and traditional Hawaiian music. He became world-renowned for his interpretation of George Harrison’s song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” His intricate fingerwork and complexity contribute to a sound that is expansive, hopeful and boundary pushing. Tickets start at $80.

Load YouTube video

The National Center for Jewish Film’s Annual Film Festival takes place April 12-26, and this weekend brings screenings to the Museum of Fine Arts. On Thursday, director Lionel Baier’s “The Safe House” will show, about a 9-year-old boy who spends time with his grandparents while his parents fill their days at Parisian student and worker protests. On Sunday, catch “Ada: My Mother the Architect,” director Yael Melamede’s documentary about a powerful architect largely unknown by the world outside. Tickets for each screening are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. [Check out our spring guide for more film festival recommendations.]

Load YouTube video

Actors’ Shakespeare Project stages August Wilson's “Gem of the Ocean” at Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall starting Friday, presenting a story about “community, oppression and healing.” Directed by Monica White Ndounou, the play follows a man named Citizen Barlow (played by Joshua Lee Robinson), who leaves Alabama in search of a new life in Pittsburgh. He finds himself at the doorstep of a 285-year-old “soul cleanser” named Aunt Ester (played by Regine Vital), who sends him on “a fantastical journey” of spiritual truth. Tickets start at $25.

With the Boston Marathon happening Monday, Copley Square is the place to be. The Newbury Street bookshop Trident Booksellers will host a screening of “Good Will Hunting,” which Trident deems “the most Bostonian” film they could think of. The bookstore will also have the option for attendees to design posters to cheer on marathon runners. Food and drink are available for purchase, which includes an all-day breakfast, smoothies, tacos and more. The event runs from 7-9 p.m., and while participation is free, it’s recommended that you RSVP in advance.

Load YouTube video

Visit JustBook-Ish, a bookshop in Dorchester founded by former Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola, for a dual celebration of National Poetry Month and Autism Acceptance Month. There will be a poetry reading and conversation with Boston-based artist Lewis M., Berklee College student Reign Fakih, and poet Imani Davis, currently a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University. Attendees can also enjoy snacks, learn about themed book recommendations and participate in a gift card giveaway. The event runs from 4-6 p.m., and admittance is free.