Photo by LaTur.

MOVIE: Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue, a collection of ten films chosen through the Sundance Institute’s Film Forward program, each screening simultaneously at various area venues, is on Thursday at 6 p.m. at 10 different venues. Of the ten on this year’s schedule, we’ve favorably covered four here at DCist, two (Freedom Riders and Afghan Star) at Silverdocs over the past two years, another when it opened locally in 2009 (Amreeka), and a fourth (Winter’s Bone) which made our top ten of 2010 list. Check out the complete schedule.

>> Director Julian Schnabel will be on hand at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (7th Street SW and Independence Avenue) to introduce his powerful film adaptation of Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoir of living with locked-in syndrome, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. 8:30 p.m. Free.

MUSIC: The warm vocal harmonies of the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas — the Besnard Lakes — will be on display at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW) tonight. Wintersleep and Loose Lips open. $13. 8:00 p.m.

>> Adele‘s 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW) show with the The Civil Wars has been sold out for months, but hey, maybe Craig can help. 7:00 p.m.

>> The Velvet Lounge (915 U Street NW) brings D Charles Speer & the Helix and Zachary Cale to the stage. $8. 9:00 p.m.

>> A triple bill at DC9 (1940 9th Street NW) features Ra Ra Rasputin, Silo Effect and Navi. $8. 8:00 p.m.

ART: If you’ve ever wanted to experience art instead of just looking at it, then this is your lucky day. The DC Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW) is hosting the first ever The Experience Auction!, tonight at the Kennedy-Warren building. Over three dozen of D.C.’s most creative and talented people are offering unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the highest bidder. Watch your property get vandalized by Kelly Towles, dance your heart out with Liz Lerman, or (my personal fave) write your own theme song with A.C. Valdez. These are just a few of the experiences that you can bid on and then, um, experience. Ticket sales end at 3 p.m., so hurry! $35 for DCAC members, $50 for non-members. 7 p.m.

FUNDRAISER: Miriam’s Kitchen hosts its annual 100 Bowls of Compassion gala at the National Building Museum (401 F Street NW) tonight. Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama will preside over festivities as attendees enjoy gourmet Silk Road-inspired food made by Miriam’s Kitchen chefs, an open bar and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $150-250, and can be purchased by calling (202) 452-8926 x 227 or by emailing here. 6 p.m.

FOOD & DRINK: It’s Eat Wonky‘s turn at Chinatown Coffee Co.‘s (475 H Street NW) Food Truck Thursday. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

BOOKS: The U Street Neighborhood Association prefaces its regular monthly meeting with a book talk on Washington’s U Street: A Biography by Blair Ruble at the Thurgood Marshall Center (1816 12th Street NW). Free. 7 p.m.