When the militia finally tracks down God, he's chilling at a ratty roadside motel outside Paris, Texas. The creator of the universe was the subject of a six-month manhunt, accused of really rotten follow-through.

He blurts an expletive as a bunch of rifle-toting dudes close in on him and his female companions.

Moments later in "Funny Meeting You Here," the supreme being is facing a firing squad while the world waits to see whether he'll get all mad and trigger an apocalypse on his way to the grave.

This 8 1/2-minute film is one of 16 short films included in this year's edition of "I Dream in Widescreen," a showcase of Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis films from students at the University of Arizona School of Media Arts.

The two-hour program (most of the films are seven to nine minutes long) will be shown Saturday night at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

The 2010 showcase is a fascinating, diverse collection from a flagrantly talented crop of young filmmakers, most of whom will soon be leaving Tucson to pursue their dreams in New York or Los Angeles.

After watching all 16 films over the weekend, I'm here to tell you that there isn't a dud in the bunch (OK, maybe one).

Everybody will come away from the Fox screening with their own favorites, but here are some thoughts about the five films that resonated most with me:

"Bastard: An Illegitimate Film," written and directed by Chris Robinson, is an utterly compelling documentary about the filmmaker's attempt to understand his complicated family tree. Robinson's father, a former B-movie actor of the same name, had nine children from six separate relationships. Really good stuff.

"Funny Meeting You Here" - The aforementioned film, written and directed by Ryan Glenn, about holding God accountable features an inside joke of sorts that might tickle some longtime Tucsonans.

God, see, is played by Jim Anderson, a former candidate for mayor whose nickname is God. He's the bald eminence who operates the Meet Rack on West Drachman Street (that's his subcompact out front with the GOD license plate).

Although the film is basically a provocative idea in search of a movie, Anderson's presence and a healthy dose of sardonic humor made it a winner in my book.

"Lunch," written and directed by Katie Gault, is a comic romp about a possibly sinister conspiracy involving the lunch ladies at an elementary school cafeteria. The climactic battle against a corrupt principal gets a bit messy. It's a film that's elevated by some of the best faces you've ever seen.

"The Man from O.R.G.Y.," written and directed by Kyle Gutierrez, is a fascinating documentary that, like many of the other films, really deserves to be fleshed out into a feature film. The material is priceless, involving an attempt to understand the filmmaker's late grandfather, a serious-minded New York artist who wrote wild, over-the-top porn parodies laced with social commentary in the 1960s.

"Medical Mary," directed and co-written by Sarah Haber, is a complete delight about an office worker who becomes Miss Popular at her workplace after she is prescribed medical marijuana. She decides she'd rather sell the weed to her co-workers, which results in happiness all around.

Here's a brief look at the other films included in this year's "I Dream In Widescreen":

"The Big Job," written and directed by Adam Valencia, is a Western tale of revenge, full of lovely images, that's set in motion when a woman is killed.

"Black Marauder," written and directed by Ellie Jepperson, zooms in on a messed-up relationship between a man and a woman who should call the whole thing off.

"Bring in the Night," written and directed by Alisha Lim, is about the struggles, violent and otherwise, within a group of taggers seeking some sort of beauty within the life they've chosen.

"Corner Suite," written and directed by Alex Hulsey, is an emotionally intense story set in a New York City hotel room, circa 1950. Lies, desperation and betrayal all around.

"Cuckoo," written and directed by Alan Hayman, is set in the near future and features an unfulfilled virtual fighter who learns a few things about himself after taking a hallucinatory trip in a bathtub.

"Hearing Colors," written and directed by Brandon Skinner, focuses on a passionate young man whose ability to hear colors and see sounds comes to a full stop after a nasty breakup with his girlfriend.

"Hold Up," written and directed by John Roney, is about a guy who talks his friends into committing a corner-store robbery. As you might expect, it does not go entirely as planned.

"Polaroid Boyfriend," written and directed by Monique Dias, is about a strange, possibly dangerous courtship between Meagan and Caleb, who leave pictures and notes for each other in Meagan's apartment although they have yet to meet, which doesn't sit well with Meagan's friend.

"Don't call me when you are raped and murdered," she says.

"Torment," written and directed by Nick Gelb, is the longest film in the program (11 1/2 minutes) and one of the most experimental. It's about a young woman trying to make an escape from the delusions and fantasies of her ex-boyfriend.

"The Transformation of Dr. Janus," written and directed by Jennifer Noll, is a trippy tale about a zoo director who undergoes a transformation after ordering that a lioness be put down.

"Until Next Time," written and directed by Jillian Corsie, captures a sad turning point in the relationship between Alex and Victor (played with skill by Michael Miller and Matthew Wagner).

If you go

• What: "I Dream in Widescreen," a program of 16 short films from students in the UA School of Media Arts.

• When: Saturday at 7 p.m.

• Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.

• Admission: Free.