Sundance kicked things off unofficially recently with the start of what appears to be shaping up as a mostly virtual 2021 film festival season. That includes a Bay Area favorite, the feisty 23rd SF Independent Film Festival.

The online 2021 fest is, per usual, showcasing edgy, independent-minded fare that you might not see anywhere else. Indie Fest runs for nearly three weeks and is serving up 42 shorts and 38 features from 20 countries, with the usual strong representation from Bay Area filmmakers.

The event is accessible through Feb. 21; most screenings are $10; festival passes are $45-$135; schedule, tickets, access and more information are at sfindiefest2021.eventive.org

Among the offerings:

“Summertime”: The latest from “Blindspotting” director Carlos López Estrada is a high-energy showstopper centering on a group of spoken word artists in L.A. Estrada inventively strings together performances from the cast of young non-actors, who deliver segments filled with imagery, power and passion. Set around one hot L.A. day, “Summertime” winds through the city and tosses out a series of vignettes: a dance number outside a supermarket, a takedown of a homophobe on a bus and an eavesdrop into a couple’s therapy session. It’s pure magic, and is the fest’s centerpiece selection.

“The Book of Vision”: Documentary filmmaker Carlo S. Hintermann’s feature debut is a quasi-period piece revolving around a promising medical student and an unorthodox 18th-century physician. Terrence Malick is the executive producer.

“499”: Oakland filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes — who will receive IndieFest’s Vanguard Award — presents his fourth film, a surreal and timely tale of a 16th-century conquistador who time travels to modern Mexico.

“Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation”: MSNBC news anchor Richard Lui, who grew up in the Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley and SF State, takes us into the lives of five student caregivers as they tend to relatives while trying to realize their own dreams. It’s a powerful film that manages to be uplifting while spotlighting the formidable, often cruel, challenges that a disabled person — including wounded war veterans — and their loved ones confront.

“Morgana”: Another fascinating SF IndieFest documentary is this character study of a fearless mature woman embracing her sexuality and body despite being ostracized by family members. Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess have found a winning subject in Morgana Muses, an Australian woman who transformed from a suicidal housewife into an award-winning porn filmmaker. Her journey expresses how a person can change and take ownership of their life.