Smokey Binion Jr. spends most of his days mowing lawns, driving tractors and doing small jobs for the city of Stinnett.

Come evening, however, he trades his work clothes for a red-sequined jumpsuit and gold-rimmed sunglasses and transforms into Elvis Presley, eager to entertain and connect with young and old audiences across the Panhandle.

Binion is the subject of Smokey, a short documentary directed by University of North Texas graduate student Scott Thurman. It is one of three films directed by students in UNT’s Department of Radio, Television and Film that will be shown at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival, which runs through April 2.

Smokey screens today as part of the festival’s Documentary Shorts Competition. The screening begins at 7 p.m. at The Magnolia Theater, 3699 E. McKinney Ave. in Dallas. All documentary shorts will be screened again at 10 p.m. Monday at the same location.

Two other UNT students’ films will be shown as part of the North Texas College Showcase. The showcase, which will include films from other Dallas-Fort Worth universities, begins at 9:45 p.m. at the AMC Northpark 15, 8687 N. Central Expressway.

A Tale for Shmuli, directed by Omar Milano, tells the story of David and Angela, whose happiness was marred two months before their wedding date when David was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In Vinyl, a Super 16 film created for UNT’s advanced film production class last year, two country boys travel into the city to pick up the newest Michael Jackson record.

For more information, visit www.afidallas.com .

— Staff report