Director Rodney Evans will participate in the Jan. 17 opening night of his film “The Happy Sad” at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. The film begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a question and answer session with Evans. Also opening at the Ross is the animated documentary “Is the Man Who is Tall Happy.”

Both films are unrated and play through Jan. 23 at the Ross.

In “The Happy Sad,” two young couples in New York — one black and gay, the other white and heterosexual — find their lives intertwined as they create new relationship norms.

The film juxtaposes the storylines of the two couples to highlight the ethical dilemmas facing men and women who are trying to create new ways to be in a loving relationship, while recognizing that monogamy might not be for them.

Evans received the Independent Feature Project’s Gordon Parks Award for Screenwriting for his screenplay “Brother to Brother.” The film premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Special Jury Prize in Drama. His second feature-length film, “Day Dream,” earned first place in the Newfest Screenplay competition.

“Is the Man Who is Tall Happy” is director Michel Gondry’s animated conversation with Noam Chomsky. The documentary explores the life of the controversial MIT professor, philosopher, linguist, anti-war activist and political firebrand.

Featuring Gondry’s illustrations, the film reveals the life and work of Chomsky, offering a portrait of one of the foremost thinkers of modern times.

For more information on the films, including show times, go to http://www.theross.org or call 402-472-5353.