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The Raging Grannies hit the silver screen this weekend as local filmmaker Pam Walton premieres her new documentary on the group at the Cinequest film festival in San Jose.

During the festival, which opened Feb. 25 and runs through March 8, Cinequest organizers expect to show 150 movies to an estimated 80,000 viewers. One of the films will be "Raging Grannies: The Action League" created by director and producer Walton, a Mountain View resident.

The 53-minute movie focuses on the Peninsula chapter of the group of women over 50 who stand up for particular causes such as non-violence. Walton documents the satirical-song-singing, crazy-attire- and hat-wearing women, who have been both booed and applauded.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to premiere this film," Walton said in an interview. "They are natural-born performers."

With master's degrees in both film and video production from Stanford University, Walton is an experienced filmmaker and no stranger to the Cinequest scene. In previous festivals, she showed the documentaries "Liberty: 3 Stories About Life & Death," about three lesbian friends; and "Call to Witness," about Lutheran pastors who want pews and pulpits to be open to people of all sexual orientations.

Walton started working on "Raging Grannies," in 2006, traveling around the Bay Area with the group to events -- or "gigs," as they like to call them. She captured them performing with the streets as their center stage, demonstrating on causes dear to them, such as same-sex marriage and military recruiting.

"Even if people don't agree with them completely, I hope they still admire their courage," Walton said.

She added that aging in general can be a terrifying experience, but noted that this never slows the Grannies down. They prove that with motivation, confidence and the right mentality life isn't over at age 50, she said.

The film premieres in the Camera 12 theater at 288 S. 2nd St. in San Jose at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. The Grannies are expected to make an appearance, performing one of their original songs. The film will also be shown at noon on Sunday, March 8.

Also set to show their films at Cinequest are two Stanford students, Michael Attie and Tim O'Hara. Attie's short documentary "Mr. Mack's Kitchen" follows junior chefs from Lafayette Elementary School. Mack teaches his students about discipline and maturity that they can use in both the kitchen and everyday life.

O'Hara's "Operation Falcon" details the life of a U.S. Marine and the journey to save his former interpreter from threats and dangers in Iraq.

The two movies are being shown as part of a program of student short films at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6, and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 8.

Cinequest ticket prices vary, with several packages available. For details, go to www.cinequest.org or call 408-295-3378.