Pregnant women may want to steer clear of "Rosemary's Baby," but everyone else can consider it the perfect way to usher in October. Judging by the proliferation of pumpkins, scarecrows and other decorations, Halloween is now a month-long celebration and the perfect time for a series devoted to creepy films.

The 1968 Roman Polanski film is the first feature in the Sunday Night Series called "Creeped Out!" at Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave. "Rosemary's Baby" screens Sunday at 8 p.m.

Mia Farrow famously plays a New York mother-to-be who discovers her elderly neighbors, not to mention her husband, aren't who she thought -- or hoped -- they'd be. Polanski reportedly said of Farrow, "She has a neurotic quality good for Rosemary. Only nuts are interesting people."

Although some critics prematurely predicted an Oscar for Farrow, it was Ruth Gordon who was nominated for supporting actress and won for her role as a neighbor.

The Oct. 14 feature will be Guillermo del Toro's "The Devil's Backbone," a subtitled ghost story set in an isolated orphanage and political shelter in Santa Lucia, Spain. It first played here in February 2002.

A 12-year-old who arrives at the school as an orphan of the Spanish Civil War discovers hidden riches, sexual intrigue and a restless ghost. Del Toro has since become known as the director of "Pan's Labyrinth," winner of 2006 Academy Awards for art direction, cinematography and makeup.

"Peeping Tom," an influential Michael Powell film about a twisted young film technician driven to murder women as he photographs them, will screen Oct. 21. Released in 1960, it examines not only the nature of fear itself -- the killer was the subject of unseemly experiments as a child -- but of film itself.

The series will close with the 1956 Mario Bava film "Planet of Vampires" on Oct. 28.

Its poster asked: "10,000 years ago or 10,000 years to come ... Are they beings of the future or of the past, these men who rule the demon planet?" When astronauts land on an alien planet, they find creatures closer to zombies than vampires in the movie considered a partial template for "Alien."

Each movie starts at 8 p.m. and admission is $7.

MORE HALLOWEEN HAUNTS

In time for the Halloween season and to coincide with the Oct. 19 film release of "30 Days of Night," IDW Publishing is continuing its hit vampire franchise with a three-issue comic-book miniseries titled "30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow."

FREE FILM FEST

Halloween is far from the only happening this month. RADical Days, during which local arts and cultural organizations open their doors for free events, continue.

On Friday and Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., Pittsburgh Filmmakers will present the Ann Arbor Film Festival, a touring program that showcases award-winning experimental, animated, documentary and narrative films.

Go to www.aafilmfest.org/tour/ for details about the sorts of movies you will find.

MORE FILM FREEBIES

The Pittsburgh Christian Film Festival, returning later this month with free showings of two dozen movies, will reward both early birds and procrastinators. Organizers will allow groups to order tickets (minimum of 10) in advance, while still reserving half of the auditorium for people who can pick up free tickets at the box office on the same day.

Advance tickets, however, will carry a $4 service charge per ticket to cover processing costs and discourage people from ordering more tickets than they can use. No refunds will be given.

The annual event will be held Oct. 19-21 at Star City Screenworks 14 in South Fayette, near the Bridgeville exit of I-79.

More details will be announced later, but the lineup of films includes "The List," about the power of an ancient covenant to change the life of a man forever; "Amazing Grace," starring Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce, a leader of the British abolition movement; and "Facing the Giants," an inspirational story about a high school coach who uses faith to battle the giants of fear and failure.

Go to www.ProjectingHope.com for an early look at the lineup.

HONORING WOMEN

Producer Suzanne DeLaurentiis will receive an Opal Award for excellence in film and television in Pittsburgh.

Tickets are on sale for the first Opal Awards, saluting excellence in film and television in Pittsburgh.

The inaugural honorees will include: producer Suzanne DeLaurentiis, executive producer of "10th and Wolf" and "Out of the Black," both made in Western Pennsylvania; Lumiere Films' Amy Lamb, whose contributions include producing a public service announcement for the Women and Girls Foundation; and the late newswoman Patti Burns.

Patti's brother, Michael Burns, and her longtime companion turned husband, attorney Charles C. Cohen, will accept the honor on her behalf. The KDKA anchor and reporter died Oct. 31, 2001, after quietly battling lung cancer.

Women in Film and Media, Pittsburgh, will hand out the awards, which also will include a $1,500 scholarship, partially funded by General Motors and being presented by Sullivan Chevrolet.

The event will be Oct. 16 at the Cabaret at Theater Square in the Cultural District, Downtown. A VIP reception starts at 5 p.m., cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and awards ceremony at 7 p.m.

To buy tickets, $125 for VIPs and $85 for patrons, go to www.pgharts.org or call 412-456-6666. See www.wifmpit.com for more information.