With heavy anticipation of the playa dust, art and unique culture, Burners and Birgins can prepare for their annual pilgrimage to the Black Rock Desert at the Burning Man Film Festival and Playa Launch Party tonight at the Knitting Factory.

With less than two weeks before Burning Man begins on Aug. 30, Maria Partridge with the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) said the aim of the film festival is to get Burners — people who have been to the event — and Birgins — also known as Burning Man virgins — excited for the week of fun in the desert.

In addition to ramping up energy levels, Partridge said the festival and launch party is a fundraiser for BRAF to help pay for an art installation in downtown Reno.

“It is a fundraiser for the BRAF for the installation of ‘Duel Nature,’ ” Partridge said. “What Burning Man does in conjunction with the regional groups is that it puts these fundraisers on all over the country.”

Partridge said a similar film festival recently was held in San Francisco and benefited Bay Area Burning Man groups. Reno Burners also will benefit from tonight’s film festival.

The film lineup will include “Burning Man” by Larry Harvey, which was filmed in 1991, “Burning Man MCMXCVII” by Chuck Cirino from 1997 and “Beyond Black Rock” by Mike Wilson and Damon Brown from 2002.

“I was trying to pick films that veterans who have been to Burning Man would enjoy and films that if you had never been to Burning Man would give you a good idea of the event,” Partridge said. “The films are really for veterans who have been out to the desert so that no matter how many times they have been out, they can remember and get excited to go out.

“People who are new to the event really get a sense of the history and culture of the event,” Partridge added.

In addition to the three films, there will be entertainment by Controlled Burn and Velocity Movement hula hooping. There also will be belly dancers and music by DJ Bobzein.

“The other thing about the film festival is that we’re going to have information tables,” Partridge said. “So that if you’ve never been to the event there will be pamphlets, information about playa rituals and information about how to fit in with the Burners.”

However, Partridge hopes people don’t forget about the art installation that is part the reason for the event.

“Duel Nature,” which was once an art piece at Burning Man in 2006 is currently occupying the corner of Sierra Street and Island Avenue in downtown Reno and will be on display until Dec.1. It made its debut in May.

“‘Duel Nature’ references the spiral of our human DNA,” said artist Kate Raudenbush on BRAF’s website. “The struggle inherent to the duality of the human condition is expressed by the violence of the raw plasma-cut, bolted steel exterior, in contrast with the vitality of the interior blood-red mirror. As visitors gather inside the vibrant core of the sculpture, their myriad reflections remind us of our shared genetic bond and our shared humanity.”

The large structure arrived in pieces and was assembled by more than 20 volunteers, Partridge said.

“It took us 10 days and more than 500 volunteer hours to install that art structure,” Partridge said of the spiraled, metal-slat circle with black on one side and red on the other. “That is why we are doing fundraising to still raise still needs $15,000 to pay for the total $22,000 piece.

“The city of Reno gave a project grant from the Arts & Culture Commission and that grant was $6,500,” Partridge said.

In 2008, BRAF helped install “Mangrove” in the same location as “Duel Nature” and in 2009 “Celtic Forest” was installed.

“The BRAF is looking forward to continuing a relationship with the city of Reno to bring the art of Burning Man to the city,” Partridge said.

The Burning Man Film Festival and Playa Launch Party begins at 4 p.m. with films running until 8 p.m. Partridge said people will be able to leave and return to the event.

Dancing and entertainment begin at 8:30 p.m. and go until 10 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for people in costume and $15 for those who don’t dress up. For tickets or additional information, visit http://re.knittingfactory.com.

For more information about BRAF or to donate, visit www.blackrockarts.org.