Looking for new films to stream? Want to actually watch a movie at the theater? Either way, make sure to catch the 2021 DC Shorts International Film Festival this month.
The 18th annual festival kicks off on Thursday, September 9, and runs through Sunday, September 19. With in-person and online showcases, movie lovers can purchase individual tickets for $12-$15, all-access passes for $75, and all access festival passes (which includes in-person and online access) for $140.
“We are so thrilled to be presenting a hybrid festival this year, allowing the local DC community to safely gather and enjoy the full in-theater DC Shorts Showcase experience. As always, we’ve programmed an excellent variety of film styles, genres, and themes in each showcase emphasizing all that the craft of filmmaking has to offer,” says Joe Bilancio, DC Shorts director of programming.
With 95 films full of animation, LGBTQ stories, documentaries, dramas, and more, you’ll definitely have plenty of options during your next movie night.
Of the movies being presented at the festival, three were directed by DC filmmakers. They include Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color by Cheri Gaulke, Ourselves, In Stories by Marjee Chmiel, and Oversight by Michael Skinner. Those wishing to catch these short flicks in person can grab tickets for the Homegrown Showcase on Friday, September 10.
The documentary by Gaulke focuses on the life of artist Alma Thomas. She became the first fine-arts graduate at Howard University, first Black woman to mount a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and first Black woman to have her paintings exhibited in the White House. If you catch the inspiring documentary, make sure to head to the Phillips Collection in October to admire her colorful pieces of art.
Feature image courtesy DC Shorts International Film Festival
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