The Daily Feed

DC Jewish Film Festival Underway

Photo courtesy of tedeytan
National Menorah and Tree 7676
courtesy of tedeytan

The 23rd Washington Jewish Film Festival – one of the oldest and largest festivals of its kind – has returned to the district, with events running through January 13.

Curated by the Washington DC Jewish Community Center, the WJFF features 55 films at ten different venues. It includes a U Street short film pub crawl for the first time this year and a major pass discount for patrons 30 years old or younger.

A special focus on French cinema and a number of music-related films stand out in the 2013 lineup, including a retrospective on Lou Reed and a film detailing the founding of the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra.

There are also, of course, a few films in there inspired by Woody Allen.

The festival’s closing event on January 13 features a screening of Hava Nagila (The Movie) a documentary by Academy-Award nominated director Roberta Grossman which follows the famous song from its origins in Eastern European shtetls to worldwide familiarity.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (202) 777-3231. In addition to single tickets, WJFF will be offering full festival passes for the first time this year. Those passes run at $75, but are discounted to $30 for attendees 30 years old and younger.

Cherry Blossom Festival, Entertainment, Special Events, The Daily Feed, We Love Arts

This Saturday: Samurai Cinema Triple Feature!

Photo courtesy National Geographic

Want something a little different to make this year’s cherry blossom visit truly magnificent? How about a great samurai triple feature?  The National Geographic Museum will be presenting three classics of Japanese cinema, all featuring the iconic Toshiro Mifune and presented in stunning 35mm! Presented in conjunction with the National Geographic Museum exhibition Samurai: The Warrior Transformed, the films will be introduced by Michael Jeck, veteran film programmer notable for commentary on Criterion DVD releases of Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood.

Admission to each film is $5, though you can see them for free with paid admission to the new samurai exhibit. (The offer is valid only for exhibit tickets purchased for Saturday, 3/31; there are a limited number of tickets available.) Warning—these films all have some pretty violent content. Film details after the jump. Continue reading

Special Events, We Love Arts

2011 All Roads Film Festival at NatGeo

Photo courtesy of
‘National Archives Film Canisters’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Starting tomorrow, the National Geographic Museum hosts the 2011 All Roads Film Festival. The five-day festival showcases nearly 40 films in 24 countries, created to provide an international platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture artists to share cultures, stories and perspectives through the power of film and photography. This year’s theme is “Stories That Shape Our World” and National Geographic is giving WeLoveDC readers a chance to win a pair of all-access passes to the festival.

The five-day event also will include a “Global Groove: DJ Dance Party,” hosted by DJ Dave Nada and DJ Underdog, panel discussions by a number of the filmmakers and two photography exhibits. One photography exhibit will feature works from three provocative voices in the photography medium, each at different points in their careers; the second is an exclusive view into two cultures where photography by outsiders has been severely restricted. Several filmmakers will participate in two panel discussions, “Latinos in Modern Media” and “Indigenous Communities, Film and the Environment,” as well as discussions following their film screenings where they will talk about their careers and the continuing innovation of indigenous filmmaking.

If you’d like to win a pair of festival passes, simply drop a comment below (using an email address we can use to contact you). We’ll randomly select a winner at noon tomorrow (Wednesday 9/14). Continue reading

The Daily Feed

BuddhaFest

Photo courtesy of
‘Screen with Wings’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

When it’s hot outside, all I want to do is go to the movies.  Something about sitting in an incredibly dark and cold room with a diet coke (or perhaps one of those yummy cherry frosty things) in my hand just makes it all better.  For about 2 hours at least.

So, when I heard about DC’s first Buddhist film festival this weekend I thought, now this is really something, 4 days out of the heat – I am so in.

BuddhaFest is a four-day event being held June 17-20 at American University’s Katzen Art Center.  BuddhaFest presents 12 films, including a world premiere, talks by leading American Buddhist teachers, meditations, and a Picnic for Peace.

Most tickets are $9.95 and festival passes are available starting at $47.75.

Now all you need is that delicious cherry frosty…

The Daily Feed

Bicycle Film Festival This Weekend

Photo courtesy of
‘lonely’
courtesy of ‘m hoek’

If you like riding bikes and watching films, have I got the activity for you this weekend!  The Bicycle Film Festival is visiting 37 cities this year, and this weekend is DC’s turn!  Tonight is the kick-off party at Asylum and film screenings are tomorrow at the Navy Memorial Theater at 5, 7, and 9 PM.  There’s something for everyone– topics range from cyclocross to the world’s longest bike race and bike polo.  Tickets to screenings are $8 and are available online.

As for how to get there?  Um, hello.  Ride your bike.  WABA will be providing free valet bike parking!