Reel Affirmations Film Festival
A showcase for gay- and lesbian-themed films, the 17th Reel Affirmations International Film Festival presents 120 movies October 11 to 20.
The festival kicks off with the DC premiere of Naked Boys Singing, a musical revue from Robert Schrock, who directed the off-Broadway hit production. Closing night brings The Walker, a murder mystery penned by Paul Schrader, whose writing credits include Taxi Driver and American Gigolo. Woody Harrelson stars as a gay man who escorts high-society Washington wives—played by Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall, and Kristin Scott Thomas—to social events.
Films will be screened at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., NW), Goethe Institut (812 Seventh St., NW), and Landmark E Street Cinema (555 11th St., NW). Tickets are $10. Call 202-986-1119 or visit reelaffirmations.org.
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
DC Labor Film Fest offers comedies, dramas, and documentaries about work and workers October 11 to 17. On opening night, British filmmaker Ken Loach presents the US premiere of It’s a Free World, about two flatmates who open an employment agency in Britain.
Film historian Foster Hirsch’s new biography, Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King, hits bookshelves this month. On October 27 and 28, he drops by AFI to introduce four of the Austrian director’s films: 1945’s Fallen Angel, 1950’s Angel Face, 1962’s Advise & Consent, and 1965’s Bunny Lake Is Missing.
AFI’s Halloween Film Series October 27 to 31 brings horror movies to the big screen, among them cult classics like 1973’s The Wicker Man and 1974’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. On October 26, the Silent Orchestra provides background music for F.W. Murnau’s 1922 vampire original, Nosferatu ($20, $15 members, $5 under age 12). Films at AFI are $7.50 to $9.75. 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring; 301-495-6720; afi.com/silver.
Around the World
From September 27 to October 6 the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival will showcase 16 features and more than 30 shorts. The festival opens with Finishing the Game, a spoof about a film crew’s search for an actor to fill in for martial-arts legend Bruce Lee. Films will be shown at E Street Cinema (11th and E sts., NW), AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring), and other theaters. Ticket prices range from free to $10. See apafilm.org for the schedule.
Stories of indigenous minority cultures take the spotlight during the All Roads Film Festival October 4 to 7. The features, shorts, and documentaries come from all corners of the world, including Mexico, Afghanistan, Canada, India, Australia, Iran, Kurdistan, and New Zealand. The festival also includes musical performances, panel discussions, photography displays, and an art market. Tickets are $9 per film or program; a festival pass is $63. National Geographic Society, Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St., NW; 202-857-7700; nationalgeographic.com/allroads.
The Arabian Sights Film Festival October 26 to November 4 shows new films from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, and elsewhere. Films explore the social, religious, and political climate of the Middle East—and shed light on its people and cultures. Tickets are $9. AMC Loews Dupont 5, 1350 19th St., NW; 202-724-5613; filmfestdc.org/arabiansights.
