With more than 100 films being shown at the AFI Silver Theatre as part of this year’s SilverDocs festival, you’d think Washington cinephiles would have their hands full. One problem: Many screenings are already sold out. In case you were one of the people upset about, say, The September Issue selling out so quickly (not that we’re projecting), we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of other films being shown around town. We can’t promise great cinema, but we can almost guarantee no ticket lines.

Monday
Every Monday, the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse screens three movies for just $1 each. Today, Monsters vs. Aliens shows at 4:30, Miley Cyrus’s The Hanna Montana Movie screens at 7:30, and the Paul Rudd and Jason Segel bromantic comedy, I Love You, Man, plays at 9:50.

The theme for Crystal City’s film festival, every Monday through September, is superheroes, and tonight the most super of all superheroes, Superman, makes an appearance. Superman 2 will be shown at sundown (around 8:35). Films are screened at the courtyard across from the Crystal City Metro station.

SilverDocs, the annual documentary film festival held at Silver Spring’s AFI Silver Theatre, returns next week with a slate of screenings, conferences, discussions, and a concert scheduled over eight days. More than 100 films are shown during the festival, and deciding which to catch (and which to skip) can be quite daunting. So we’ve come up with a trusty guide to help you out.

Below, we tell you about this year’s competing films (27 total), ticket prices, free screenings—we’re in the middle of a recession, after all—and some sure bets, depending on your interests. We’ve also included a list of some of this year’s more recognizable attendees, including directors, artists, politicians, and a certain boxing legend, because we all like to gawk at stars from time to time.

Competing Films | Tickets | Free Screenings | Our Picks | Stars and Special Guests | An Alternative to SilverDocs

Good news for fans of free film everywhere! Screen on the Green, the free movie series that takes place every summer on the Mall, has been saved from its previous cancellation and will go on as planned this year. 

Comcast and the Trust for the National Mall stepped up to help with financial obligations for the film fest, and HBO will remained involved as well.

Executives for all three organizations said that fan grassroot efforts played a large role in reviving the series.

Due to the last-minute arrangement, Screen on the Green will be cut down from five screenings to four, with the first showing being "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" on July 20, reports the Washington Post.

Hooray! Are you relieved? What movies would you like to see play this year at Screen on the Green? And don't forget—there are tons of other free film fests happening all over the city this summer. 

Monday, June 1
• Luis Alberto Urrea will read and discuss his latest novel, Into the Beautiful North, at Politics and Prose. The book tells of a small-town girl whose life suddenly finds purpose after watching the movie The Magnificent Seven. 7 PM.

• Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra, a steel-drum group composed of students from the Saturday Academy in Maryland, performs at the Kennedy Center’s free Millennium Stage. 6 PM.

Tuesday, June 2
• The Washington Psychotronic Film Society screens Evil Brain From Outer Space at the Warehouse. The film, believe it or not, is about a pajama-wearing superhero fighting space monsters in order to save our planet. The screening is free, but a $2 donation is encouraged. 8 PM.

• Jazz musician Marcus Johnson will perform songs from his most recent album, Poetically Justified, at the 18th and L streets location of Borders in downtown DC. He’ll autograph copies of his album following the performance. 12:30 PM.

Tuesday, May 19
In Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret, Steve Luxenberg, an editor at the Washington Post, uncovers his mother’s hidden past and an aunt he never knew existed. Luxenberg will discuss his book with New York Times reporter Scott Shane at the Borders at 18th and L streets, Northwest, at 6:30.

Wednesday, May 20
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius will read from and his discuss his newest thriller, The Increment, at Politics and Prose at 7. The novel centers around the Iranian nuclear threat and how a CIA agent must betray his country and turn to a secret British spy team called the Increment to save the day.

Thursday, May 21
The Smithsonian American Art Museum screens The Grapes of Wrath in its McEvoy Auditorium at 6. John Ford’s adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel follows the Joad family, who attempt to leave behind the Great Depression by heading west to California.

Screen on the Green might not happen this year (boo!), but don’t worry—there are plenty of other free-film events happening throughout Washington. Check out our roundup of where to watch movies under the stars this summer.

>> Get the full outdoor film series roundup here 

Washingtonian.com confirmed earlier today that the much-loved summer movie series, Screen on the Green, will not take place this year. A representative at the National Park Service said that HBO would not bring back the event. The local blog We Love DC first reported on it here.

In years past, HBO has partnered with AOL to put on the weekly screenings. No word yet on whether another sponsor will step forward to keep the tradition alive.

In the hours since the news broke, a Facebook group has already been formed. It's called Save Screen on the Green!, and it's purpose is just that—to save the free movie series. As of this writing, the group has 74 fans.

While losing this summertime staple is a shame—what will we do come Monday nights in July?!—there are plenty of other free movie options to be had. We're putting together a list of where you can catch free flicks throughout the Washington area. Lick your Screen-on-the-Green-induced wounds today, then check back early next week for our roundup.