The 19th annual Alexandria Film Festival kicks off this weekend with over 60 film screenings in store, from immersive documentaries to experimental films.
Three days of screenings start tomorrow (Friday) and run until Sunday, Nov. 9. Tickets cost $16.79 at each venue, while an all-festival pass costs $85. Federal workers affected by the government shutdown may also receive complimentary tickets at the box office with a valid government ID, while supplies last.
Films spotlight a variety of stories, from the transformative power of sports for women in Kyrgyzstan, to a Ukrainian animal rescue operation during the 2022 Russian invasion. Half of this year’s films were produced by filmmakers in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, many of whom will join audiences for “robust, post-screening discussions.”
“You’ll discover stories that delve into current issues, narratives that explore the human experience, and films that push the limits of imagination and technical craft,” Festival Chair Jill Ray wrote in this year’s program.
Seventy percent of this year’s films will be premieres, Ray noted, including 15 world and U.S. premieres and 14 D.C.-area premieres.
This year’s screening venues are listed below.
- Patagonia Old Town (815 1/2 King Street)
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street)
- The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street)
- Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (3625 Potomac Avenue)
The full schedule for the films is below:
Friday, Nov. 7
- Noon at The Lyceum — Empowered Women: “Night Light,” “Mace,” “KICKOFF“
- Noon at Beatley Library — Finding Connections: “Operation Dark Site,” “Infinity Girls,” “The Bridge,” “S.K.A.T.E.,” “Life Support,” “Invisible String“
- Noon at Virginia Tech — Caught in the Crosshairs: “Checkpoint Zoo“
- 2 p.m. at The Lyceum — Changing Minds/Changing Society: “Daron,” “A City that Cares,” “Join the Club“
- 2:15 p.m. at Beatley Libary — Family Showcase: “The Short Game“
- 3 p.m. at Virginia Tech — When Comedy and Conflict Collide: “Coexistence, My Ass!“
- 4:30 p.m. at The Lyceum — Perspectives: “In Search of the Arctic Fox,” “Consequences of This Light,” “The Shape of a Sound,” “Sitka’s Hidden Wonders,” “Gun Show“
- 5 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Origin Stories: “Saving Gullah Land,” “Igniting the Spark – The Story of Magic: The Gathering“
- 6 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Emerging Filmmakers I: “Excuse Me,” “Right Hand Man,” “The Woman with a Name or Two,” “Changes,” “Shadows of the Past,” “Aloha Lahaina Aloha“
- 6:30 p.m. at Patagonia — Special Anniversary Screening: “Ride the Divide“
- 7 p.m. at The Lyceum — Discontented: “Turn Me On“
- 8 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Friday Night Funnies: “Bats in the Belfry,” “A Lovely Family,” “Welcome to America, Brian Wong,” “The Other You“
- 9 p.m. at The Lyceum — Right Next Door: “Dragonfly“
Saturday, Nov. 8
- Noon at The Lyceum — Families Finding Their Way: “Baby Brother,” “500 Fireflies“
- Noon at Virginia Tech — Hiding in Plain Sight: “Pretty Ugly“
- 2:30 p.m. at Virginia Tech — “No Choice“
- 4:30 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Alexandria Celebrates Women Showcase: “Reverse,” “Comparsa“
- 6 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Emerging Filmmakers II: “The Idea of Us,” “Masks,” “Pompeii,” “Second Chance,” “HASIK“
- 7 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Sibling Sojourns: “Vintage Journey,” “Brother Verses Brother“
- 9 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Late Night Thrills and Chills: “HOMIE,” “Case 1,968,” “Salvador,” “Prostheseus,” “GOLINGO: Battle Technology,” “Go Down, Diller“
Sunday, Nov. 9
- Noon at The Lyceum — Salute to Service Members I: “BLK OPS” (free to service members)
- Noon at Virginia Tech — “Tiananmen Tonight“
- 2:30 p.m. at The Lyceum — Salute to Service Members II: “Say Their Names,” “Those We Honor,” “Tribal” (free to service members)
- 2:30 p.m. at Virginia Tech — Navigating Relationships: “Takeout,” “Brunch!,” “elle/elle,” “Kemba“
Image via Alexandria Film Festival/Facebook.
