March 2024


Posted March 1, 2024. Calendar updated March 5.

Contents

  • "And the Winner Is..." DCFS's 31st Oscar Party
  • The Cinema Lounge ONLINE
  • Adam's Rib Rib Looks Back at The Truman Show, One of the Most Prescient Films Ever Made
  • We Need to Hear From You
  • Calendar of Events

    Last 12 issues of the Storyboard.



    "And the Winner Is..." the DC Film Society's 31st Oscar Party

    Will Barbie and Oppenheimer combine to make it a Barbenheimer sweep the way they combined for a smash hit at the box office?  Will Christopher Nolan finally be recognized as an Academy Award-winning director? Will the octogenarian Robert De Niro take home another one? Or American Fiction’s DC Native Jeffrey Wright or Sterling K. Brown land two? Will Lily Gladstone make history as the first Native American winner? To find out, don’t waste an evening staring at the TV, join the crowd coming to another edition of The Washington DC Film Society’s Oscars Watch Party “And the Winner Is…” on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 7:00pm. (All proceeds go to Filmfest DC, the Film Society’s parent organization).

    As always, DC Film Society Director Michael Kyrioglou has reserved our spot at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike), where the BIG screen will be reserved for you.

    Tickets are
    now on sale. If you don’t come, you’ll miss out on all the inside gossip from DC’s favorite film critics Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson.

    AND MORE

    You’ll miss the free posters and give-aways from the studios, not to mention the traditional Silent Auction (cash/check only) and, of course, the “Predict the Winners” Contest, where you can try and outguess the experts.

    Unless you go, you’ll miss all the fun!

    Tickets are only $16 for members and $20 for non-members, on sale now or at the door starting at 5:30pm (cash/check only). Doors will open at 6:00pm to catch the annual Red Carpet Show and the awards broadcast itself at 7:00pm. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the theater staff.

    DC Film Society members saw nine of the Award-nominated films first at free screenings held throughout the year: American Fiction, Barbie, The Color Purple, The Creator, Flamin’ Hot, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One, Oppenheimer, and Past Lives.



    The Cinema Lounge

    On Monday, March 18, 2024 at 8:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group.

    TOPIC: Film Scores and Their Composers

    Try to imagine Star Wars without its music. Or Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or Psycho. Or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. You can't. The best music scores become inextricably linked with their films. It can amplify, deepen, or comment on what we are seeing on screen. What makes a great score and how has that changed over the years? We'll look at some of the all-time greats such as John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, and Ennio Morricone, along with more recent standouts including Hans Zimmer, Terrence Blanchard, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

    Please RSVP to atspector@hotmail.com and you'll get the Zoom link 1-2 days before the discussion.

    The Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, meets the third Monday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at 8:00pm online via Zoom. You do not need to be a member of the Washington DC Film Society to attend. Cinema Lounge is moderated by Adam Spector, author of the DC Film Society's
    Adam's Rib column.



    Adam's Rib Looks Back at The Truman Show, One of the Most Prescient Films Ever Made

    On a ten-year anniversary DVD of The Truman Show, some of the film’s stars discussed how prescient it proved to be. The actors referred only to “reality” TV shows, which had begun when The Truman Show hit theaters, but abounded by 2008. Those shows made stars out of so many people with no discernable talents other than that they were on TV. Still, those involved with the film had no idea that in another ten years social media would make reality TV seem like child’s play. Now everyone could be Truman Burbank, broadcasting every aspect of their lives for the world to see. I continue my "Modern Classics" series by examining why The Truman Show remains so relevant, and what is says about us in my new Adam's Rib column.



    We Need to Hear From YOU

    We are always looking for film-related material for the Storyboard. Our enthusiastic and well-traveled members have written about their trips to the Cannes Film Festival, Karlovy Vary Film Festival, London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival, the Palm Springs Film Festival, the Reykjavik Film Festival, the Munich Film Festival, the Virginia Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, The Nitrate Picture Show, and the Chicago Critics Film Festival. We also heard about what it's like being an extra in the movies. Have you gone to an interesting film festival? Have a favorite place to see movies that we aren't covering in the Calendar of Events? Seen a movie that blew you away? Read a film-related book? Gone to a film seminar? Interviewed a director? Taken notes at a Q&A? Read an article about something that didn't make our local news media? Send your contributions to Storyboard and share your stories with the membership. And we sincerely thank all our contributors for this issue of Storyboard.



    Calendar of Events

    FILMS

    American Film Institute Silver Theater
    The 18th annual Capital Irish Film Festival takes place February 29-March 3, celebrating Irish identity, culture and artistry. The Opening Night film is Lies We Tell (Lisa Mulcahy) and the closing night film is Virdigris (Patricia Kelly). Some films have special guests attending for Q&A. A festival pass is available.

    The 20th New African Film Festival (March 15-28) features 26 films from 16 countries. The Opening Night film is Goodbye Julia (Mohamed Kordofani, 2023) from Sudan. The Closing Night film is African Giants (Omar Komara, 2024) with a filmmaker Q&A. Many films have special guests attending for Q&A. A festival pass is available.

    "AFI Silver After Dark" is a new series of midnight-style movies. The March film is Dune (David Lynch, 1984).

    "Special Events" for March include Call Me Dancer (2023) followed by a guest Q&A with director/producer Leslie Shampaine, executive producer John King and subject Manish Chauhan; Hollywood Shuffle (l987) and The Big Lebowski (1998).

    "A Second Look" (February 16-April 20) is an eclectic slate of critically acclaimed 2023 films giving audiences a second chance to see these films at the AFI. Titles in March are Past Lives (Celine Song, 2023); Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet, 2023); Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan, 2023); Asteroid City (Wes Anderson, 2023); Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023); Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023); Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret (Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023); Monster (Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2023); The First Slam Dunk (Takehiko Inoue, 2023); and Renaissance, a Film by Beyonce (Beyonce, 2023). One more in April.

    "3-D Classics" (January 27-April 28). Titles in March are I, the Jury (1953); The Mad Magician (1954); and Miss Sadie Thompson (1953). More in April.

    "George Pelecanos Presents Western Classics" (March 7-April 28) is a selection of Westerns introduced by local author, screenwriter and producer George Pelecanos. Titles in March are Ride Lonesome (1959); The Magnificent Seven (1960); Colorado Territory (1949); The Naked Spur (1953); and Ride the High Country (1962). More in April.

    "The 28th Annual Festival of Films from Iran" (February 5-March 13) has one remaining title Winners (Hassan Nazer, 2022).

    "Columbia Pictures" February 2-May 2) is a Centennial retrospective. Titles in March are Holiday (1938); 3:10 to Yuma (1957); The Awful Truth (1937); Penny Serenace (1941); Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018); The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); The Wild One (1953); and On the Waterfront (1954). More in April.

    "Fabulous 50s" (February 2-May 2). Titles in March are Gentlemen Prefer Blonds (1953); Some Like It Hot (1959); High Noon (1952); I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951); A Face in the Crowd (1957); The Hitch-Hiker (1953); The Bigamist (1953); The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957); The Thing From Another World (1951); The Killing (1956) with an introduction by author Robert P. Kolker; The War of the Worlds (1953) in a new 4K restoration; Ben-Hur (1959); A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Touch of Evil (1958); and Sweet Smell of Success (1957). More in April.

    "Sembene 100" (March 31-April 29), a series of films, some in new restorations, by Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene (1923-2007). The series begins with Black Girl (1966), preceded by a short film Borom Sarret (1963). More in April.

    The AFI takes part in "Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour" with two newly restored silent films accompanied by Donald Sosin: Crazy to Marry (1921) and Sensation Seekers (1927). See here for other events in this sseries.

    Freer Gallery of Art
    On March 13 at 2:00pm is Mothra vs. Godzilla (Ishiro Honda, 1964), part of the "Japanese Classics" series and one of the most highly regarded Godzilla films.

    On March 1 at 7:00pm is Abiding Nowhere (Tsai Ming-liang, 2024), followed by a video Q&A with the director and followed by a reception.

    The first three films directed by Kinuyo Tanaka are shown at the Freer and more will be at the National Gallery of Art in April. On March 17 at 2:00pm is Love Letter (Kinuyo Tanaka, 1953) starring the great Masayuki Mori; on March 24 at 2:00pm is The Moon Has Risen (Kinuyo Tanaka, 1955); and on March 31 at 2:00pm is Forever a Woman (Kinuyo Tanaka, 1955).

    The Freer takes part in the Environmental Film Festival with Here (Bas Devos, 2023) on March 30 at 2:00pm.

    National Gallery of Art
    On March 2 at 2:00pm is Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning (Dyanna Taylor, 2014), a documentary by Lange's granddaughter, preceded by a short video. Shown in conjunction with the exhibition "Dorothea Lange: Seeing People."

    "Celebrate Italian Cinema: Anna Magnani on Screen" is a two-part series of films starring Anna Magnani. On March 9 at 2:00pm is Angelina (Luigi Zampa, 1947), introduced by Celine Stephanie Pozzi from L'Immagine Ritrovata, and preceded by the short film The Human Voice (Roberto Rossellini, 1948). On March 10 at 2:00pm is Rome, Open City (Roberto Rossellini, 1945).

    On March 16 at 2:00pm is "Film Songs for the New World," a collection of five recent short films by international award-winning women. Titles are Singing in Oblivion (Eve Heller, 2021) from Austria; Song for the New World (Miryam Charles, 2021) from Haiti; The Time that Separates Us (Parastoo Anoushahpour, 2022) from Lebanon; and Her Plot of Blue Sky (Kamila Kuc, 2023) from Poland; and In the Beginning, Woman Was the Sun (Sylvia Schedelbauer, 2022) from Germany. Followed by a discussion with filmmakers Kamila Kuc and Sylvia Schedelbauer.

    "Film Knots and Threads" is a series of films about fabric creation in several countries. On March 17 at 2:00pm is a program of four short films: The Wool Aliens (Julia Parks, 2023) from the UK; The Embroiderers (Maeve Brennan, 2016) from the UK; The Living Knot (Cecilia Vicuna, 2017); and Following the Thread (Kathy Brew and Roberto Guerra, 2021). A discussion with filmmaker Kathy Brew follows the film program. Shown in conjunction with the exhibit "Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction." On March 23 at 2:00pm is a short film followed by discussion with Laura Hertas Millan and Zoe Leonard.

    The National Gallery of Art takes part in the Environmental Film Festival with A Mirror of the Cosmos (Isabelle Carbonell, 2023), about how the Mar Menor lagoon is being pushed to the brink of extinction. Shown on March 30 at 2:00pm, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.

    National Museum of the American Indian
    On March 24 at 1:00pm is One With the Whale (Pete Chelkowski and Jim Wickens, 2023), part of the Envrionmental Film Festival.

    Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
    The DC premiere of The Night Visitors (Michael Gitlin, 2023) is on March 22 at 7:00pm as part of the Environmental Film Festival. The film's director will discuss the film after the screening.

    Washington Jewish Community Center
    On March 7 at 7:30pm is One Life (James Hawes, 2023), a docudrama about Nicholas Winton, starring Anthony Hopkins.

    On March 14 at 7:30pm, March 17 at 6:30pm and March 18 at 7:30pm is Bella (Jeff L. Lieberman, 2022), a documentary about Bella Abzug.

    French Embassy
    On March 7 at 7:00pm is the documentary LFG (Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine), part of a series of events to celebrate Olympic values in preparation of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer. A Q&A follows.

    On March 12 at 7:00pm is "D Day Legacy: Exhibition & Screening” with the American Battle Monuments Commission, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The documentary Our Promise: 100 Years of the American Battle Monuments Commission (2023) is shown and an exhibition of vintage-style prints can be seen at the Embassy.

    On March 28 at 6:30pm is Ocean Seen from the Heart (Marie-Dominique Michaud and Iolande Cadrin-Rossignol), part of the Environmental Film Festival.

    The Japan Information and Culture Center
    On March 7 at 6:30pm is One Day You Will Reach the Sea (Ryutaro Nakagawa, 2022). On March 12 at 6:30pm is the anime film Lonely Castle in the Mirror (2022). On March 28 at 6:30pm is Okiku and the World (2023) preceded by a short film The Floating World, part of the Environmental Film Festival.

    National Archives
    On March 23 at 2:00pm is King Coal (2023), a documentary about the complex history and future of the coal industry. The film, shown in conjunction with the Environmental Film Festival, will be introduced by the film's director Elaine Sheldon.

    Cinema Arts Bethesda
    "Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On March 3 at 10:00am is Io Capitano (Matteo Garrone, 2023), about two teenage boys who leave Senegal for Europe.

    Breakfast is at 9:30am, the film is at 10:00am and discussion follows, moderated by Adam Spector, host of the DC Film Society's Cinema Lounge and author of the column "Adam's Rib." A season pass is available.

    The Avalon
    A filmed play from the National Theater Vanya is shown March 3 and 7 at 10:30am.

    On March 6 at 8:00pm is Robot Dreams (Pablo Berger, 2023), an animated film in the "Programmer's Choice" series.

    The animated film Migration (Benjamin Renner, 2023) is shown on March 9 and 10 at 10:30am. Part of "Weekend Family Matinees."

    On March 13 at 8:00pm is Victim (Michal Blasko, 2022), part of the "Czech Lions" film series.

    For "French Cinematheque" is The Crime Is Mine (Francois Ozon, 2022) on March 20 at 8:00pm.

    The Avalon is participating in a new program "Science on Screen" with A Compassionate Spy (Steve James, 2022) on March 26 at 7:30pm. Jason Dick, Editor in Chief of Roll Call, and special guest Anthony Eames, Director of Scholarly Programs at the Reagan Presidential Foundation, will be present for a special post-screening conversation and Q&A.

    On March 27 at 8:00pm is Feast of Fire (Kinga Debska, 2023), for the "Cine Polska" series.

    Italian Cultural Institute
    The fourth mid-Atlantic edition of "Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour" (March 6-10) begins on March 6 with a discussion about film restoration with conservator Celine Stephanie Pozzi from the Bologna Film Archive and two local experts Kim Tomadjoglou and Siobhan Crnugelj Hagan. Other events will be held at the AFI Silver Theater and the National Gallery of Art.

    On March 20 at 6:00pm is Un Coach Come Padre (Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, 2022) followed by Q&A with the director.

    Library of Congress
    The Mary Pickford Theater shows the dystopian thriller Strange Days (Kathryn Bigelow, 1995) on March 7 at 6:30pm.

    Landmark's E Street Cinema
    "Retro Replay" is a series of classic films shown Tuesdays at 4:00pm and 7:30pm (note that the times may vary). This month's theme is "Landmark Theatres' 50th Anniversary." On March 5 is The Last Picture Show (Peter Bogdanovich, 1971); on March 12 is The Getaway (Sam Peckinpah, 1972); on March 19 is Jaws (Stevene Spielberg, 1975); and on March 26 is Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975).

    Kennedy Center
    On March 3 at 4:00pm is Tiny Jungle Queens, an episode of the National Geographic docuseries "Queens," which follows six powerful sisterhoods within the animal kingdom where females rule. A Q&A follows the screening. On March 10 at 3:30pm is a program of two short documentary films Neurodivergent (Afton Quast Saler, 2022) and Shadow (Bruce Gladwin, 2022) and featuring a post-screening panel including Day Al-Mohamed, Mathew McCullough, and Isaac Zablocki. To celebrate Women's History Month is Little Women (2019) on March 17 at 3:00pm.

    Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
    On March 8 at 7:00pm the Andrew Simpson Ensemble accompanies the great silent classic Our Hospitality (Buster Keaton and John G. Blystone, 1923) starring Buster Keaton.

    Old Greenbelt Theater
    For the series "Cinema Pop" on March 11 at 8:00pm and March 16 at 1:00pm is the anime film Howl's Moving Castle (Hayao Miyazaki, 2004).

    In the "Cinema Classics" series is In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950) on March 4 at 1:00pm and March 7 at 8:00pm.

    On March 8 at 7:30pm is the documentary Turn Every Page (Lizzie Gottlieb, 2022), followed by a discussion with guest Christine Doran, Freelance copy-editor and independently published children's author. Rebecca Hughes, Editor and traditionally published author.

    On March 21 at 8:00pm is Midnight Cowboy (John Schlesinger, 1969), part of the "Cult Classics" series.

    On March 25 at 7:00pm is Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1961) in the "Films in Focus" series.

    Alden Theater
    The foreign film for March is the animated Tales of the Night (Michel Ocelot, 2011), a collection of six exotic tales, on March 7 at 1:00pm and March 20 at 6:30pm. The performing arts film is The Tales of Beatrix Potter (Jonathan Haswell, 2007) on March 28 at 1:00pm, a filmed ballet with dancers from the Royal Ballet.

    Angelika Film Center Mosaic
    The "Angelika Classics" series shows classic films on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm. On March 4 at 7:00pm is Blowup (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1966).

    "Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month at 7:00pm. March 18 at 7:00pm is Treasure of the Sierra Madre (John Huston, 1948) starring Humphrey Bogart.

    "Dinner With..." is a series of films on fourth Mondays at 7:00pm. On March 25 at 7:00pm is The Misfits (John Huston, 1961).



    FILM FESTIVALS

    The 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In Film Festival
    The 85th anniversary of the Alexandria Library Sit-in is celebrated from February 8 through August 9 with a series of films shown at Alexandria area libraries. Titles in March include Inspection (2022), Hidden Figures (2016), Shirley (2024), and Betty and Coretta (2002). More in April.

    The Environmental Film Festival
    The 32nd DC Environmental Film Festival takes place March 21-30. The Opening Night film is the US premiere of Antarctica Calling (Luc Jacquet, 2023) from France, showing March 21 at 7:00pm in the National Museum for Natural History. The director will be present to discuss the film. The Closing Night film is We Are Guardians (Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, and Rob Grobman, 2023) from Brazil shown at the Naval Heritage Center. Followed by a discussion with the directors and film subject Puyr Tembe. Films are shown at various locations including the Naval Heritage Center, the National Archives, the National Museum of Natural History, the AFI Silver Theater, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Academy of Sciences, Georgetown University, American University, Embassy of Canada, Embassy of France, and others. See the website for other titles, tickets, and more information.

    ReelAbilities Film Festival
    The 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival takes place February 1-March 10 at venues throughout the region and virtually. See the website for more information.

    Francophonie Cultural Festival
    During the month of March, theater, literary events, music, and film are part of the 2024 Francophonie Cultural Festival. Films include the documentary Stuntwoman (2022) on March 2 at 2:00pm at the Embassy of Switzerland. The film's director, Elena Avdija will be present for discussion. On March 4 at 7:00pm is the Tunisian film A Son (Mehdi Barsaoui, 2019) shown at the Embassy of France. On March 18 at 8:00pm is the Belgian film Les Gentils (Oliver Ringer, 2022), shown at the Embassy of France and followed by Belgian beer tasting. On March 26 at 7:00pm is Julio, Felices por Siempre (Juan Manuel Solé) at the French Embassy. On March 27 at 6:00pm is the romantic comedy film Coeur de Slush (Mariloup Wolfe, 2023) from Canada, preceded by the short film A Mort Le Bikini. Shown at the French Embassy with the director present for discussion.

    The New African Film Festival
    The 20th New African Film Festival (March 15-28) features 26 films from 16 countries. The Opening Night film is Goodbye Julia (Mohamed Kordofani, 2023) from Sudan. The Closing Night film is African Giants (Omar Komara, 2024) with a filmmaker Q&A. Many films have special guests attending for Q&A. A festival pass is available. Location: AFI's Silver Theater.

    The 18th Capital Irish Film Festival
    The 18th annual Capital Irish Film Festival takes place February 29-March 3, celebrating Irish identity, culture and artistry. The Opening Night film is Lies We Tell (Lisa Mulcahy) and the closing night film is Virdigris (Patricia Kelly). Some films have special guests attending for Q&A. A festival pass is available. Location: AFI's Silver Theater.




    FILM-RELATED EXHIBITS

    National Portrait Gallery
    From March 1, 2024 through January 5, 2025 is the exhibit “Star Power: Photographs From Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell,” at the National Portrait Gallery. George Hurrell was the go-to photographer for 1930s and 1940s glamour and helped to shape how the public saw the world's top film stars.



    FILM-RELATED LECTURES

    Smithsonian Associates
    “Make ‘Em Laugh": A History of Movie Comedy from Charlie Chaplin to Mel Brooks
    On March 12 at 6:30pm media historian Brian Rose looks at major highlights of screen comedy over the last 125 years, illustrated with more than 40 examples from Hollywood's funniest films.



    Previous Storyboards

    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023


    Contact us: Membership
    For members only: E-Mailing List Ushers Website Storyboard All Else