The Cinema Lounge
On Monday September 15, 2025 at 8:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group.
TOPIC: Preview/Review
It's our annual look back at the best and worst of the summer movies, and what to expect from the upcoming fall/winter season. The summer franchises hit and missed, with Superman soaring while Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four disappointed despite all three films garnering strong reviews. Mission: Impossible seemed to finally run out of gas, but Jurassic World did not, even while taking a beating from critics. On a depressing note, two of the big successes (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) were live action retreads of animated films. But Weapons ended the summer on a more hopeful note, as did Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee's new film.
The fall offers new films by Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Kathryn Bigelow (A House of Dynamite), Paul Greengrass (The Lost Bus), Richard Linklater (Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague), Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia). Wicked returns after a year, as does Spinal Tap after 41 years. What are we looking forward to?
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 36th AFI Latin American Film Festival" (September 18-October 9) features film festival favorites, local box-office hits and debut works by promising new talents. The Opening Night film is The Secret Agent from Brazil; and the Closing Night film is Belen from Argentina. Films from Spain and Portugal are also part of the festival. A festival pass is available.
"The Hackman Connection" (July 11-September 17) celebrates the films of Gene Hackman (1930-2025). The series ends in September with Unforgiven (1992); The Bird Cage (1996); and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
"AFI Achievement Award: Francis Ford Coppola" (July 11-September 9) presents a film series from this talented and independent filmmaker. Just two films remaining: The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990/2020); and Megalopolis (2024).
"Il Bello Marcello: Mastroianni on Screen" (July 12–September 16) is a centennial celebration of Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni (1924-1996). Films conclude in September with A Slightly Pregnant Man (1973); A Special Day (1977); City of Women (1980); Henry IV (1984); and Dark Eyes (1987). Some are new 4K restorations.
"VistaVision!" (July 11-September 18) is a series of mostly 1950s films made in the new format to compete with television. September films are Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957); Hell Drivers (1957); One-Eyed Jacks (1961) with Vertigo (1958) and The Searchers (1956) shown in 70mm.
"Oh My Godzilla!" July 11-September 16) is back for a second summer. Films in September are Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999); Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000); and Godzilla Minus One (2023).
"A Tribute to Circle Films" (August 9-September 17) honors the DC-based independent production company and the Pedas Brothers. Three more films remain in September: The Navigator (1988); Miller's Crossing (1990); and Barton Fink (1991).
"Robert Altman Centennial" (July 18–September 18). Robert Altman (1925-2006) was known as an innovator and iconoclast and helped to define the 1970s. He never won an Oscar for Best Director but received five nominations. Films in September are Popeye (1980); Vincent and Theo (1990); The Player (1992); Gosford Park (2001); and Short Cuts (1993).
"Killer Vision: 30 Years of Killer Films" (July 20–September 17) honors the independent film company which became synonymous with auteur-driven storytelling and launching creative partnerships with Todd Solondez, Todd Haynes, and others. The films for September are Vox Lux (2018); Zola (2020); and Past Lives (2023).
"AFI Silver After Dark" is a series of midnight-style movies. The film for September is This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984).
"Stage and Screen" presents filmed performances including stage producions from the National Theatre and concert performances. The September event is "David Gilmour Live at the Circus Maximus, Rome" (2025).
"Special Engagements" for September include a 50th anniversary showing of Jaws (1975).
"Three Films by Mamoru Hosoda" (May 11–September 30) concludes in September with the animated The Girl Who Lept Through Time (2006), shown in both dubbed and subtitled versions.
National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art)
On September 10 at 2:00pm is Sansho the Bailiff (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1954), part of the "Japanese Classics" series of films.
On September 5 at 7:00pm is Kung Fu Hustle (Stephen Chow, 2004); on September 7 at 3:30pm is In the Mood for Love (Wong Kar-wai, 2000) plus a short film; on September 12 at 7:00pm is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000); and on September 14 at 2:00pm is 2046 (Wong Kar-wai, 2004). All are part of the series "Anniversaries."
"Celebrating Indonesian Cinema" has two films in September. On September 26 at 7:00pm is Setan Jawa (Garin Nugroho, 2017) and on September 28 at 4:00pm is Opera Jawa (Garin Nugroho, 2010) with the director in person and a reception after the film.
On September 30 at 7:00pm is a discussion and screening of short films by Charmaine Poh. Titles Kin (2021); What's softest in the world rushes and runs over what’s hardest in the world (2024); public solitude (2022); Good Morning Young Body (2023) and in the shadow of the cosmic (2023).
National Gallery of Art
The film series "By Land, Sea, and Lens: Creatures on Film" accompanies the exhibit "Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World" through historic and contemporary international videos and films inspired by the incredible insects, sea creatures, birds and other animals. The last film in this series is Ancient Beacons Long for Notice (Dario Robleto, 2024) on September 7 at 2:00pm. followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.
On September 14 at 1:00pm is the documentary essay Henry Fonda for President (Alexander Horwath, 2022). The filmmaker takes part in a discussion after the film.
"Film Legacies of the Black Arts Movement" accompanies the exhibit Photography and the Black Arts Movement: 1955-1985. On September 21 at 2:00pm is "Ulysses Jenkins: Video Griot", a selection of short videos by Ulysses Jenkins. This series continues in October.
For Silent Movie Day, the Gallery shows Variety (1925) with piano accompaniment by Andrew Simpson on September 27 at 2:00pm.
The "Defense Trilogy" on September 28 at 2:00pm features a post-screening discussion with Valentin Noujaim. The three short films reimagine Dante's Divine Comedy within Paris' business district, traversing Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.
National Portrait Gallery
The Portrait Gallery’s Star Power: Saturday Movie Matinee series continues on September 6 at 2:00pm with Wuthering Heights (1939) starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. Mayukh Sen, author of "Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star," will take part in a discussion. The series of 1930s films accompanies the exhibit "Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood's Golden Age by George Hurrell." Location: McEvoy Auditorium
Washington Jewish Community Center
On September 29 at 7:00pm is A Letter to David (Tom Shoval, 2025), a cinematic letter to the actor (now a hostage in Gaza) who starred in Shoval's award-winning debut film.
Cinema Arts Theater
"Montage Mondays" is a series of classic films starting at 4:15pm and 7:15pm. On September 8 is The Man Who Knew Too Much (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956) and on September 29 is The Big Lebowsky (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998).
"Exhibition on Screen" will show films on Thursdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:30pm. On September 18 and September 21 is Dawn of Impressionism Paris 1874 (Ali Ray, 2025).
"JxJ Best of Fest" is a monthly film featuring a hit from the Jewish Film Festival. On September 14 at 2:30pm is the documentary Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire (Oren Rudavsky, 2024).
Cinema Arts also has a film club hosted by Gary Arnold. The next film is September 21, title TBA.
French Embassy
"Screen on the Green" is a free outdoor French film festival. On September 17 at 7:30pm is Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001). Location: National Mall, 6th Street Gravel Walkway between National Gallery of Art West Building and Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Embassy of Sweden
The "2025 Summer Film Series at the Embassy Rooftop" shows Opponent (Milad Alami, 2023) on September 18 and Hacking Hate (Simon Klose, 2024) on September 30. Times TBA.
Cinema Arts Bethesda
"Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On September 14 at 10:00am is Souleymane's Story (Boris Lojkine, 2024) from France.
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.
Landmark Bethesda Row
"Retro Replay" titles in September are all films celebrating anniversaries. On September 2 is Nashville (1975) 50th anniversary; on September 9 is Airplane! (1980) 45th anniversary; on September 16 is Better Off Dead (1985) 40th anniversary; on September 23 is Cinema Paradiso (1990) 35th anniversary; and on September 30 is Clueless (1995) 30th anniversary. All are at 7:00pm.
The Avalon
On September 3 at 8:00pm is Life for Beginners (Pawel Podolski, 2025) for the "Cine Polska" series.
The "Czech Lions" film for September is Sea of Hope (Martin Horsky, 2025) on September 10 at 8:00pm.
On September 17 at 8:00pm is the "French Cinematheque" film for September: The Mohican (Frederic Farrucci, 2024), set in Corsica.
For the "Programmer's Choice" series is A Little Prayer (Angus MacLaughlen, 2023) on September 24 at 8:00pm.
New York University Abramson Family Auditorium
On September 3 at 6:30pm is the documentary The Life of Brian Macguire (Mark McLoughlin) with the director, producer and film subject taking part in a discussion after the film.
Global Taiwan Institute
On September 4 at 6:00pm is Zero Day Attack (2025) shown in George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium, about the looming threat of conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Two episodes of this fiction series are shown, with keynote addressess by National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien, and Taiwan Representative to the United States Ambassador Yui Tah-Ray.
Wolf Trap
On September 5 at 8:00pm is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) with the National Symphony Orchestra performing the score.
Kennedy Center
On September 14 at 3:00pm is The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025); on September 21 at 3:00pm is Black Panther (2018); on September 28 at 3:00pm is One to One: John and Yoko (2024). Location: The Justice Forum.
On September 23 and 24 at 7:00pm is The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987) in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra performing composer Mark Knopfler's score. Location: Concert Hall.
Old Greenbelt Theater
A series of four Nepali films are shown in September. On September 7 at 1:00pm is Tel Visa (Shankar Ghimire, 2025); on September 14 at 7:00pm is A Road to a Village (Nabin Subba, 2023); on September 17 at 7:00pm is Between the Mountain and the Sky (Jeremy Power Regimbal, 2024) and on September 20 at 1:00pm is Pooja, Sir (Deepak Rauniyar, 2024).
On September 1 at 1:00pm and September 4 at 8:00pm is Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock, 1940), part of the "Cinema Classics" series, shown on the first Monday and first Thursday of the month.
On September 29 at 7:00pm is Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001), for the "Films in Focus" series.
For the "Cult Classics" series shown on the third Thursday of the month, is Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975) on September 21 at 1:00pm.
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
The "Angelika Classics" series shows classic films on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm. On September 1 at 7:00pm is The Shining (1980).
"Sunday Epics" is a new series shown on the second Sunday of the month at 2:00pm. On September 14 at 2:00pm is Seven Samurai (1954).
On September 22 at 7:00pm is Cabaret (1972) for the series "Musical Mondays."
"Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month at 4:00pm and 7:00pm. On September 15 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm is On the Waterfront (1954).
The Studio Ghibli Festival shows anime films on Wednesdays at 7:00pm with English subtitles and Thursdays at 11:00am with English dubbing. On September 3 at 7:00pm and September 4 at 11:00am is From Up on Poppy Hill (2011).
"Sci-Fi Fest" is a 3-film series on Wednesdays in September at 7:00pm. On September 3 is The Terminator (1984); on September 10 is Blade Runner Final Cut (1982); on September 17 is The Matrix (1999); and on September 24 is Robocop Director's Cut (1987).
Korean Cultural Center
On September 10 at 6:00pm is The Age of Shadows (Kim Jee-woon, 2016) set in the 1920s when Korea was occupied by Japan. On September 17 at 6:00pm is the crime thriller The Negotiation (Lee Jong-seok, 2018). Check the website for RSVP information.
FILM FESTIVALS
