February 2019


Posted February 1, 2019. Updates made on February 3, 5, 6, 7 and 19.

Contents

  • The 27th Annual Oscars Party
  • Voting Results for the Best of 2018
  • The Cinema Lounge
  • Adam's Rib Takes on the Perplexing Oscar Nominations
  • We Need to Hear From You
  • Calendar of Events

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    The 27th Annual Oscars Party

    Celebrate the Oscars at the Washington, DC Film Society’s 27th annual “And the Winner Is…” Oscar Night party. You’ll get a whole lot more than just viewing the show: The 91st Academy Awards will be presented LIVE ON THE BIG SCREEN, Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse located at 2903 Columbia Pike in Arlington, VA. Ticket sales at 6:00 p.m. Doors open and the Red Carpet pre-show at 6:30 p.m. Oscars broadcast at 8:00 p.m.

    While the Oscars will be hostless this year, our ever-popular DC film critics Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson will be back at the Drafthouse to give you the skinny on who’s up, who’s down, who’s in, and who’s out, as you decide your picks in the “Predict The Winners” contest and place your bids in the Silent Auction (cash/check only). Not to mention the door prizes and promotional goodies from the movie studios!

    The Oscars will have a wide open Best Picture race this year. Will it be Black Panther, the first nominee in this category for a superhero film? Or Roma, a foreign language film with an unknown (at least to U.S. audiences) Mexican cast, with 10 nominations? The polarizing Green Book? The sardonic, feminist period piece The Favourite? Will Spike Lee win, after he finally nabbed a long overdue Best Director nomination for BlacKkKlansman?

    Three of the Acting categories have clear front runners: Rami Malek will likely take home Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody. Glenn Close will finally win her first Best Actress in her storied career for The Wife. Mahershala Ali will get his second Best Supporting Oscar in three years for Green Book. Best Supporting Actress has no favorite. Emma Stone or Rachel Weisz may win their second Oscar for The Favourite, or they could split the vote. Amy Adams could win for Vice, her sixth nomination, or maybe respected industry veteran Regina King for the underrated If Beale Street Could Talk.

    DC Film Society members saw 12 of the Award-nominated films first at free screenings held throughout the year.

    For a list of additional information and updates, check out
    our website or e-mail. Tickets are only $20. Purchase tickets on-line, or at the door. As always, this 27th annual event will be held in support of Filmfest DC, DC Film Society’s parent organization.



    Voting Results for the Best of 2018

    The Washington DC Film Society announces the results of the 18th annual vote for the Best of 2018.

    Best Picture: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron

    Best Director: Spike Lee, BlackkKlansman

    Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, First Reformed

    Best Actress: Olivia Colman, The Favourite

    Best Supporting Actor: Richard Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

    Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, Vice

    Best Foreign Language Film: Roma

    Thanks to all who voted!



    The Cinema Lounge

    The Cinema Lounge meets Monday, February 11, 2019 at 7:00pm. Our topic is Is Film Criticism Becoming Too Politically Correct?

    Not too long ago movies were primarily reviewed by older white men. Now with the Internet and social media, we have more diverse perspectives than ever before. Movies are being judged not just on their artistic merits or entertainment value, but also their social message and cultural awareness. Is that a fair standard? Or is it establishing a political litmus test that could limit free expression?

    The Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, meets the third Monday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at 7:00pm at
    Teaism in Penn Quarter, 400 8th St., NW in Washington, DC (closest Metro stop is Archives, also near Metro Center and Gallery Place). NOTE: We will meet in the downstairs area. 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 Takes On the Perplexing Oscar Nominations

    By Adam Spector, DC Film Society Member

    The Academy has many new members and is trying to be more inclusive. It worked, to a degree. There's more openness to African-American and foreign talent, but no love for female filmmakers. That's all part of a strange mix of Oscar nominations, combining the well-deserved with the head scratchers. And why would you possibly snub Mr. Rogers? Adam's Rib tries to make sense of it all
    in the latest 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, and the Locarno 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
    For most of February the AFI shows first-run films. The 23rd Iranian Film Festival is at the AFIf and Freer. Titles in February are The Graveless, Pig, 3 Faces, and A Man of Integrity. See below) for the films at the Freer.

    "A Second Look: 2018" (February 16-March 20) is a film series of popular and indie films from 2018. Titles in February are Incredibles 2, BlackkKlansman, Minding the Gap, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, First Reformed, A Star is Born, Suspiria, Roma, and Vox Lux. More in March.

    The Capital Irish Film Festival (February 28-March 3) is a series of 13 films from Ireland. The Opening Night film is The Drummer and the Keeper, winner of Best Irish First Feature at the 2017 Galway Film Festival, with an introduction by Michael Lonergan from the Embassy of Ireland, Q&A with director Nick Kelly and a post-screening reception. More in March.

    Freer Gallery of Art
    A series of Japanese classic films continues at the Freer. On February 6 at 2:00pm is Pale Flower (Masahiro Shinoda, 1964).

    The 23rd annual Iranian Film Festival (January 18-February 24) continues in February. On February 8 at 7:00pm is Feast of Sorrow (Pourya Azarbayjan, 2018); on February 10 at 2:00pm is 3 Faces (Jafar Panahi, 2018); on February 10 at 4:30pm is The Graveless (Mostafa Sayar, 2018); on February 15 at 7:00pm is Sly; on February 16 at 2:00pm is Wednesday, May 9 (Vahid Jalilvand, 2015); on February 17 at 2:00pm is Final Whistle (Niki Karimi, 2011) with the filmmaker in person; and on February 24 at 2:00pm is Pig (Mani Haghighi, 2017). See also AFI Silver Theater for more screenings.

    National Gallery of Art
    "The Films of Gordon Parks" (January 12-February 10) accompanies the exhibition "Gordon Parks: The New Tide, Early Work 1940-1950." On February 2 at 2:00pm is Leadbelly (Gordon Parks, 1976). On February 3 at 4:00pm is Solomon Northup's Odyssey (Gordon Parks, 1984), based on Northup's book Twelve Years a Slave. On February 9 at 2:00pm is Half Past Autumn: The Life and Work of Gordon Parks (Craig Rice, 2000), preceded by the short film The Weapons on Gordon Parks (1967). On February 10 at 4:00pm is Moments without Proper Names (1988) preceded by the short film Martin (1989). The following are re-scheduled from January's shutdown: On February 22 at 12:30pm "Gordon Parks Early Documentaries; on February 27 at 12:30pm is Shaft; and on March 8 at 12:30pm is The Learning Tree.

    "Jean Vigo" (February 16) is a two-part program on February 16 of films by French director Jean Vigo. At 2:00pm is A propos de Nice (1930) followed by Jean Taris, champion de France (1931) and Zero de conduite (1933). At 4:00pm is L'Atalante (1934).

    "From Vault to Screen: Portugal" (February 23-March 9), restorations of films from the Cinemateca Portuguesa in Lisbon. On February 23 at 2:00pm is Aniki-Bobo (Manoel de Oliveira, 1942), preceded by the short film Douro, Faina Fluvial (Manoel de Olveira, 1931). On February 23 at 4:00pm is The Green Years (Paulo Rocha, 1963). On February 24 at 4:00pm is Revolution in May (Antonio Lopes Ribeiro, 1937). More in March.

    Special events in February: on February 17 at 2:00pm is "Hip-Hop's Great Day: Gordon Parks and a Legacy of Photographic Inspiration," with Nelson George, Adrian Loving and Vikki Tobak in person for discussion. On February 17 at 5:00pm is the Washington premiere of the restoration of When You Read This Letter (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1953).

    Museum of American History
    On February 18 at 1:00pm is Blondie's New York, a documentary about the band and its hit songs.

    On February 25 at 1:00pm is Amy Winehouse: One Shining Night, a documentary about the singer.

    Smithsonian American Art Museum
    On February 9 at 3:00pm is Black Is the Color (2017), a documentary about African American art from 1867 to today. A discussion will follow the film.

    Washington Jewish Community Center
    The JCC will be renovating its space and programs are shown at other locations. On February 6 at 7:30pm is Blue Note Records: Beyond the Note (Sophie Huber, 2018), a documentary about the American jazz record label Blue Note Records. Shown at Landmark's E Street Cinema. On February 21 at 7:30pm is Transit (Christian Petzold, 2018) from Germany, based on the 1942 novel Transit Visa by Anna Seghers. Shown at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema.

    Goethe Institute
    Landmark's West End Cinema hosts a new film series "Wunderbar Films: German Cinema 101" - Film and Discussion with Hester Baer, Associate Professor and Head of Germanic Studies at the University of Maryland. Films will be shown once a month and are divided into four categories: contemporary German film, films of the German Democratic Republic (DEFA Studio), films of the Weimar Republic (1920s), and New German Cinema (1970s). The series began in October and continues on February 11 at 6:30pm with the GDR film The Silent Star (Kurt Maetzig, 1960). Peter Rollberg from George Washington University will introduce the film and a discussion will follow.

    National Air and Space Museum
    On February 1-7 and 3:55pm is the Oscar-nominated documentary Free Solo (E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin), shown on the IMAX screen.

    National Geographic Society
    On January 30-February 2 at 7:00pm are programs from the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.

    French Embassy
    "Focus on Clouzot" (January 8-February 5) explores the work of the avant-garde thriller master: Henri-Georges Clouzot. On February 5 at 7:00pm is Diabolique (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955) starring Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot.

    The Japan Information and Culture Center
    On February 15 at 6:30pm is an anime film Silent Voice (Naoko Yamada, 2016), winner of Best Film and Screenplay at the 2017 Tokyo Anime Awards. On February 20 at 6:30pm is What a Wonderful Family! (Yoji Yamada, 2016), a comedy about a family suddenly thrown into turmoil with the wife wants a divorce.

    The Textile Museum at GWU
    On February 21 at noon is the documentary Hugo Boss’ Secret Nazi History, Fashion at War (2017).

    National Archives
    On February 14 at noon is Chisholm ‘72: Unbought and Unbossed (Shola Lynch, 2004), a documentary of Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign.

    The Archives shows Oscar-nominated documentaries and shorts in its 15th annual Oscar Showcase. Documentary Features: on February 20 at 7:00pm is RBG; on February 21 at 7:00pm is Free Solo; on Friday 22 at 7:00pm is Of Fathers and Sons; on February 23 at 7:00pm is Hale County This Morning, This Evening; and on February 24 at 4:00pm is Minding the Gap. Documentary Short Films are on February 24 at 11:00am; Live Action Short Films are on February 23 at noon and Animated Shorts are on February 23 at 3:30pm.

    On February 27 at 7:00pm is NOVA Addiction (Sarah Holt), a documentary about the deadly epidemic of addiction to drugs including OxyContin, fentanyl and heroin. A panel discussion with the film's director and others will follow the screening.

    Bethesda Row
    "Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series. On February 10 at 10:00am is The Divine Order (Petra Biondina Volpe, 2017), winner of many awards.

    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.

    National Museum of Natural History
    On February 23 at 6:45pm is the documentary The Next Guardian (Dorottya Zurbó and Arun Bhattarai, 2017), about the reluctant next guardians of a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan. Part of the Mother Tongue Film Festival.

    The Avalon
    On February 6 at 8:00pm is Hale County, This Morning, This Evening (RaMell Ross, 2018), part of "Avalon Docs" and nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Feature.

    On February 13 at 8:00pm is Jan Palach (Robert Sedlacek, 2018), a biopic about student Jan Palach during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Part of the "Czech Lions" series, and nominated for six Czech Film Critics' Awards.

    On February 9 at 10:00am is The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987), for the "Weekend Family Matinee" series.

    On February 17 at 10:30am and February 19 at 10:30am is Young Picasso (Phil Grabsky, 2019), part of the "Exhibition on Screen" series.

    On February 20 at 8:00pm is Something Is Happening (Anne Alix, 2018), this month's "French Cinematheque" film.

    Italian Cultural Institute
    On February 5 at 6:00pm is Stories of Love That Cannot Belong to This World (Francesca Comencini, 2017).

    New York University Abramson Family Auditorium
    On February 22 at 7:00pm is the documentary Leitis in Waiting (Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, 2018) part of the Mother Tongue Film Festival.

    Library of Congress
    The Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress continues its series of films showcasing the Library's collection and including newly preserved films. On February 12 at 7:00pm is Down in the Delta (Maya Angelou, 1998) starring Alfre Woodard.

    The series of music-themed films continues in February with films scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. On Febuary 7 at 7:00pm is The Sea Hawk (Michael Curtiz, 1940) starring Errol Flynn. On February 14 at 7:00pm is King's Row (Sam Wood, 1942) starring Ronald Reagan. On February 23 at 12:00 noon is a double feature of Captain Blood (Michael Curtiz, 1935) and The Goonies (not a Korngold score). On February 28 at 7:00pm is The Sea Wolf (Michael Curtiz, 1941).

    "Capital Classics" at Landmark's West End Cinema
    Classic films are shown at the West End Cinema on Wednesdays at 1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm. On February 6 is The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Charles Walters, 1964); more TBA.

    Kennedy Center
    On February 21 at 7:00pm, February 22 at 8:00pm and February 23 at 2:00pm is Star Wars: The Force Awakens (J.J. Abrans, 2015) with John Williams' Oscar-nominated score performed by the National Symphony Orchestra.

    Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
    On February 23 at 2:15pm is Man on Fire (Joel Fendelman, 2018), a documentary about racism in Grand Saline, Texas. The filmmaker will be present to discuss the film.

    On February 24 at 4:00pm is The Adventures of Prince Achmed (Lotte Reiniger, 1926), an animated fairytail film with live, original music by Andrew Simpson.

    Alden Theater
    "New Disney Classics" is a series of 1990s Disney films, shown every second Wednesday January through June. On February 13 at 12:30pm is Aladdin. "Midday Movies: Foreign-Lanuage Films" is a series of foreign films shown every fourth Wednesday through May. On February 27 is A Separation from Iran.

    Angelika Film Center Mosaic
    "Black is the New Black" is a series of films on Wednesdays to celebrate Black History Month. On February 6 at 7:00pm is Coming to America (John Landis, 1988); on February 13 at 7:00pm is Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989); on February 20 at 7:00pm is Poetic Justice (John Singleton, 1993); and on February 27 at 7:00pm is The Color Purple (Steven Spielberg, 1985).

    Other one-time films in February are The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987) on February 2 at 10:00am in the "Family Flashback" series; and The Day the Earth Stood Still (Robert Wise, 1951) on February 18 at 7:00pm in the Sci-Fest series.

    Angelika Popup
    "Black is the New Black" is a series of films on Wednesdays to celebrate Black History Month. On February 6 at 7:00pm is Coming to America (John Landis, 1988); on February 13 at 7:00pm is Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989); on February 20 at 7:00pm is Poetic Justice (John Singleton, 1993); and on February 27 at 7:00pm is The Color Purple (Steven Spielberg, 1985).

    Reel Affirmations XTra
    On February 15 at 7:00pm is Alaska Is a Drag (Shaz Bennett, 2017).

    Alliance Francais
    On February 8 at 7:00pm is Paris Nous Appartient (Jacques Rivette, 1961). A discussion will follow.

    George Mason University
    The GMU Visiting Filmmakers Series presents the documentary The Unafraid with Heather Courtney on February 28 at 7:30pm. Made over four years, the film follows students whose lives are complicated by their undocumented status. A Q&A will follow with filmmaker Heather Courtney. Open to the public.

    DC Shorts
    The DC Shorts Mini Film Festival presents "Shorts and Sweets," a two-day film festival of 30 short films in four separate showcases on February 15 at 7:00pm and 9:00pm and February 16 at 8:00pm and 10:00pm. Comedy, romance, drama, sci-fi, documentaries and thrillers are from ten countries. A pass is available. Location: Miracle Theater.



    FILM FESTIVALS

    William and Mary Global Film Festival
    The 12th Annual William and Mary Global Film Festival takes place January 31-February 3. See the website for titles and more information.

    The Second Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival
    This is a four-day (February 21-25) film festival devoted to architecture and design. Films explore the life and work of architects and topics such as design for positive social change. Some programs are accompanied by a short film and many include a Q&A or panel discussion. At the National Building Museum. The Opening Night film is the DC premiere of Frank Gehry: Building Justice, about prison design. The film's director Ultan Guilfoyle will discuss the film following the 7:15pm show. A few titles are Built to Last-Relics of Communist Era Architecture (Haruna Honcoop, 2017) from the Czech Republic; Design Canada (Greg Durrell, 2017) from Canada; Do More With Less (Karerina Kliwadenko and Mario Novas, 2017) from Ecuador; Doshi (Premjit Ramachandran, 2009) from India; Enough White Teacups (Michelle Bauer Carpenter, 2018) from the USA; Gaming the Real World (Anders Eklund, 2016) from Sweden; the DC premiere of Leaning Out (Basia and Leonard Myszynski, 2018) from the USA; Meow Wolf: Origin Story (Morgan Capps and Jilann Spitzmiller, 2018) from the USA; Mies on Scene (Xavi Camprecios and Pep Martin, 2018) from Spain; Rams (Gary Hustwit, 2018) from the USA; the DC premiere of Renzo Piano: The Architect of Light (Carlos Saura, 2018) from Spain; and more. See the website for tickets, passes and more information.

    Mother Tongue Film Festival
    On February 21-24 is the fourth annual Recovering Voices Mother Tongue Film Festival. Short and feature length films about endangered languages, cultural practices and language communities are shown at the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History, the NYU Abramson Auditorium, the Freer/Sackler Galleries, the Eaton Cinema and other locations. Titles of the feature films are Edge of the Knife, Colours of the Alphabet, Leitis in Waiting, The Next Guardian, In Times of Rain and Sami Blood.

    The 13th Capital Irish Film Festival
    See the latest Irish feature films, documentaries, shorts and animation February 28-March 3. Some presentations include visiting directors, producers, or actors with Q&As. The Opening Night film is The Drummer and the Keeper, winner of the Best Irish First Feature at the 2017 Galway Film Fleadh. The rest are in March. See the website for information, tickets, and passes. Location: AFI Silver Theater.



    Previous Storyboards

    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018


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