Calendar of Events
FILMS
American Film Institute Silver Theater
THE AFI IS CLOSED.
"The Capital Irish Film Festival" (February 27-March 1), now in its 14th year, celebrates Irish identity, culture, and artistry. One more day (and four films) remain on March 1.
"2019: A Second Look" (January 25-March 26) is an annual review of critically acclaimed 2019 releases. Titles in March are The Souvenir, Waves, Honey Boy, The Cave, Atlantics, Ash Is Purest White, Homecoming and Clemency.
"Agnes Varda Retrospective" (March 20-April 21). Agnes Varda (1928-2019) was the only female director in the French New Wave but expanded into documentaries, photography and other art forms. The series starts with her first film, the groundbreaking Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962). Other titles in March La Pointe Courte (1955), Le Bonheur (1965) and Varda by Agnes (2019), her final film. More in April.
"Welcome to the Bong Hive: A Bong Joon Ho Retro" (March 28-April 23) presents a look at Korean director Bong Joon Ho, whose film Parasite won four Oscars. Titles in March are Memories of Murder (2003) and The Host (2006), with the remainder in April.
"Fox Film Corp, 1915-1935 (Part I)" (March 22-April 22) looks at films from the studio founded by Hungarian immigrant William Fox. Titles in March are Regeneration (Raoul Walsh, 1915) and While New York Sleeps (Charles Brabin, 1920). Both are in 35mm with live music accompaniment by Andrew Simpson. A double feature of Just Pals (John Ford, 1920) is paired with Outlaws of Red River (Lewis Seiler, 1927), with live music accompaniment by Michael Britt. More in April.
Special events in March include The Horror of Dracula (Terence Fisher, 1958) presented by Count Gore de Vol on March 21 at 7:30pm.
The AFI starts a new program "National Theatre Live" of stage performances by the National Theatre. On March 8 at 7:00pm is "Cyrano de Bergerac" and on March 22 at 11:00am is "All My Sons."
Freer Gallery of Art
EVENTS ARE CANCELLED OR POSTPONED.
A series of Japanese classic films continues at the Freer. On March 4 at 2:00pm is the gangster film Tokyo Drifter (Seijun Suzuki, 1966).
"An Armenian Odyssey" is shown at the Freer and the National Gallery of Art. On March 1 at 2:00pm is Zangezur (Hamo Bek-Nazaryan, 1938), set in the 1920s about war in the Zangezur mountains. Film scholar Peter Rollberg and PostClassical Ensemble Director Joseph Horowitz will discuss the film and Aram Khachaturian's music.
A number of films by Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang are shown in March and April. On March 13 at 7:00pm is Vive L’Amour (Tsai Ming-liang, 1994). The film won the Golden Lion at the 1994 Venice Film Festival. On March 27 at 7:00pm is The Hole (Tsai Ming-liang, 1998); on March 29 at 2:00pm is What Time Is It There? (Tsai Ming-liang, 2001); and on March 29 at 4:00pm is the short film The Skywalk Is Gone (Tsai Ming-liang, 2002). More in April.
On March at at 2:00pm is Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (Gu Xiaogang, 2019), about an extended family adapting to the changing environment. Part of the Environmental Film Festival
On March 20 at 7:00pm is Edo Avant Garde (Linda Hoaglund, 2019), a documentary about Japanese artists of the Edo era. Part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
On March 22 at 2:00pm is Hokusai Up Close: Paintings from the Freer Gallery of Art (Kazuo Hara, 2019), followed by a discussion with Frank Feltons, curator of the exhibit "Hokusai: Mad About Painting."
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art's East Building Auditorium will re-open March 8. Before then, films are shown in the West Building Lecture Hall and other locations.
EVENTS ARE POSTPONED OR CANCELLED
"Displaced: Immigration Stories" (January 19-March 22) is a series of films by and about immigrants. On March 22 at 4:00pm is It Will Be Chaos (Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo, 2019) with the filmmakers in person.
"African Legacy: Francophone Films 1955 to 2019" (February 8-March 21) focuses on films from French-speaking Africa and the African Diaspora. Some films are shown at the Embassy of France. On March 3 at 7:00pm is Le Franc (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1994) followed by La petite vendeuse de soleil (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1999) shown at the French Embassy. On March 8 at 4:00pm is Chez Jolie Coiffure (Rosine Mbakam, 2019) set in a hair salon in Brussels, followed by Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman (Rosine Mbakam, 2017), shown at the National Gallery's East Building. On March 19 at 7:00pm is Hyenas (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1992) shown at the French Embassy. On March 21 at 4:00pm is Wend Kuuni (Gaston Kabore, 1982) shown at the National Gallery of Art.
"An Armenian Odyssey" (February 29-March 14) concludes March 14 at 2:00pm with a tribute to Rouben Mamoulian: Love Me Tonight (1932), followed by excerpts from Porgy and Bess.
Special events in March are The Hottest August (Brett Story, 2019) on March 15 at 4:00pm, part of the Environmental Film Festival; Museum Town (Jennifer Trainer, 2019) on March 21 at 2:00pm, part of the Environmental Film Festival; Cunningham (Alla Kovgan, 2019) on March 28 at 2:30pm; and Architecture of Infinity (Christoph Schaub, 2018) on March 29 at 4:00pm.
National Museum of African Art
"Africa in Reel Time" is a series of films about the role of youth in fostering change and the complexities of leadership in the advent of independence. On March 7 at 1:30pm is Supa Modo (Likarion Wainaina, 2018). On March 21 at 1:30pm is the documentary Everything Must Fall (Rehad Desai, 2019).
National Museum of the American Indian
On March 7 at 2:00pm is Merata: How Mum Decolonized the Screen (Hepi Mita, 2018) from New Zealand. This documentary tells the story of Merata Mita, the first Maori woman to write and direct a feature film. Part of the "One Woman One Vote" festival.
National Museum of Natural History
Many films in the Environmental Film Festival are shown at this location. On March 14 at 4:00pm is Etched in Stone from Australia, followed by a discussion with the film's co-director Martin Thomas; Fantastic Fungi. See the Environmental Film Festival program for more titles.
National Portrait Gallery
On March 19 at 6:00pm is the documentary Check It (Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer, 2016), followed by a discussion.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
On March 6 at 7:00pm and March 7 at 2:00pm is the Women Filmmakers Festival. Most films are short with one feature Born in Flames (Lizzie Borden, 1983), with the filmmaker present for discussion. Locations are Eaton DC and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Check the website for film titles, times and reservation information.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
As part of the Environmental Film Festival is the documentary Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy (Elizabeth Carroll, 2019), on March 21 at 1:00pm. Diana Kennedy is a British chef and cookbook author and an expert on Mexican cuisine. The screening is followed by a discussion.
Washington Jewish Community Center
The newly renovated JCC's Cafritz Hall has begun its new film program with first-run films, mini-festivals and other one-time screenings. In March film titles are Beanpole (Kantemir Balagov, 2019) from Russia (and Russia's Oscar pick); The Unorthodox (Eliran Malka, 2018) from Israel; Leona (Isaac Cherem, 2018) from Mexico; the documentary Menachem Begin: Peace and War (Levi Zini, 2020; and Chichinette: The Accidental Spy (Nicola Hens, 2019), a documentary about Marthe Cohen who was a spy during WWII. See the website for dates and times. A one-time show of the documentary Intelligent Lives (Dan Habib, 2018) with a discussion following the screening on March 16 at 7:00pm.
National Geographic Society
Several films in the Environmental Film Festival are shown at this location. See the website for details.
French Embassy
The French Embassy presents two programs in the National Gallery of Art's "African Legacy: Francophone Films 1955-2019". On March March 3 at 7:00pm is Le Franc (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1994) followed by La petite vendeuse de soleil (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1999). On March 19 at 7:00pm is Hyenas (Djibril Diop Mambety, 1992), an adaptation of Friedrich Durrenmatt's play The Visit.
The DC Francophonie Cultural Festival 2020 includes films, concerts and other events. On March 10 at 7:00pm is the award-winning documentary 143 Sahara Street (Hassen Ferhani, 2019) from Algeria, about a teahouse on the edge of the desert and its customers. On March 12 at 7:00pm is Ashcan ((Willy Perelsztejn, 2018), a documentary about the secret prison where top Nazi leaders were detained and interrogated. On March 24 at 7:00pm is the award-winning animated film The Swallows of Kabul (Zabou Breitman and Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec, 2019), set in Kabul during 1998.
On March 16 at 7:00pm is Wine Calling (Bruno Sauvard, 2018), a documentary about wine growers experimenting with natural methods of wine production and environmentally friendly farming practices. Part of the Environmental Film Festival.
The Japan Information and Culture Center
On March 6 at 6:30pm is I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Shinichiro Ushijima, 2018), an anime film based on the best-selling novel by Yoru Sumino.
For the Environmental Film Festival, the JICC shows Inland Sea (Soda Kazuhiro, 2018) on March 16 at 6:30pm.
The Textile Museum at GWU
On March 19 at 5:30pm is RiverBlue (2017), a documentary about the pollution impacts of the global fashion industry.
The National Building Museum
The Architecture and Design Film Festival begins March 26 at 7:30pm with the documentary City Dreamers (Joseph Hillel, 2018), about four women architects. Other titles in the festival include Gateways to New York (Martin Witz, 2018), about Swiss engineer Othmar H. Amman; That Far Corner: Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles (Christopher Hawthorne, 2018); The New Bauhaus (Alysa Nahmias, 2019); Push (Fredrik Gertten, 2019); Journey Into Infinity (Robin Lutz, 2018); and many more. An all-access pass is available. See the website for more details.
National Archives
On March 18 at 7:00pm is Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (Werner Herzog, 2019), about Herzog's journey inspired by his friend who had a passion for the nomadic life. DC Premiere and part of the Environmental Film Festival.
Bethesda Row
"Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series. The film for March is CANCELLED.
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
On March 4 at 8:00pm is Aga (Milko Lazarov, 2018), about an elderly Yakut couple. Part of the "Programmer's Choice" film series.
On March 11 at 8:00pm is Fantastic Fungi (Louie Schwartzberg, 2019), part of the "Films in Focus" series. A Q&A with producer Stephen Apkon follows the screening.
On March 18 at 8:00pm is Someone, Somewhere (Cedric Klapisch, 2019), for this month's "French Cinematheque" series.
The Avalon takes part in the Environmental Film Festival with two films. On March 21 at 1:00pm is The Dog Doc (Cindy Meehl, 2019); on March 21 at 10:00am is The Hidden Kingdoms of China (2020) exploring five very different worlds: high mountains, tropical jungles, bamboo forests, great plains and temperate forests.
New York University Abramson Family Auditorium
On March 11 at 6:00pm is the documentary But Beautiful (Erwin Wagenhofer, 2019). A Q&A follows with the filmmaker Erwin Wagenhofer and the producer Sabine Kriechbaum.
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 March 19 at 7:00pm is Simon and Laura (Muriel Box, 1955) starring Peter Finch and Kay Kendall as an actor-couple on the verge of divorce hired to do a TV soap opera about a happily married couple.
"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 March 4 is Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford, 1989); on March 11 is The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969); and on March 18 is The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939).
Kennedy Center
On March 9 at 8:00pm is a screening of the Oscar nominated 13th (Ava DuVernay, 2016) with live music by Jason Moran and Eric Harland. On March 14 at 2:00pm is A Wrinkle in Time (Ava DuVernay, 2018). On March 15 at 7:30pm is Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2014). All are part of the "One Woman, One Vote" festival celebrating the 19th amendment.
On March 1 at 11:00am is Certain Women (Kelly Reichardt, 2016); on March 1 at 1:20pm is Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, 2008); on March 3 at 7:00pm is Meek's Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt, 2010); on March 3 at 9:00pm is Old Joy (Kelly Reichardt, 2006); and on March 4 at 7:00pm is First Cow (2019) with Kelly Reichardt present for Q&A.
Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
On March 18 at 7:00pm is Risking Light (Dawn Mikkelson, 2018), a documentary about three people moving from grief to compassion to forgiveness. The film's producer will take part in a panel discussion after the screening.
Hill Center
As part of the "One Woman One Vote 2020" festival on March 18 at 7:00pm is the first episode of the four-part "When They See Us" miniseries about the Central Park Five. See below for other films in the series.
"Hitchcock Without Hollywood" is a series of films made by mostly foreign directors who have been inspired by Alfred Hitchcock. The series begins March 27 at 7:00pm with The Bride Wore Black (Francois Truffaut, 1968) starring Jeanne Moreau. Tom Zaniello, author of film studies books, introduces the film. More in April and May.
Alden Theater
On March 11 at 12:30pm is a kids film Peter Pan.
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
"Wizarding World" is a series of Harry Potter movies, one per month from February through November. On March 21 at 10:00am is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Chris Columbus, 2001).
On March 3 at 7:00pm and March 4 at 2:00pm is Anne Frank Parallel Stories (Sabina Fedeli and Anna Migotto, 2019), a documentary about Anne Frank with the stories of five teenagers who survived the holocaust.
Films shown in the "Director's Cup" series include The Godfather on March 2 at 7:30pm; The Shining on March 4 at 7:30pm; Virgin Suicides on March 9 at 7:30pm and Fargo on March 11 at 7:30pm.
Angelika Popup
"Wizarding World" is a series of Harry Potter movies, one per month from February through November. On February 15 at 10:00am is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Chris Columbus, 2002).
Films directed by Martin Scorsese in March include Taxi Driver (1976) on March 4 at 7:00pm; Raging Bull (1980) On March 11 at 7:00pm; Goodfellas (1990) on March 18 at 7:00pm; and Casino (1995) on March 25 at 7:00pm.
Busboys and Poets
On March 8 at 5:30pm is Brave Girls (Yashaswi Desai and Ellie Walton, 2018) about three young women in India who take the risk of getting an education. The filmmakers will be present for discussion. Part of the "Focus In!" film series. At the 14th and V Street location.
On March 24 at 6:30pm is Part 2 of When They See Us (2019). At the Brookland location.
Alliance Francais
On March 4 at 6:30pm is Junior Majeur (Eric Tessier, 2017). On March 23 at 7:00pm is Fad, Jal (Safi Faye, 1979) shown at the S. Dillon Ripley Center. On March 25 at 6:30pm is Hochelaga, terre des ames (Francois Girard, 2019). All are part of the Francophonie festival. Note the locations.
FILM FESTIVALS
MANY EVENTS MAY BE CANCELLED. Check each website for updates.
