DC Film Society Celebrates the 30th Annual “And the Winner Is…” Oscar Night Viewing Party
By Cheryl L. Dixon, DC Film Society Member
While the Motion Picture Academy held its 95th Academy Awards, the DC Film Society celebrated our 30th Annual “And the Winner Is…” Oscar Night Viewing Party on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA). DC’s favorite film critics, co-hosts Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson, once again, provided their insightful commentary during the commercial breaks, to one of our largest audiences ever. Movies are back in the theaters and we were too!
The record crowd enjoyed the posters and giveaways from the Studios, and eagerly participated in the Silent Auction and “Predict The Winners” contest, as well as a new feature, the Fantasy Oscars, which allowed participants to submit their predictions online in advance and win points for correct guesses in real-time as the awards were announced.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Doors opened at 6:30 pm when attendees could choose an item from the swag table upon entry to the theater. T-shirts, hats, toiletry kits, Your Place or Mine tote bags, and nostalgic metal lunch boxes were on offer. Afterwards, it was time to catch the Oscars Champagne Carpet Show or linger in front of the Silent Auction items and start the bidding wars. These items included tickets, passes, and gift certificates, including two tickets to the Filmfest DC Opening Night Premiere and Gala, a Washington Ballet performance, and an assortment of theater tickets, Ford’s Theatre, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, and Theater J in the mix. Autographed items included an Everything Everywhere All at Once mounted poster signed by Oscar Nominee Stephanie Hsu, The Son mounted poster signed by Oscar-winning Screenwriter/Writer/Director Florian Zeller, and a Women Talking book signed by author and Oscar Nominee Sarah Polley.
Attendees mulled over their choices for the “Predict The Winners” contest in the following six categories: Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Documentary Film, Original Song, Original Song, Adapted Screenplay, and Production Design, not the easiest, nor most predictable. Completing the ballot stimulated discussion over one’s personal preferences for winners, as well as expected winners of these and the remaining contenders. Otherwise, attendees gazed at the dazzling display of Oscar finery. The audience raved over Cara Delevingne’s visionary red dress, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Ballet Pink Tux, and the otherwise stunning white and silver-accented gowns.
And then it was time for the show, broadcast LIVE on the BIG screen. Tim and Travis gauged the audience on their thoughts of Jimmy Kimmel on his third outing as host. A show of hands and applause indicated full support of his strong opening and appreciation for his humor. The audience loved Ke Huy Quan’s acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as he spoke about his journey from a refugee boat to Hollywood’s biggest stage. “This is the American Dream,” he proclaimed as he urged us to dare to dream and believe. Thereafter, Everything Everywhere All at Once was on a roll, with multiple wins and wild applause for Jamie Lee Curtis (Best Supporting Actress), Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the “two Daniels,” for Best Director, and the history-making achievement for Michelle Yeoh, as the first Asian woman to win as Best Actress. The clear favorite from the cheers and applause, she also got her long overdue standing ovation. Likewise, the audience was delighted to see Brendan Fraser win as Best Actor (The Whale). There was some surprise that Curtis won over Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever).
Overall, the audience seemed to like the “emotional” and “teary-eyed” acceptance speeches. There was mention of last year’s slap incident, but attendees were just ready to move on and enjoy some wonderful musical performances, including the “Naatu Naatu” (RRR) exuberant song and dance, a stripped-down, make-up less Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” (Top Gun: Maverick), and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and laugh at Cocaine Bear.
Tim and Travis thought the “In Memoriam” segment was well-presented with Lenny Kravitz somberly at the piano. Throughout the evening, they dutifully commented on the show, asked trivia questions for attendees to win additional prizes, including movie tickets and DVDs, and reminded us that Ruth Carter also made history that night winning her second Oscar for Costume Design (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever).
As the Oscars ended, attendees filed out of the theater happily selecting movie posters to take home. A great night. Special thanks to our audience for supporting us and the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse management and staff for being our choice venue. Here’s to another 30 years of celebrating film! See you at the movies!
Thanks to all of the DC Film Society Directors, Coordinating Committee Members, and Volunteers for putting together this annual film event. And thanks to our uber co-hosts,Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson, for providing their commentary, sharing their opinions, and tolerating ours, Silent Auction Donors, Studios, and Kidd O’Shea, ABC 7 WJLA-TV for Media coverage.
The Cinema Lounge
On Monday, April 17, 2023 at 7:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group. We will be online again.
TOPIC: Love and Hate: Polarizing Films
Everything Everywhere All at Once just won the Best Picture Oscar. While the film garnered critical acclaim and did well at the box office, some couldn't stand it or even sit through it. For every universally beloved movie, others provoke both adoration and disgust. It's not a new phenomenon. Films by such masters as Sam Peckinpah, Stanley Kubrick, Terrence Malick, David Cronenberg and David Lynch have passionate admirers and just as passionate detractors. What makes certain films so polarizing? What films do you love and others hate, or vice versa?
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 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. WE ARE MEETING ONLINE THIS MONTH. 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.
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
"2022: A Second Look" (February 4-April 27) is AFI's annual look-back at films from the previous year which didn't play at the AFI but deserve to be seen--some of which didn't get much of a release, or won awards. Titles in April are Aftersun; After Yang; Benediction; Bones and All; Decision to Leave; Emily the Criminal; Fire of Love; Funny Pages; Good Night Oppy; Hustle; Nanny; and Top Gun: Maverick.
"Federico Fellini Retrospective" (February 3-April 24) celebrates Fellini's centennial (1920-1993). April films are Fellini Satyricon (1969); The Clowns (1970); City of Women (1980); The Voice of the Moon (1990) and La Dolce Vita (1960) followed by a reception.
"Festival of Films From Iran" (January 28-April 10) is co-presented with the National Museum of Asian Art. April films are Coup 53 featuring a Q&A with filmmaker Taghi Amiranil and the documentary See You Friday, Robinson.
"Anime Classics" (February 3-April 26) is a review of anime films from the 1970s to the present. April films are Your Name; 5 Centimeters Per Second shown with Voices of a Distant Star; Children Who Chase Lost Voices; The Place Promised in Our Early Days.
Spirited Away: Live on Stage is a filmed play based on Hayao Miyazaki's animated feature, directed by John Caird and filmed at Tokyo's Imperial Theater. Part of AFI's "Stage and Screen" series.
"Angela Lansbury Remembered" (February 3-April 27) pays tribute to the award-winning actress. April films are Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971); The Mirror Crack'd (1980); Beauty and the Beast (1991); and The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
"George Pelecanos Presents" (February 3-April 23) is a series of little-known films from the 1970s, some of which will be introduced by George Pelecanos. In April is Walking Tall (Phil Karlson, 1973); Monte Walsh (1976); Car Wash (1970) and Mr. Majestyk (1974).
"Special Engagements" in April include Ikiru; Advise and Consent in 35mm with James Kirchick, author of "Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington present for Q&A; Clue (1985) with a live shadowcast by Bloody Mayhem Theatrical; Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge; King Kong; the documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything followed by Q&A with filmmakers Jeff Krulik and Richard Taylor; Roman Holiday and Up In Mabel's Room (1926) with live music accompaniment by Makia Matsumura and introduction by fashion historian Michelle Tolini Finamore.
"AFI Silver After Dark" is a new series of midnight-style movies. The April film is The Hunger (1983).
Freer Gallery of Art
On April 12 at 2:00pm is Love Under the Crucifix (Kinuyo Tanaka, 1962), part of the "Japanese Classics" series.
On April 7 at 7:00pm is Zen Diary (Yuji Nakae, 2022). A demonstration of Zen food serving follows the film. On April 9 at 2:00pm is the documentary Ramen Heads (Koki Shigeno, 2018) about ramen chef Osama Tomita, and introduced by chef Hiro Mitsui of Ramen by Uzu. Both are part of the series "National Cherry Blossom Festival: Food and Film."
On April 16 at 2:00pm is Shiraz: A Romance of India (Franz Osten, 1928) with music accompaniment by Utsav Lal. Part of the series "Centennial Events" and also the series "Movie/Music Matchups."
National Gallery of Art
The series "Burning Illusions: British Film and Thatcherism" continues in April with Burning Illusion (Menelik Shabazz, 1981) on April 2 at 2:00pm, preceded by the short film Dreaming Rivers (Martina Attille, 1988), On April 8 at 1:00pm is a program of short films including Perfect Image? (Maureen Blackwood, 1988); Ten Bob in Winter (Lloyd Reckford, 1963); The Body Beautiful (Ngozi Onwurah, 1991); Blues Is My Middle Name (Winta Yohannes, 1999); and Serious Tingz (Abdou Cisse, 2019). On April 8 at 3:00pm is The Last of England (Derek Jarman, 1987) starring Tilda Swinson, preceded by the short film John Davies: Exploring a Sense of Place in the Landscape (Giulia Vannucci, 2022). On April 9 at 2:00pm is Twilight City (Reece Auguiste, 1989) with the filmmaker in person, preceded by A Touch of the Tar Brush (John Akomfrah, 1991) and Three Songs on Pain, Time and Light (Trevor Mathieson and Eddie George, 1993). On April 23 at 3:00pm is The People's Account (1986) which is shown in the West Building Lecture Hall.
A series of films by Douglas Sirk begins April 15 at 2:00pm with All That Heaven Allows (1955) starring Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman, preceded by Home When You Return (Carl Elsaesser, 2021). Imitation of Life (1959) in shown on April 22 at 2:00pm in the West Building Lecture Hall. Also in the West Building Lecture Hall on April 29 at 2:00pm is There's Always Tomorrow (1956) introduced by Marsha Gordon, author of Becoming the Ex-Wife: The Unconventional Life and Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott, who will sign books after the film.
The series "Art Films and Special Screenings" for April includes The Ballad of Philip Guston with filmmaker Jem Cohen in person for discussion on April 1 at 3:00pm. On April 30 at 2:00pm in the West Building Lecture Hall is the documentary Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV (Amanda Kim, 2023), shown as part of Filmfest DC 2023.
Note that some programs are in the West Building Lecture Hall and that registration is required.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
On April 22 at 10:30am is 2040 (Damon Gameau, 2019), a look at what the future could be in 2040. Also shows on April 22 at 4:30pm.
On April 22 at 12:30pm is The Lorax (2012).
Goethe Institute
On April 20 at 6:00pm is the documentary Tinderbox and Belt Road: China in the Balkans. On April 21 at 6:30pm is Free Country (Christian Alvart, 2019).
French Embassy
A series of sports-related films (April-May) celebrates the 2024 Summer Olympics to be held in Paris. On April 5 at 6:45pm is The Finishers (Nils Tavernier, 2013). On April 11 at 7:00pm is Olga (Elie Grappe, 2021), a documentary about a 15 year old Ukrainian gymnast. On April 25 at 7:00pm is Le Grand Bain: A Swimmer's Comedy [aka Sink or Swim] (Gilles Lellouche, 2018). More in May.
Bethesda Row
"Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series. On April 16 at 10:00am is Cinema Sabaya (Orit Fouks Rotem, 2021) from Israel.
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 April 12 at 8:00pm is What the Hell Happened to Blood Sweat and Tears? (John Scheinfeld, 2023), part of the "Avalon Docs" series.
On April 19 at 8:00pm is How to Be a Good Wife (Martin Provost, 2019) starring Juliette Binoche. Part of the monthly series "French Cinematheque."
"Exhibition on Screen" has two programs in April. On April 2 at 10:30am is Mary Cassatt (Ali Ray, 2023). On April 23, 25, and 29 at 10:30am is Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (David Bickerstaff, 2023).
For the Avalon's Centennial Celebration are Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000) on April 5 at 8:00pm; Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016) on April 16 at 10:30am. A Q&A follows the film.
On April 1 and 2 at 10:00am is Babe (Chris Noonan, 1995) for the kids weekend matinee.
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 "Perfect Pairs." On April 4 is The Thin Man (1934) with William Powell and Myrna Loy; on April 11 is Swing Time (1936) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; on April 18 is Dark Passage (1947) with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; and on April 25 is Woman of the Year (1942) with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
Kennedy Center
On April 2 at 3:00pm is Till (2022); on April 9 at 3:00pm is the documentary Man on Wire (2008), followed by Q&A with Philippe Petit; on April 16 at 3:00pm is a program of two short environmental films A River Called Home (2022) followed by Q&A with filmmaker Jess Wiegandt and Upstream, Downriver (2022) followed by a panel discussion; on April 23 at 3:00pm is the Korean film Decision to Leave (2021); and on April 30 at 3:00pm is The Duke (2020).
Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
On April 23 at 4:00pm is the silent film Our Dancing Daughters (1928), starring Joan Crawford. Live music by Andrew Simpson.
Old Greenbelt Theater
On April 3 and 6 at 1:00pm is The More the Merrier (George Stevens, 1943) starring Jean Arthur. On April 11 at 8:00pm is Little Richard: I Am Everything (Lisa Cortes, 2023). On April 24 at 6:30pm is The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974). On April 27 at 7:00pm is Next Time We Love (Edward H. Griffith, 1935) starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan).
Capitol Hill Chorale
In 2019, The Capitol Hill Chorale traveled to Georgia, bringing Zakaria Paliashvili's Liturgy of St. John Crysostom home with concerts in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. The documentary A Walk With Zakaria: The 2019 Georgia Tour Documentary will be shown at Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse on April 29 at 2:45pm. See the website for tickets.
Alden Theater
On April 6 at 1:00pm is The Lunchbox (Ritresh Batra, 2013) from India.
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
On April 29 at 11:00am is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
FILM FESTIVALS
