November 2023

Posted November 1, 2023. Additions to calendar made on November 13 and 18.

Contents

  • The Cinema Lounge ONLINE
  • Adam's Rib Visits Charlottesville for the Virginia Film Festival
  • The 48th Toronto International Film Festival
  • We Need to Hear From You
  • Calendar of Events

    Last 12 issues of the Storyboard.


    The Cinema Lounge

    On Monday, November 20 at 8:00pm, please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group.

    TOPIC: Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties with Foster Hirsch

    "Hollywood in the 1950s was both the best and worst of times," writes film historian Foster Hirsch in his new book Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties: The Collapse of the Studio System, the Thrill of Cinerama, and the Invasion of the Ultimate Body Snatcher — Television. The Los Angeles Times notes that the book "covers a lot of ground, including the competing widescreen formats of the era; the industry’s awkward but often affecting approach to issues of race and homosexuality; the death of the studio system; and the Hollywood Blacklist. But the book is most valuable as a subjective chronicle of what it was like to go to the movies at a time when the industry’s popularity was imperiled and it pulled out all the stops to keep its product relevant."

    We are thrilled to have Hirsch back at the Cinema Lounge to discuss his book and what makes the 50s such a fascinating film decade.

    Hirsch is a Professor of Film at Brooklyn College and the author of numerous books on film and theater including The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir, Acting, Hollywood Style, Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would be King, and Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir. He spoke at the Cinema Lounge last March about The Maltese Falcon. In addition, Hirsch frequently introduces films at the Noir City DC Festival every October at the AFI Silver Theater.

    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 Visits Charlottesville for the Virginia Film Festival

    For the past 36 years, Charlottesville has hosted the annual Virginia Film Festival. Friends have urged me to go for many years. I honestly don’t know why it took me this long, especially since I lived there when I was a kid. The festival showcased some of what I loved about Charlottesville. The staff and volunteers kept the proceedings running seamlessly. I ate well near the theaters and the weather was perfect. And yes, I could still see the Blue Ridge Mountains. Check out my festival experience in my new Adam's Rib column.

    NOTE: Like many I was saddened by the recent passing of Richard Roundtree and Matthew Perry. Roundtree became the first black action hero in Shaft, epitomizing changing times and changing expectations of what could be seen onscreen. Perry, in his immortal role as Chandler Bing in "Friends," mastered comic timing and delivery. Both will be sorely missed. RIP.


    The 48th Toronto International Film Festival

    By Ron Gordner, DC Film Society Member

    The 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was held from September 7-17, 2023 showcasing a smaller curated selection of over 200 feature films including many world premieres, plus many additional shorts. A good percentage of the films were directed or co-directed by women, minorities or LGBTQ artists as TIFF has promised in the past few years. TIFF2023 included mainly onsite general admission seating screenings primarily at the Bell Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatres; and assigned seating at varied level of prices at the Roy Thomson Hall, Royal Alexandra and Princess of Wales Theatres and a return to some red carpets, and industry and artist parties and other interactions. Due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA contract strikes, there were far fewer red carpets and actors in attendance this year and far fewer restaurant-based film parties existed, but over 70% of the films were still internationally based so directors and others were usually in attendance at most screenings. Although I did find a small number of festival goers with paper tickets, the primary ticketing was electronic and saved on phones in various ways. Early issues with TicketMaster time waits for access and individuals buying lots of tickets for films like The Boy and the Heron and Next Goal Wins and scamming them for high prices online were also found in early days of the festival. There was no large central ticketing center to pick up tickets, since most were e-tickets but the Lightbox box office served as a general place to buy or exchange tickets (when allowed) with day of screening purchasing at venue box offices also happening. Rush lines again were used. Since COVID was not a prevalent issue this year, a smaller number of attendees wore masks compared to last year. King St. for a few blocks was blocked off from most traffic the first weekend of the festival only. There were far fewer outside free promotional items again this year as were available in pre-COVID festivals. A stage with live music was available and some free outdoor screenings of old favorite films.



    Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director and CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, was in charge again. Many of the films had TIFF usual world premieres and some films from earlier festivals such as Cannes, and just earlier scheduled Telluride Film and Venice Film Festivals. A few high-profile films missing from TIFF this year at other festivals included Saltburn, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Maestro. One film Punjab ’95 from India was removed from the screening schedule, apparently due to political pressure on the distributor. A 4K resortoration of the concert film Stop Making Sense by Jonathan Demme also was world premiered and hit theatres later. Although there were still over 200 feature films this year, only several public screenings this year again seem to have been scheduled prior to about noon on most weekdays. This allowed some time to spend at the gyms or museums or stores, but was problematic to schedule enough films from pre-purchased films packets to fit them in during one’s stay in Toronto. Earlier scheduling information and that some virtual screening would be available via different ticketing and viewing windows would have been helpful to better budget finances and time spent at TIFF this year. Ticket packages of 10 tickets, limited to 4 packets and no allowance for vouchers this year was a bit stressful but with fewer public morning screenings it was difficult to schedule more than about 30-40 film if staying about 8-9 days only. The press and industry screenings began early in the morning primarily at the Scotia theatre and their screenings in some earlier years usually ended the second Thursday but this year some were available through the second Saturday of the festival. Toronto again was found to be a city with much heavy construction and many venues and restaurants I catered to in the past were now gone and the areas marked for construction. The U.S. dollar was strong also, since the Canadian dollar was worth about the 72 American cents. Flying by Porter into the Billy Bishop City Toronto Airport also saved time instead of flying into Pearson Toronto International Airport which requires a train ride into the city and is the largest Canadian airport, so creates larger lines for Customs and other requirements.

    TIFF Tribute Awards presented by Bvlgari for 2022 included those honoring actors Colman Domingo (Rustin) and Vicky Krieps. The Artisan Tribute Award went to Lukasz Zal. Paticia Arquette received the TIFF Share Her Journey Goundbreaker Award, and others for directors Spike Lee and Pedro Almodovar. Shawn Levy received the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. Carolina Markowicz received the Tribute Emerging Talent award. Andy Lau was also a Tribute Award Honoree. Lead sponsors for TIFF are Bell Media Studios, Bvlgari, and VISA, the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.

    TIFF has sections or categories of films but smaller for the 250 films on display. Sections this year included the Free winner (the Audience Award winner on the last Sunday), Discovery (first and second time filmmakers), TIFF DOCS (documentaries), Contemporary World Cinema, Platform (filmmakers who challenge our notions of mainstream cinema), Primetime (TV movies), Wavelengths (avant-garde cinema), and their famous Midnight Madness section (primarily horror and black comedy films screening at Midnight with usually an appreciative and rowdy crowd). There were changes in some of the long time programmers and the Contemporary World Cinema category was now called the Centrepiece stream. Short Cuts includes short film programming and In Conversation With live discussions with actors and filmmakers: Pedro Almodovar, Sylvester Stallone, and Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun.

    TIFF has become a major market and sales stop for films to North America. There is a small market at the Venice Festival but it is really Toronto where they are primarily sold although this year many films already came to TIFF with distributors. Like other festivals now, a good number of films already have or are sold to streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple tv, Paramount Plus, etc. Some films taken by distributors at or soon after TIFF included: Netflix acquired Hit Man for $20 million, Anna Kenrick’s Woman of the Hour for $11 million, and the documentary Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa by Lucy Walker. A24 picked up Sing Sing, Greenwich Entertainment got Sorry/Not Sorry, Lionsgate got The Crow, Bleeker Street bought Fackham Hall, and MUBI acquired Romanian film Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World.

    This list is culled from primarily films seen at TIFF or since:


    MUST SEE FILMS:

  • About Dry Grasses (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey/France/Germany/Sweden; 2023). Samet, a middle-aged art teacher in a very rural Turkish middle school longs for a transfer to a job in Istanbul. His ethical and moral behavior is questioned when a young teenage girl who has been the pet student is angered by his keeping a secret letter she has written.

  • Anatomy of a Fall  (Justine Triet, France; 2023). Palme d’Or winner has Sandra (Sandra Huller in a possible Oscar nominated performance) playing a wife who is on trial for possible homicide of her writer husband who fell to his death from their chalet. Was it homicide, an accident or suicide and a trial dealing with forensic hypotheses and testimony from her nearly blind young son are critical.

  • The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki, Japan; 2023). Japanese animation master’s possibly last film was a very hard ticket to obtain. During WWII a young boy and his father move to a rural area to oversee a Japanese plant making military planes. In exploring the area, the boy finds an abandoned tower and keeps seeing a heron.

  • Concrete Utopia (Um Tai-hwa, South Korea; 2023). A post-apocalyptic earthquake drama about a sole standing high rise apartment complex, how status has changed for many, survival is preeminent, and social structures are no longer valid. It is also the South Korean submission for Oscar’s Best International Feature.

  • Green Border (Agnieszka Holland, Poland/Czech Republic/France/Belgium; 2023). Sobering drama on several families and individual refugees’ treatment on the Polish/Belarus border that angered the Polish government and led to the film probably not being chosen as their submission to the Oscars this year.

  • The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, U.S.; 2023). Holdovers are students left at a boys’ boarding school over the Thanksgiving vacation in the 1970s monitored by the disliked Professor Hunham (Paul Giamatti) and some troubled teens and the cook whose son had attended the school but had died in Vietnam.

  • Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (Lucy Walker, U.S.; 2023). A documentary about an illiterate female sherpa who came to the U.S., suffered abuse and economic problems, but still raised 3 children and has climbed the Mt. Everest summit 10 times. She was in attendance with her daughters and the director and was given a long standing ovation. The film was recently purchased to show on Netflix probably after a theatrical release.

  • The Promised Land (Nikolaj Arcel, Denmark/Germany/Sweden; 2023). This is an 18th century historical drama starring Mads Mikkelsen as the bastard son of a noble and maid who made his mark in the military and is determined to farm and tame a wild heath area in Jutland to the dismay of the local landowners and gentry. This is Denmark’s submission for the best International film for the Oscars. It will also screen at AFI’s Silver’s European Union Showcase in December.

  • Solitude (Ninna Palmadottir, Iceland/Slovakia/France; 2023). Gunnar is a middle-aged rural farmer who must relocate to the city when his land has to make way for a dam. He has problems adjusting to city life until he meets a neighbor 10 year old boy whose own social interaction has been limited.

  • The Teachers’ Lounge (Ilker Catak; Germany; 2023). Carla is a new dedicated teacher at a German junior high school. When some thefts are revealed and students, staff and teachers become embroiled in accusations and ethical, legal and moral problems a powerful twisting drama unfolds. This is Germany’s submission for the best International film for the Oscars and a very strong contender for the final 5. It also won Germany’s Golden Lola award for best film this year. It will also have screenings at the European Union Showcase at the AFI Silver Theatre in December.


    VERY GOOD FILMS:

  • Breaking the Ice (Anthony Chen, China/Singapore; 2023). A love triangle of three young people in rural China on the border of the Korean Peninsula. Haofeng is a shy student travelling to a wedding who quickly attaches himself to his tour guide Nana and her maybe boyfriend Xiao on some wild adventures. This is Singapore’s submission for the Oscar’s International Film.

  • Bye Bye Tiberias (Lina Soualem, France/Belgium/Qatar/Palestine; 2023). A documentary by famous actress Hiam Abbass by her daughter which doesn’t really address her mother’s fame but is really a family study of three generations of women and the director and mother’s lives in France and many returns to their homeland in Palestine. This is Palestine’s submission for Oscar’s International Film.

  • The Critic (Anand Tucker, United Kingdom; 2023). Aging theatre critic Jimmy (Ian McKellen) during pre-WWII London must deal with a new boss, petulant actress Nina (Gemma Arterton), and his gay lifestyle against the British legal system. Scandal, blackmail and intrigue follow.

  • The End We Start From (Mahalia Belo, United Kingdom; 2023). Jody Comer is a young mother with her husband fleeing London after apocalyptic flooding to his parents’ home in the rural U.K. adapted from Megan Hunter’s novel. Social upheaval, survival and strange events follow.

  • Fair Play (Chloe Domont, U.S.; 2023). A young woman’s rise in the male dominated hedge fund industry is portrayed with lots of romance, treachery, gender games, and boardroom politics. Can Emily (Phoebe Dynevor from Bridgerton) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich from Solo: Star Wars) continue to hide their secret working romance if a wedding proposal may be on its way? What happens when you and your lover are up for the next high profile promotion in a cut edge competitive workplace? The film can currently be found on Netflix.

  • Great Absence (Kei Chika-ura, Japan; 2023). Takashi receives a strange phone call about his estranged father who left 20 years ago. The father has dementia and the police are requiring his assistance as his nearest relative. Flashbacks and present-day moments are interspersed to provide a background for the family trauma.

  • Inshallah a Boy (Amjad Al Rasheed, Jordan/France/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/Egypt; 2023). When Nawal’s husband suddenly dies, she is confronted with the patriarchal law that allows her brother-in-law to claim part of her home and possible guardianship of her daughter. If she is pregnant and gives birth to a son she can maintain her hold on her life somewhat. This is Jordan’s submission for Oscar’s International Film.

  • The Monk and the Gun (Pawo Choyning Dorji, Bhutan/France/U.S./Taiwan; 2023). A subtle but powerful film about Bhutan having its first national election, guns, greed, and Westernization of an already happy place. This is Bhutan’s submission to the Oscar’s International Film. His earlier film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom was also nominated and made it to the final 5.

  • A Road to a Village (Nabin Subba, Nepal; 2023). A world premiere again about bringing Western material things to a village in Nepal if a road is coming to connect them to the city easier. A small family includes a father whose bamboo mats may no longer be in style and his mischievous son who longs for coca cola, sunglasses and hip-hop music change family and village dynamics, becoming a poignant tale of redundancy and family values.

  • The Teacher (Farah Nabusi; United Kingdom/Palestine/Qatar; 2023). Palestinian teacher Basem becomes too involved in some of his students lives. He and his wife have parted after the death of their teenage son. An Israeli young soldier also has been kidnapped and Basem must decide how much he can involve himself and family in political, social and ethical issues also dealing with his students welfare. Imogen Poots also stars as a British social worker.

  • Without Air (Katalin Moldovai, Hungary; 2023). Ana is a high school teacher in Hungary in a small town who is accused by a parent of misconduct since she included the listing of a film in her extracurricular events that dealt with French poet Rimbaud and his gay lifestyle. Addressing the current political landscape in some of Europe, she must decide whether to defend herself from scandal or cut her losses and go elsewhere for a non-teaching job with less stress.


    GOOD FILMS:

  • The Beast (Bertrand Bonello; France/Canada; 2023). A centuries-spanning sci-fi film with Lea Seydoux and George MacKay as newly found but somehow enduring lovers across time and lavish stylish sets.

  • The Convert (Lee Tamahoti; Australia/New Zealand; 2023). Commissioned preacher Guy Pierce arrives in the early 19th century seaside British colony of Epworth and soon must decide if he can continue to serve his parishioners as they want or deal with warring Maori tribes.

  • Four Daughters (Kaouther Ben Hania, France/Tunisia/Germany/Saudi Arabia; 2023). A documentary but also with actors playing some of the characters gives an interesting layer of this family’s hidden secrets. This is Tunisia’s submission for Oscar’s International Film and also was a co-winner at Cannes for the Golden Eye for Best Documentary.

  • Hajjan (Abu Bakr Shawky, Saudi Arabia/Egypt/Jordan; 2023). Matar and Ghanim are brothers interested in camel racing and their supposed family racing history. The brothers must endure heartache and the ruthless politics they encounter and Matar’s love for his camel Hofira.

  • A Happy Day (Hisham Zaman, Norway/Denmark; 2023). Child refugees housed in Northern Norway are shown in this absurd comic but also poignant plight of being held until 18 and then usually deported. Asylum hopes and escape plans fill out this drama from the director who has experienced being a refugee from Iraqi Kurdistan.

  • I Don’t Know Who You Are (M.H. Murray, Canada; 2023). A satire on how difficult it may be to live in Toronto without a good job, money or status, a musician who was raped tries to acquire enough cash to purchase HIV-preventive PEP treatment within 72 hours and later testing.

  • The New Boy (Warwick Thornton, Australia; 2023). Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett) is in charge of a school or shelter for abandoned children. A new Aboriginal boy is delivered to her but he does not speak any English, defies learning her rules, and has some strange spiritual qualities of his own she doesn’t understand.

  • Not A Word (Hanna Slak, Germany/Slovenia/France; 2023). Nina is a famous Berlin Symphony conductor preparing for a big concert but agrees to take her troubled teenage son Lars to a remote island for the weekend. The music and the narrative all hit crescendos in this mother and son reintroduction.

  • The Pigeon Tunnel (Errol Morris; United Kingdom; 2023). A documentary based on an interview with writer David Cornwell (John le Carre) talks about his gambling and scammer father and many of his famous novels.

  • Shadow of a Fire (Shinya Tsukamato, Japan; 2023). Suffering in post-WWII Japan, characters barely survive, including a cunning but lonely orphan, a woman running a run-down ramen house where she must prostitute herself to survive, and soldiers with nightmares from the war.

  • Shayda (Noora Niasan, Australia; 2023). Shayda is an abused Iranian wife and mother living in Australia. She is embarrassed to make her marriage problems public and to her family in Iran but must eventually flee her abusive husband to a women’s shelter. This is Australia’s submission for best International Film.


    THE OFFICIAL TIFF 2023 AWARDS:

    TIFF People's Choice Award: American Fiction (Cord Jefferson, U.S); first runner-up: The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, U.S.); 2nd runner-up: The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki, Japan).

    People's Choice Award For Documentary: Mr. Dresssup: The Magic of Make-Believe (Robert McCallum, Canada); first runner-up: Summer Qamp (Jen Markowitz; Canada) second runner-up: Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (Lucy Walker, U.S.).

    People's Choice Award For Midnight Madness: Dicks: The Musical (Larry Charles, U.S.); first runner-up: KILL (Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, India); second runner-up: Hell of a Summer (Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, U.S./Canada).

    Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery Section: Discovery Programme: Seagrass (Meredith Hama-Brown, Canada).

    NETPAC Award For Best Asian Film: A Match (Jayant Digambar Somalkar, India).

    Amplify Voices Awards from Canada Goose: for Best International Feature: Kanaval (Henri Pardo, Canada/Luxembourg); for Best First Film: Tautuktavuk (What We See).

    2022 Shawn Mendes Foundation Changemaker Award: We Grow Now (Minhal Baig, U.S.).

    Award For Best Canadian Short Film: Motherland (Jasmin Mozaffari).

    Award For Best International Short Film: Electra (Daria Kashcheeva, Czech Republic/France/Slovakia).

    Platform Prize: Dear Jassi (Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, India).

    Share Her Journey Award: She (Snake) (Remee Zhan, United Kingdom), Honorable Mention: Gaby Hills (Zoe Pelchat, Canada).

    Check local theater listings and upcoming festivals such as AFI’s European Union Film Festival, Filmfest DC, Film Neu, and the DC Jewish Film Festival which may have some of these and other films in the coming months. For more information about the TIFF 2023 see     the TIFF website.


    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 Silent Cinema Showcase" (October 27-November 18) is an annual serise of newly restored silent classics, rare gems, and old favorites. Most films with have live music accompaniment by Andrew Simpson, Donald Sosin, Anvil Orchestra, and Makia Matsumura. Many are celebrating their 100th anniversary. Titles include Within the Law (1923) in 35mm (Andrew Simpson); Why Worry? (1923) in 35mm (Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton) shown with the short film Dogs of War (1923); Sherlock Holmes (1916) (Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton); Safety Last (1923) (Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton); The Ancient Law (1923) (Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals); So This is Paris (1926) (Andrew Simpson; Why Be Good? (1929) (Vitaphone vintage jazz track); Our Hospitality (1923) (Andrew Simpson); The Big Parade (1925) (Andrew Simpson); Lady Windermere's Fan (1925) (Makia Matsumura); Wings (1927) (Andrew Simpson); Clash of the Wolves (1925) (Makia Matsumura); Dragnet Girl (1933) in 35mm (Makia Matsumura); The Lost World (1925) (Anvil Orchestra); and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) (Anvil Orchestra). Plus there are four programs of Laurel and Hardy short films (Andrew Simpson).

    A double feature introduced by George Pelecanos is on November 19. The documentary The Long Haul of A.I. Bezzerides (Fay Efrosini Lellios, 2005) is followed by Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1955) for which novelist/screenwriter A.I. Bezzerides wrote the script.

    "Notes from the Road: The Films of Robert Muggee" (November 16-19) is a series of seven films about music and musicians. Robert Muggee will be present at all screenings to introduce/discuss the films. Titles are Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise (1980); Black Wax (1982); Gospel According to Al Green (1984); Saxophone Collossus (1986); Deep Blues (1991); Cool Runnings: The Reggae Movie (1983) in 35mm; and New Orleans Music in Exile (2006).

    "Halloween on Film" (October 24-November 2) has a few more films in November. Titles are Suspiria (1977) in a 4K restoration; Don't Look Now (1973) introduced by film professor David Rothman; Ganja and Hess (1973) in a restored director's cut; Night of the Living Dead (1969); The Exorcist (1973) in an extended director's cut; The Wicker Man (1973) in a new 4k restoration.

    "Special Engagements" for November are Alcarras (2022), Spain's 2023 Oscar pick; Charlotte's Web (1973); Farewell My Concubine (1993); Robin Hood (1973); Suburbia (1983); The Age of Innocence (1993); The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973); The Lord of the Rings (1978); The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993); The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) in 35mm; The Wizard of Oz (1939); The Wolf of Wall Street (2013); This Is Spinal Tap (1983); and Valley Girl (1983).

    "AFI Silver After Dark" is a new series of midnight-style movies. The November film is Lady Snowbird (Kikumaru Okuda, 1973) from Japan.

    "The 2023 AFI European Union Film Showcase" (November 30–December 17), in its 36th year, brings international film festival award winners, European box office hits and debut works by promising new talents, plus many countries' official Oscar submissions for Best International Feature Film. A few titles have already been announced, more information coming soon. See the website for passes, film titles, and more information.

    Freer Gallery of Art
    On November 8 at 2:00pm is Zatoichi on the Road (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1963), one of many films in the popular series featuring the itinerant blind swordsman. Part of the "Japanese Classics" series.

    On November 9 at 7:00pm is A Throw of Dice (Franz Osten, 1929), a silent film with music accompaniment by Utsav Lal. On November 12 at 2:00pm is Amar Akbar Anthony (Manmohan Desai, 1977), starring the great Amitabh Bachchan and shown in a restored DCP.

    National Gallery of Art
    The film series "Imagining Indigenous Cinema: New Voices, New Visions" begins November 11 at 2:00pm with Fancy Dance (Erica Tremblay, 2022) followed by a discussion with director Erica Tremblay and film series co-curator Colleen Thurston. On November 18 at 2:00pm is Love and Fury (Sterlin Harjo, 2020) preceded by two short films My Soul Remainer (Nanobah Becker, 2017) and Wampum (Elisa Harkins, 2019) and introduced by film series co-curator Anpa’o Locke. On November 19 at 2:00pm is Gush (Fox Maxy, 2023), preceded by the short film San Diego (Fox Maxy, 2020) and followed by discussion with director Fox Maxy and film series co-curator Anpa’o Locke. On November 25 at 2:00pm is "Realizing Futures: Short Films," including Chaac and Yum (Roberto Fatal, 2022), Gently, Jennifer (Doane Tulugaq Avery, 2019), Long Line of Ladies (Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome, 2022), They Told Me "Apikaan" Means Braid (Eve-Lauryn LaFountain, 2013), This Is the Way We Rise (Ciara Lacy, 2020), We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors (Princess Daazhraii Johnson and Alisha Carlson, 2021), and I Am Home (Kymon Greyhorse, 2023). On November 26 at 2:00pm is Waikiki (Christopher Kahunahana, 2020) preceded by the short film Po'ele Wai (Tiare Ribeaux, 2022).

    All are in the East Building Auditorium. Registration is required.

    Smithsonian American Art Museum
    On November 8 at 6:30pm is a special preview screening of a new documentary about art critics Out of the Picture (Mary Louise Schumacher, 2023) followed by a discussion with art critics.

    Washington Jewish Community Center
    On November 8 at 7:00pm is the documentary Uncharted (Beth Aala, 2023) about the music industry. A discussion and Q&A follows. Arrive at 6:00pm for cocktails.

    The JCC is one of the venues for the Double Exposure Film Festival. On November 5 at 3:00pm is the documentary Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink (Rick Goldsmith). On November 5 at 5:30pm is the documentary The Illusion of Abundance (Matthieu Lietaert and Erika Gonzalez Ramirez, 2023).

    French Embassy
    On November 1 at 7:00pm is Time Regained (Raoul Peck, 1999) in celebration of Marcel Proust. Other Proust activities include a panel discussion and a Proust reading night on November 2 and 3. On November 28 at 7:00pm is Haute Cuisine (Christian Vincent, 2012) part of a new series of gastronomy films.

    The Japan Information and Culture Center
    The JICC returns to in-person screenings this month. On November 16 at 6:30pm is Small, Slow but Steady (Sho Miyake, 2022), based on the memoir of a hearing-impaired boxer. Kinema Junpo picked this film for its Best Japanese Film of 2022.

    Cinema Arts Bethesda
    "Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On November 5 at 10:00am is R.M.N. (Cristian Mungiu, 2022) from Romania.

    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 November 1 at 8:00pm is To Kill a Tiger (Nisha Pahuja, 2022), from India, part of the "Programmer's Choice" series.

    On November 8 at 8:00pm is Shadow Country (Bohdan Sláma, 2020), the choice for this month's "Lions of Czech Film."

    The "French Cinematheque" pick for this month is Between Two Worlds (Emmanuel Carrère, 2021) on November 15 at 8:00pm, starring Juliet Binoche.

    On November 29 at 8:00pm is Dad (Anna Maliszewska, 2022) the "Cine Polska" pick for this month.

    For "100 Years of Cinema Magic" is Shakespeare in Love (John Madden, 1998) on November 19 at 10:30am.

    The popular series "Exhibition on Screen" continues November 12 and 14 at 10:30am with Klimt and the Kiss (Ali Ray, 2023).

    Italian Cultural Institute
    To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Italo Calvino, is the documentary The Writer in the Trees (Duccio Chiarini, 2023) on November 10 at 6:00pm. The film will be followed by a Q&A with director Duccio Chiarini.

    On November 28 at 5:30pm is Dante (Pupi Avati, 2021).

    On November 30 at 6:00pm is the documentary The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive (Salvatore Zannino, 2022).

    New York University Abramson Family Auditorium
    On November 7 at 6:30pm is True False Hot Cold (Ben Stillerman, 2023).

    Library of Congress
    The Mary Pickford Theater shows two sci-fi films on the National Registry. On November 9 at 7:00pm is Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Don Diegel, 1956) and on November 30 at 7:00pm is Planet of the Apes (Franklin J. Schaffner, 1968).

    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 "A Month of Giving Hanks." On November 7 is The 'Burbs (1989); on November 11 is Joe Versus the Volcano (1990); on November 21 is A League of Their Own (1992); and on November 28 is Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

    Landmark's E Street Cinema
    "Filmmaker Focus" is a four-film retrospective of Yorgos Lanthimos. Films are shown Wednesdays November 15-December 13. On November 15 is Dogtooth (2009); and on November 29 is The Lobster (2015). Two more in December.

    Landmark's E Street Cinema
    "Chez Artiste" presents classic films on select Wednesdays. On November 8 is Mrs. Miniver (1942); and on November 15 is The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).

    Kennedy Center
    On November 5 at 3:00pm is the documentary Style Wars (Tony Silver, 1983), with an introduction led by the film’s co-producer Henry Chalfant. On November 12 at 3:00pm is War Pony (Gina Gammell and Riley Keough, 2022). On November 26 at 3:00pm is Saturday Night Fever (John Badham, 1977).

    Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
    On November 11 at 5:00pm the Capital City Symphony presents Buster Keaton's short film One Week (1920) with an original score by Andrew Simpson. A discussion follows the film with composer Andrew Simpson. On November 12 at 5:00pm One Week is part of the symphony's annual family concert for kids, including other kid-friendly activities. Both cine-concerts are at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

    Old Greenbelt Theater
    On November 4 at 2:00pm is the documentary Descendant (Margaret Brown, 2022) followed by a discussion. On November 12 at 1:00pm is The Flying Ace (Richard E. Norman, 1926) with music accompaniment by Andrew Simpson.

    Alden Theater
    On November 2 at 1:00pm and November 8 at 6:30pm is Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988) for this month's foreign film series.

    The performing arts movie is Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer (David Barba and James Pellerito, 2017) a documentary portrait of Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes on November 16 at 1:00pm.

    Angelika Film Center Mosaic
    "Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month. On November 20 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm is Raging Bull (1980) starring Robert De Niro.

    For the "Angelika Classic" series is The Big Lebowski (1998) on November 6 at 7:00pm

    "Four Weeks of Christmas" (Wednesdays at 7:00pm) starts November 29 at 7:00pm with Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). More in December.


    FILM FESTIVALS

    Silent Cinema Showcase
    See above.


    AFI European Union Film Showcase
    The 36th "European Union Film Showcase" (November 30-December 17). More information coming soon.

    Film|Neu
    The 31st edition of Film|Neu, contemporary films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, takes place November 10-12. Titles and locations TBA.

    Alexandria Film Festival
    The 17th Annual Alexandria Film Festival will be held November 10-12, presenting more than 50 films at several locations including AMC Hoffman, the Charles Beatley Library and The Lyceum. Titles TBA. See the website for films, locations, passes and tickets.

    The Investigative Film Festival
    The ninth "Double Exposure: The Investigative Film Festival and Symposium" takes place November 2-5. This festival is dedicated to investigative reporting on film. The opening night film is Locked Out (Kate Davis, Luchina Fisher, 2023); the closing night film is The Lost Souls of Syria )(Stéphane Malterre, 2023). Locations include the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and Cafritz Hall at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center. Passes are available, see the website for film titles, tickets, passes and more information.



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