Film Schedule

Filled with marvelous tango music and dance, Adiós Buenos Aires takes place in November 2001 against the backdrop of Argentina's economic crisis. In the midst of these troubled times, the Vecinos de Pompeya—a five-piece tango band—try to keep their heads above water. They usually perform in a small, poorly attended pub and are often paid with empanadas ... more

The corner of Brussels where Amal (Lubna Azabal) teaches high school might as well be a small village—everyone is in everyone's business. Are you a secular or Muslim Belgian? Are you Muslim enough? In the classroom, the natural teenage pursuits of gossip and bullying can take on a dangerous quality as the youths expel the pressures of home life. After ... more

This compelling and urgent documentary, narrated by Peter Coyote, presents Christian nationalism as the greatest threat to democracy today, and it brings the well-researched historical receipts. Christian nationalism—the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and therefore should privilege Christianity over all other faiths and ... more

This sly satire is both a witty throwback to the era of screwball comedies and a timely takedown of our troublesome current events. When a charismatic huckster pressures Switzerland—a nation with four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh—to hold a vote that results in French becoming the single mandatory language of the country, ... more

Bring the Beat is a captivating documentary that celebrates the global reach of D.C.'s homegrown go-go. Witness electrifying performances by go-go icon Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott, Wiley Brown, Elijah Jamal Balbed's The JoGo Project, Malik Dope, Sweet Cherie, Deborah Bond, and the Philippe Lemm Group, a Dutch ensemble playing their own go-go inspired music. ... more

Years after leaving her Palestinian village to follow her dreams of acting in France, Emmy-nominated Hiam Abbass returns home in this intimate documentary about four generations of women and their shared legacy of separation. At the age of 23, Abbass (known for her roles in Red Satin [FFDC 2003], Rock the Casbah [FFDC 2014], and Gaza Mon Amour [FFDC 2021] ... more

Chanting of the Dunes is a narrative film about Wahbi al-Hariri-Rifai, who was an accomplished international artist, architect, archeologist, and author. Beautifully illustrated with meticulously restored archival photographs and original footage, the storyline takes viewers on a journey through multiple countries and momentous world changes that extend from ... more

As with his acclaimed film Once Were Warriors, director Lee Tamahori returns to the subject of the Maori people but sets this story in 1830 as English colonists are arriving in New Zealand. Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce) is a pastor seeking redemption from his previous life as a soldier. As soon as he gets off the boat, both his skills are tested by the brutal ... more

The first of the Manetti brothers' stylized adventure series featuring the gentleman thief Diabolik begins with a late-'60s bongo-infused score and a chase scene through the beautiful northern Italy countryside. Master of disguises Diabolik always seems at least three steps ahead of the police. Played with steaming macho by "Grey's Anatomy" star Giacomo Gianniotti, ... more

The latest from Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano (C'est la vie!, FFDC 2019 and The Intouchables, FFDC 2012) is a puckish comedy about finding a reason for being—even when the world seems to be falling apart. Albert and Bruno are debt-ridden friends who are always looking for ways to cadge free stuff. Their lives take a turn when they stumble on a meeting ... more

The director of the Oscar®-winning Drive My Car, in a very different mood, looks at contemporary life in a village setting, where modernity and rusticity coexist peacefully, then precariously. At the center is Takumi (Hitoshi Omika), a thoughtful if distracted single father and odd-job man. When a Tokyo talent agency announces plans for a nearby "glamping" ... more

Actor Guillermo Francella excels at looking like a man caught in a trap, which his character in The Extortion most definitely is. Alejandro (Francella), a celebrated pilot nearing retirement, is approached by agents from the Intelligence Service who make him a seemingly innocent offer: carry a special suitcase on flights to Madrid. When he tries to refuse, ... more

From Dianne Houston, a D.C. native and Oscar®-nominated writer and director, Freedom Hair is an inspiring drama based on the true story of Melony Armstrong, who battled state regulations to establish her own natural hair braiding business in Mississippi. Through Armstrong's journey toward financial independence and her confrontation of systemic obstacles, ... more

Set against the backdrop of Sudan's tumultuous final days as a unified country, Goodbye Julia follows the journey of a former singer haunted by guilt who seeks redemption by hiring the widow of a southern man as her maid while concealing her true identity. Directed by Mohamed Kordofani in his award-winning directorial debut, this poignant and intimate drama ... more

In October 1958, during the height of the Cold War, Yugoslavian physicists at the Vinca Scientific Institute near Belgrade embark on a secret project. Accidentally exposed to a lethal dose of radiation while working on nuclear fission, they are clandestinely transported by the Yugoslav police to the Institut Curie in Paris for treatment. There, French doctors, ... more

In the high-energy world of small-circuit camel racing, Ghanim is preparing for the Great Safwa Race—where heroes are made. Younger brother and Bedouin tailor Matar grew up hearing Ghanim recite poetry about their legendary grandfather known as "Hajjan," the Arabic word for jockey. While following in his grandfather's footsteps and building a name for ... more

In Hope of Escape, director Amy Gerber, from Reston, Va., brings to light a gripping true story. Enslaved mother and daughter Diana and Cornelia, must escape before they are sold and separated forever. Their only hope is to connect with their free relatives in the North and convince the most powerful abolitionists of their time to help them. The film takes ... more

This vibrant and revealing documentary delves into the life and legacy of the D.C. metro-based artist Danny Gatton, known as "The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist." Gatton, who hailed from D.C.'s Anacostia area, mastered blues, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, and rockabilly. The Humbler offers a captivating glimpse into Gatton's journey, blending candid ... more

At the age of 40, Francia Márquez was elected Colombia's first Black Vice President. In addition to presenting her amazing trajectory from single mother from an impoverished rural area, former domestic worker, and relentless defender of land rights and the environment, the filmmakers had privileged access to her unconventional electoral campaign. The film ... more

When Putin's war on Ukraine broke out in 2022, displacing millions, Polish director Maciek Hamela put his polyglot skills, his love of the Ukrainian people, and his van to work, ferrying countless families across Ukraine to safety in Poland. In this documentary, as both driver/savior and director, Hamela makes his passengers at home as he dodges landmines. ... more

Inshallah a Boy is the first Jordanian film to compete at the Cannes Film Festival and is Jordan's submission to the Academy Awards®. This story of a widow who pretends she is pregnant with a boy to keep a roof over her head is a suspenseful and engrossing portrait of resistance and strength. The film follows Nawal, a mother and housewife whose husband suddenly ... more

French teacher Blanche Renard (Virginie Efira) is charmed by suave banker Grégoire Lamoureux (Melvil Poupaud) the moment they meet at a party. Their connection is as passionate as it is romantic and leads to a whirlwind courtship and marriage. It's not until Grégoire is transferred from their native Normandy to a bank in the less-quaint town of Metz that a ... more

Award-winning Indian director Suman Ghosh's film is a poignant adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's timeless tale set in 1965 Kolkata, India. The film beautifully captures the vibrant city's atmosphere, portraying the heartwarming bond between Rahmat (Mithun Chakraborty) and Mini (Anumegha Kahali), a connection that transcends cultural boundaries. Exploring ... more

The follow-up to his previous Oscar®-nominated film, Les Misérables, finds director Ladj Ly returning to similar themes from a fresh angle. Set in a deteriorating immigrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris, Les Indésirables pits naive yet reactionary young mayor Pierre (Alexis Manenti) against the earnest but frustrated activist Haby (Anta Diaw) in a ... more

This film, which opened the ACID program at Cannes in 2023, explores themes of sacrifice, desire, and the longing for change. Claudine, a woman in her fifties devoted to caring for her special-needs son, finds solace in brief encounters with passing men at a hotel every Tuesday. Her routine is interrupted when she meets Michael, who extends his stay for her. ... more

A gutsy undercover police agent, Vera has infiltrated a dangerous Serbian crime syndicate in Rome's criminal underworld. To survive in such an unforgiving world, Vera is forced to present a tough, insensitive facade. All seems to be going as planned for a big upcoming heist, until she learns that her younger brother, Bruno, whom she hasn't seen in years, is ... more

This is the seventh edition of our popular program of films from the vibrant, creative community of filmmakers in D.C. and the immediate Metro area: build me through the image (Paula Hung), Mailman (Nicholas G. Pelecanos), On The Mountain (Anya Raza), One Wheel Bandit (Rick Gonzalez), Room to Breathe (Dave Haft), and The Test (Claudia Myers and Laura Waters ... more

Xavier is a thoughtful and steadfast husband, father, and wage earner in an immigrant working-class family in Miami's Little Haiti who wants to buy a bigger house for his family. Ironically, Xavier works for a company (and a racist boss) that demolishes homes, and he is ultimately troubled that the developments could displace residents like himself. Esperance, ... more

In the nitrate salt flats of Chile's Atacama Desert, mine workers have created a community amidst a precarious life in the driest place on Earth. María Margarita, whose mother left her family to pursue the arts, is a gifted performer who transforms herself on stage when she recounts to her family (who can only afford one ticket among them) the pictures she ... more

The Nature of Love is an entertaining and biting romantic comedy that tackles class differences and infidelity. Sophia is a posh fortysomething French-Canadian professor involved in a long-term, intellectually-stimulating but sexually tepid relationship with her partner, Xavier. She crosses paths with Sylvain, the strapping, plaid-adorned contractor tasked ... more

Director Hur Jin-ho's emotional thriller begins with a shockingly well-realized road rage incident that kills a man and sends his young girl to the hospital. This seemingly random event brings together two brothers, one a lawyer (Sul Kyung-gu) who will try anything to get the guilty driver off, and the other an overworked doctor (Jang Dong-gun), conscientiously ... more

After fatally harming a renowned author and seizing his latest manuscript, Alex believes she's slipped under the radar. Her sense of security shatters when the author's fierce illegitimate son emerges, seeking what he believes is rightfully his. Directed and written by Emmy-nominated Harold Jackson III, the film embodies a distinct blend of thriller and dark ... more

The great humanist Ken Loach, in his last film (so he says), is going out on a strong note. In a former mining town in northeast England, the first generation to come of age since the pits closed can barely support their own kids. When a busload of Syrian refugees arrives, the generous among them welcome a new cause while the miserable find a new scapegoat ... more

This stylish comedy elegantly blends the retro charm of Bollywood cinema with a contemporary coming-of-age narrative, centering on Azra, a young Canadian-Pakistani woman embracing her queerness amidst familial and cultural expectations. Recognized on the Toronto International Film Festival's annual Canada's Top Ten list for 2023, Fawzia Mirza's feature debut ... more

Greenpeace: We all know what the "green" stands for, but remember, this essential organization's founding mission was to stop nuclear weapons testing. The band of hippie peaceniks using themselves as human shields had already succeeded in halting U.S. testing in the North Pacific and had evacuated the entire population of Rongelap Island when, in 1985, while ... more

A kaleidoscopic lens on our world today: Earthling (Keith Lane and Molly Graham), Blood Like Water (Dima Hamdan), Mercy (Xinyue Wu), Ciranda Feiticeira (Lula Gonzaga and Tiago Delácio), Flail (Ben Gauthier), Hope (Volkan Girgin), and Make a Wish, Benóný! (Katla Sólnes).... more

A kaleidoscopic lens on our world today: Bogotá Story (Esteban Pedraza), Hair Care (Fatima Wardy), Night Ride from LA (Martin Gerigk), Blue Hour (J.D. Shields), Living Dictionary: American Sign Language (Ciella Sfirri and Laura Garber), Two One Two (Shira Avni), and The Looming Cloud (Matthew Tyler).... more

A new type of sports hero is born in this fast-paced comedy from the writer-director of The Sandman (FFDC 2012), Unlikely Heroes (FFDC 2015), and Bonjour Switzerland (FFDC 2024). After losing his employer's money on what should have been a sure bet, sad-sack high school teacher Balz Näf needs to replace the funds pronto. Taking inspiration from the streaker ... more

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government is determined to fight communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world's most influential art exhibition, becomes a proving ground in 1964. Alice Denney, Washington insider and friend of the Kennedys, recommends Alan Solomon, an ambitious curator making waves with trailblazing art, to organize the U.S. ... more

The Teacher is set and was evocatively filmed in the Occupied West Bank. High school English teacher (and clandestine resistance activist) Basem (Saleh Bakri) is still wounded from a past family tragedy brought on by the occupation. He mentors one of his students, Adam, who endured his own loss due to settler violence, counseling him in order to avoid prison ... more

In 1935, Antoni Benaiges is hired as a teacher in a small, isolated village in Burgos, Spain. There, he establishes an intense relationship with his students, a group of young boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12, to whom he makes a promise: to take them to see the sea for the first time in their lives. Seventy-five years later, Ariadna, the granddaughter ... more

When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. Inspired by the real-life experience of writer-director Josh Margolin's own centenarian grandmother, Thelma puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible, aiming the spotlight ... more

In this uproarious, clever comedy, Sarah and Tom, a financially strained couple, face unexpected chaos when an uninvited guest, Jessica, mysteriously passes away during their dinner party. Faced with the daunting task of concealing Jessica's untimely demise, Sarah and Tom, along with friends Richard and Beth, embark on a hilarious scheme to maintain the illusion ... more

In the smoky, stylish setting of 1960s British crime, Arthur Morel, a reserved undertaker, finds himself drawn into a dangerous game when he agrees to dispose of bodies for a local gangster. What starts as a tempting offer quickly spirals out of control as Arthur becomes entangled in a web of danger and deceit. With retirement on the horizon and his life in ... more

Set in France during the Napoleonic Wars, Widow Clicquot tells the true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (1777–1866), the "Grande Dame of Champagne" who, at the age of 20, became Madame Clicquot after marrying the scion of a winemaking family. Although their marriage was arranged, a timeless love blossomed between Barbe-Nicole (Haley Bennett) and her poetic, ... more