FilmFest DC Returns with a New Home and a Global Lineup of Stories
*Lead image: FilmFest DC presents Grand Finale. Directed by Sigurjon Kjartansson (Iceland). Photo courtesy of Picture Tree International
FilmFest DC is back for its 39th year, offering a wide-ranging lineup of films from around the world. Running from April 24 to May 4, the festival features 63 films from 36 countries and continues to reflect the city’s appetite for diverse, thought-provoking cinema.
This year marks a change in venue following the recent closure of Landmark’s E Street Cinema. Most screenings will now take place at Regal Gallery Place (701 7th Street NW), keeping the festival rooted in downtown DC while expanding its reach through additional community programming across the city.
FilmFest DC is generally curated around broad themes; The 2025 program includes categories such as World View (international cinema), Justice Matters (social issues), Trust No One (thrillers), Global Rhythms (music), and The Lighter Side (comedies), along with a selection of Shorts.
Opening night will be held at the Embassy of France and features The Marching Band, a French film that won the Audience Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival. A discussion with longtime local film critic Arch Campbell and a reception will follow.
The festival will wrap up on May 4 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library with the Icelandic comedy Grand Finale, followed by a closing reception on the library’s rooftop.
Several films in this year’s lineup have already made the rounds at major international festivals. From Cannes, audiences can see Souleymane’s Story and Visiting Hours (both from France), while selections from Venice include Stranger Eyes (Indonesia/Taiwan), Aicha (Tunisia), and Yalla Parkour (Palestine). Other notable titles include Monsieur Aznavour, a biopic about the French singer Charles Aznavour starring Tahar Rahim, and Black Tea, a new film from Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako set in China. Last Breath, the latest from Costa Gavras, features Kad Merad and Charlotte Rampling in lead roles.
On the nonfiction side, the program includes political and personal documentaries. The Last Republican looks at former Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s decision to leave the GOP, while BORDERLAND: The Line Within explores the business behind immigration policy.
As in past years, the festival makes space for DC stories and filmmakers as well. The DC4Reel series includes The Dalai Lama’s Gift, a reflection on the Tibetan leader’s 1981 visit to the U.S.; The Most Beautiful Deaths in the World, a documentary about Salvadoran artists in Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant; and Salad Days, a look back at DC’s punk scene in the 1980s.
The festival also celebrates the 30th anniversary of Arabian Sights, its longstanding showcase of Arab cinema. This year’s lineup includes Disorder (Lebanon), Fez Summer 55 (Morocco), and Aicha (Tunisia). Palestinian perspectives are front and center in Happy Holidays, set in Haifa, and Yalla Parkour, directed by D.C.-based filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter, who explores identity and movement through the story of a parkour athlete in Gaza.
In addition to screenings at traditional venues, FilmFest DC will again hold Movies Under the Stars at The Wharf, showing the Argentine film Lion’s Heart. The Impact Project will bring filmmakers into DC public schools, and WETA and WHUT will present “FilmFest DC Select,” a broadcast collection of local works.
Many screenings will include post-film Q&As and discussions with directors, writers, and performers. Tickets went on sale April 4, and the full schedule is available at filmfestdc.org.
