So you want to do Cannes or Sundance and polish your indie film cred by watching subtitled international films, air kissing Parker Posey, petitioning Clint Eastwood with a script in the men’s room, and fervently weeping in the third row of a theatre—after everyone else has filed out—because the score of that French flick awakened something deep inside that you thought you had lost for good. Hmm—tall order. How about settling for the National Geographic film festival in DC instead?
This week the All Roads Film Project—a program run by the National Geographic—makes its way from LA to the District. The weekend long event takes place from October 3rd to the 5th and will exhibit three types of artistic mediums: film, music and award winning still photography. The mission of the festival is to give a voice to the stories of “indigenous and under represented cultures” on the global stage.
The three day event will display 29 films from different countries and genres including shorts and animation. Don’t worry, the screenplays aren’t about antelope regally running in slow motion through the Serengeti right before a hunter pulls the trigger—instead they spotlight the previously untold and captivating stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds with unconventional perspectives.
The festival kicks off on Friday with a FREE show by the Dusty Philosopher (also known as K’naan) premiering some new material from his upcoming album Troubador. He’ll be joined by Sol Guy and Josh Thome, creators of 4REAL—a television series that takes celebrity guests (think Cameron Diaz, Casey Affleck, Mos Def, Eva Mendez) on adventures around the world to connect with young leaders that are transforming their communities despite their challenging circumstances. 4REAL premieres on the CW channel in America on October 5th.
Producers, international films, explosive shows, award winning photography—all on M Street.
This weekend the Sundance experience might be closer than you think…
National Geographic Society
1600 M Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
