SOURCE: 2018 DC Shorts Film Festival
Press Release
CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF DC SHORTS
FILM FESTIVAL AND SCREENPLAY COMPTETITION
Ten Days of Great Films, Fun Parties, Free Workshops
Washington, DC – DC Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is an award- winning, internationally recognized film festival held every September in Washington, DC. Recognized by MovieMaker Magazine, USAToday, and Washington City Paper Reader’s Poll as one of the best film festivals in the world, DC Shorts champions short films and the filmmakers who create them. DC Shorts believes in the power of short films to democratize filmmaking, permitting diverse voices to be heard from around the globe. It proudly serves to present these voices to vast audiences every year (since 2003) in a welcoming, thought-provoking, and lively multi-day event filled with filmmakers, industry leaders and film-lovers alike. DC Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is a program of DC Film Alliance.
DC Shorts kicks off its 15th anniversary year on Thursday, September 6, and runs through Sunday, September 16, 2018. With filmmakers traveling the globe to attend, an array of festival offerings includes multiple parties capped by the opening weekend City View rooftop soiree, and free workshops and seminars for filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors.
Throughout the ten-day festival, DC Shorts will screen the finest shorts from around the world, with 125 films screened among 18 Official Selection Showcases and 9 themed Special Interest Showcases at venues located around DC. The Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11 Street, NW, is the primary location for screenings.
Official Selection showcases present films that are varied in subject and genre, that are from 2 to 30 minutes in length, and presented in 90-minute programs, with many showcases followed by filmmaker Q&As. This year’s films were selected from more than 1,300 submissions, with the final Official Selections representing 30 countries, and with the distinction of 9 shorts being “World Premieres,” plus 8 North American, 2 U.S., and 30 East Coast premieres. Each of the 9 Special Interest Showcases are themed, with categories including comedy, youth, LGBTQ, animation, documentary, and timely topics, and among the showcase titles are “Thrills & Chills” and “I am Woman.”
The movement within the film industry towards expanding the presence of women behind the camera, in the director’s role, is reflected in a notable milestone for DC Shorts – this year offers more films directed by women than any previous year, with a total of 40 women directors. This highlights the mission of DC Shorts, to champion the art of filmmaking all-inclusively.
“We are honored by the sheer number of quality film submissions this year and are very proud of the tremendous diversity they represent – from countries of origin and generational and gender representation, to genres and subject matter,” said Director of Programming, Joe Bilancio. “This variety of quality enables DC Shorts to provide what the film-lover community seeks – authentic experiences that enrich lives and, through shared revelation, bring us closer together.”
The DC Shorts Screenplay Competition returns with more than 70 submissions, judged by a panel of filmmakers, screenwriters, and critics, who selected six finalists that will be performed in their entirety at table readings. The audience will select the winning screenplay with the filmmaker receiving $2,000 and an automatic entry of their completed film to be screened at a future DC Shorts Film Festival.
No film festival would be complete without top-notch parties, including the City View Party, c
Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased online or at box office. Free events may require registration. Complete details are available on the website.
Single Tickets – Event fees vary from free to $15 per showcase. Parties are from $15 to $25.
Online Film Festival – For those unable to join in-person, the Online Film Festival offers many films to the public accessible through computers, tablets, smartphones and Roku boxes. Access fee is $30.
1317 F ST NW, Suite 920⬧Washington, DC 20004 dcshorts.com⬧facebook @dcshortsfilmfest⬧twitter @DCShorts⬧instagram @DCShorts
elebrating DC Short’s Opening Weekend. This party under the stars atop the
roof deck at Carroll Square includes craft cocktails, noshes, and dancing. Additional
parties include the Filmmaker Welcome Reception, Filmmaker Awards Brunch, and the
Screenplay Competition Screenwriter’s Reception.
All Access Festival Pass – Allows entry into every screening, party, and workshop. It also includes:
• Priority entry and seating for all 11 days of showcase screenings
• Priority entry to all parties
• DC Shorts T-shirt
• Swag bag (supplies last)
• Access to the DC Shorts Online Film Festival
Venue Locations:
• Landmark E Street Cinema – 555 11 Street, NW
• Miracle Theatre – 535 8th Street, SE •
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Social Media
Facebook: /DCShortsFilmFest Instagram: /DCShorts Twitter: @DCShorts
To download film stills, please send an email to media@dcshorts.com for the Dropbox link password. For additional information, interviews, and press passes, please contact Peter Morgan at peter@dcshorts.com.
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Carroll Square Gallery Rooftop – 975 F Street, NW
PEPCO Edison Place Gallery – 702 8th Street, NW
The Lofts At 600 F – 600 F Street, NW
Bar Deco – 717 6th Street, NW
http://festival.dcshorts.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/08/DC-Shorts-Press-Release-Finalx.pdf