That sudden, crisp feeling in the air can only mean one thing: the doldrums of one of the worst summer movie seasons in history are mercifully over. DCist suggests you celebrate fall by checking out a few of the many, many sharp looking film festivals starting this week.
>> The gimmick is fairly straight forward — Filmmaking teams from cities all over the country compete to see who can make the best film, from script to screen, in just 2 days (although this year they upped the ante by arming all teams with HD cameras). The 48 Hour Film Project has selected 11 short comedies from among its competitors for “Funny Films Made Fast,” to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief. At the E Street Cinema this Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets here.
>> Ongoing through Oct. 3, the Washington Latin American Film Festival at the AFI Silver is bringing filmmakers from all over the Spanish-speaking world to D.C. to share their work. DCist checked out a powerful documentary about Nicaragua, Along The Pathways, as a part of the fest last weekend (though the accompanying shorts left a little to be desired) and we’re also hoping to catch Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll’s Whisky, from Uruguay (Thurs. at 7 p.m. & Sat. at 6:20 p.m.), which got a lot of buzz at Cannes.
>> The recently restored Gala Theatre season has just begun, and along with it they’ve begun projecting Hispanic films in the space on Tuesdays and classic Hollywood flicks on Wednesdays. DCist went to the first screening in the series last week, and while the management still had a few kinks to work out (no staff at the ticket counter, WAY too cold A/C), we certainly applaud the idea of cheap ($5) screenings in a place that serves beer. Tonight is Michael Crichton’s Westworld at 7 p.m. Check out the schedule for what’s in store for the future.
>> Friday and Saturday are going to be all about the DC Underground Film Festival at the Goethe-Institute. Many of this year’s selections intrigue us, but if we had to pick just one of the $6 programs, we’re thinking Program 4, on Friday at 10:55 p.m., which includes a documentary about “billboard bandit” Ron English, a flash animation short made by an 8-year-old kid, and Suss, described only as “an experimental film made entirely out of candy.” Mmm. Candy.
>> Mudang: Reconciliation Between the Living and the Dead is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Freer Gallery as part of the ongoing Korean Film Festival, D.C. Apparently, there’s some real footage of animal sacrifice and mutulation in this doc about Shaminism, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.
>> The National Geographic All Roads Film Project starts Thursday, Sept. 29 and runs through the weekend. Billed as a multimedia event that is attempting to bring stories and voices of indigenous and under-represented cultures to the forefront, it includes a small selection of short and feature films, a still photography exhibit, an art market, and a panel discussion.
Upcoming: The Asian Pacific American Film Festival as well as the Amnesty International Film Festival start Oct. 6, both the Reel Affirmations Film Festival and the Georgetown Film Festival kick off Oct. 13, and the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Film Festival bows on Oct. 28.
