A still from Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, which played at last year’s Filmfest DC.

Each year, Filmfest DC hosts its annual preview luncheon for members of the media to introduce the program. And each year, the festival’s director, Tony Gittens, enthusiastically and jovially gushes about the slate of foreign films and indies he and his team are excited about, in an attempt to get us to write favorable reviews.

However, last year’s luncheon was a more somber affair: The 28th edition of FilmfestDC was to be its last. Due to the loss of grant-funding, Gittens said he didn’t think the festival could afford to come back after 2014. And so we said au revoir to the long-running local film festival.

But lo and behold, Filmfest DC is back, announcing earlier this week that the 29th edition of the festival will take place from April 16th to the 26th. That leaves a big question: How?

“People were sending us money, $100 here, $1000, $60,” Gittens tells DCist after Filmfest DC announced they were done last year. “None of [that] was going to take us over the financial problem, but it did mean something to us.

Filmfest DC’s budget, which, typically, is comprised from ticket sales and a large grant from the University of the District of Columbia, was slashed last year when they lost that grant due to sweeping budget cuts at UDC. With a $250,000 shortfall, it all seemed hopeless for Gittens.

“We were pretty sure it was going to be the last one last year and we were ready to pack it up,” Gittens says.

But the community of supporters inspired Gittens to reevaluate their budget and figure out how to make it work. Gittens says those on salary for the fest took cuts while some were paid as “consultants” agreed to work for free or for “significantly less” money in order to try and keep Filmfest DC alive. Additionally, Gittens says that some of the fest’s longtime funders and foundations who’ve donated stepped up and offered more money.

“I’m kind of surprised, frankly, that so many people were so enthusiastic to keep us going,” Gittens says. “So that kind of encouraged so to sit down and say ‘OK, what can we do here?'”

Gittens emphasizes that the lowered budget—he estimates they lost about $70,000-$100,00 in funding from the UDC grant—doesn’t mean a watered down festival this year, but it does mean they had to cut back on some of their expenses to operate the fest, in addition to salary cuts. There won’t be as many international filmmakers visiting to present their films, for instance, but Gittens promises a strong festival nonetheless.

“We talked about it and are committed to keeping the core of the festival, otherwise it’d make no sense for us to do it if it was watered down,” he says.

This also means that the number of venues Filmfest DC screenings will take place in will be reduced. He says that the core theaters will be E Street Cinema (with more screenings showing fest films than in year’s past) and the AMC Mazza Gallerie in Friendship Heights. Though the lineup has yet to be announced, Gittens says he’s excited by the films they’re in talks to secure for the fest.

Although Filmfest DC was able to hang on for one more year, its future is still as unknown as the ending of Inception. Gittens has found the money to keep it going for 2015, but that by no means Filmfest DC is saved for good.

“I’m hesitant to talk about the future because this time last year, I was sure this was it, so I’ve learned my lesson,” he says. “We think we have enough and we’re going to take it one year at a time. I think we’re going to be fine.”