The crisp air, knit scarves, cardigans and warm autumn lattes are incomplete without gathering with loved ones to enjoy fall films. This fall, the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) community will host a plethora of accessible film-related events.
Ghibli Film Festival:
Whether it is slow dancing in the sky, riding atop a broomstick to a quaint ocean town or befriending a mystical girl from the sea, the Ghibli Film Festival transports audiences to the fantastical worlds of director Hayao Miyazaki. Over the course of a year, the Ghibli Film Festival reintroduces Miyazaki’s greatest works to the big screen. For the upcoming autumn season, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Pom Poko and The Tale of Princess Kaguya can be watched in theaters nationwide.
“Studio Ghibli is so unique because […] all of their animations are hand drawn and Hayao Miyazaki sticks with a strict no CGI philosophy,” senior Zara Khan said. “It makes you so immersed in the experience–the textures, the colors, the imagery–it’s beautiful.”
The enthralling worldbuilding of Ghibli Studio movies comes to life with the revival of these movies on the silver screens.
“I like to go to the Ghibli Film Festival screenings at [my local movie theater] with my family. It’s always such an enjoyable experience,” junior Leo Gates said. “It’s always surreal to see the attention to detail with the watercolor backgrounds mixed with digital animations in the films. The fact that they hand draw each individual frame and the way that they are so meticulous and unique is so different from any other studio, and I think that’s what makes it appealing to a lot of people.”
Aside from their breathtaking visuals, fans of Studio Ghibli movies also enjoy the heartfelt storytelling, deeper themes and messages captured in the films.
“Being in a room full of people who go out of their way to watch the Ghibli classics echoes the fact that so many people appreciate and love authentic storytelling, which is refreshing,” Gates said. “It brings me so much comfort and reminds me of how powerful Ghibli films and Miyazaki’s worldbuilding can be.”
The Ghibli Film Festival is the perfect escapade to forget the worries of the bustling everyday and to be transported to a fantasy world, enchanted by the unique and moving stories of Miyazaki. Visit this link to see Ghibli Film Festival screenings near the area.
Unhushed Film Festival:
The Unhushed film festival will commence for the first time at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (MLK Library), on Oct. 13 to celebrate emerging filmmakers. True to the themes of freight, whimsicalness and mystery associated with Halloween and the month of October, the event will feature short films belonging to horror, fantasy, Southern Gothic and Afrofuturistic subgenres.
The festival will showcase five different films that all feature Black female protagonists. At the event, the films will be presented on the grand screen of the MLK Library theater and host a Q&A session with the filmmakers after individual screenings. The festival will also present networking opportunities for those interested in the film industry.
One of the works to be presented is Victorine, a short film directed by Lunise Gerin about grappling with a Haitian-American dual identity and deeper messages regarding culture and heritage, as well as the current Haitian displacement crisis. The film was recently showcased at the Columbia University film festival.
However, the film festival will also feature more traditionally Halloween-esque horror films.
DeadHead follows the story of a disillusioned woman in a patriarchal society who is pricked by a sharp cocoon, exposing her to a mysterious substance. Thereafter, strange incidents begin occurring at her workplace and the protagonist unleashes her rage and plots revenge. DIrected by Virginia “Gina” Powers Hendry, DeadHead will be screened at UnHushed alongside another one of her short films Gaslighter.
Other works to be showcased include HAG., a queer Southern Gothic film by director Jay Najeeah, and Benediction, a Southern Gothic horror by director Zandashé Brown.
The festival is an inaugural film competition and audiences will be invited to vote on winners. This year, the theme of the films will revolve around “blowback, an unforeseen and unwanted effect, result, or set of repercussions,” as outlined by the submission guidelines.
The UnHushed Film Festival will be an exciting way to step out of the comfort zone to expose oneself to new genres and works and appreciate and support rising filmmakers.
CiNoMatic:
Under the comfort of the setting sun, the D.C. Neighborhood of Massachusetts Avenue (NoMa) has been hosting the CiNoMatic event since September. Fully embracing autumn themes of transitions in life, comfort and simple pleasures, the event features popular romantic comedies and encourages people to gather with friends, bring blankets, folding chairs and plenty of snacks to the viewing.
CiNoMatic is also a perfect opportunity to support local DMV small businesses. During the screenings, NoMa invites various food trucks offering a diverse assortment of cuisines that attendees can buy from as they enjoy the films.
However, due to recent weather conditions, CiNoMatic has canceled and rescheduled numerous screenings.
Senior Waad El-Hadi attended the Oct. 2 CiNoMatic screening of the Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler iconic romcom 50 First Dates with a friend. However, due to the forecast of rain, the screening was canceled and has not been rescheduled.
“I was in Washington, D.C. and made plans with a friend to watch the movie as a wholesome way to end the short school week,” El-Hadi said. “Although it was a bit disappointing that the screening was canceled, the setup on the field was promising with a large turnout and the beautiful setting sun. I would love to attend once the screening is rescheduled.”
CiNoMatic will continue to be held every Wednesday at 6:55pm, for the next three weeks. They will be screening Sleepless in Seattle (Oct. 9), Love & Basketball (Oct. 16) and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (Oct. 23).
