[Schedule at a Glance Link]

A LOVE STORY…IN MILK
The path of true love is never smooth… especially if you’re a bottle of milk. Follow these star-crossed lovers from factory to fridge and beyond. (Romance, 2m, UK)

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AIR 

When all the air on the planet instantly becomes un-breathable, two people find each other as they struggle to survive. (Drama, 14m, UK)

[VIEW TRAILER] * World Premiere *
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ATHENAEUM FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTS
Featuring: TOUCHED BY A LAWYER, AIR, A LOVE STORY…IN MILK, SECRET CLUB, ATROZ (AWFUL), GRANT ST. SHAVING COMPANY and GOD AND VODKA.

Featuring: DECEMBER 15th; COME WANDER WITH ME; and SHAKESPEARE HIGH

AUSENTES (THE ABSENT ONES)
A look at the emotional relationships between mothers and children separated by immigration, and the legal barriers that prevent them from reuniting. (Doc, 36m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

CANCERPANTS
Spirited 36-year-old Ro Poulson’s battles to survive stage III breast cancer. With her partner Julie, they engage friends and family in their journey. (Doc, 80m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

CHECKERS AT 9TH & S
Saturday afternoons, the checkers club members gather for camaraderie, trash talking, and competitive checkers playing. Meet the members and become an honorary member of the club for the day. (Documentary, 10m, USA)

CINEMA LIBERTAD
Two young friends give life back to the old and abandoned Cinema Libertad. With the use of a ray of light, they tell stories to the people living inside the old movie theater. (Drama, 25m, El Salvador) [VIEW TRAILER]

CLOSE TIES: TYING ON A NEW TRADITION
A rite-of-passage ceremony that connects teenage boys with male role models. The ceremony at this New Orleans barbershop was created as a way to strengthen communities. (Doc, 30m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

COME WANDER WITH ME
While taking pictures, a photographer notices a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair. She whispers something in his ear…then disappears. (Drama, 6m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
* World Premiere *

DECEMBER 15TH
The holiday season in New York City is captured by two young photographers who have a chance encounter. (Romance, 4m, USA)
* World Premiere *

DES INDIENS COMME NOUS 

A group of French people share an obsession for everything Native American. Their big dream is to travel to the U.S. and meet some real Native Americans. (Documentary, 55m, France)                * Winner of the Jury Prize *        [VIEW TRAILER] * East Coast Premiere *

DOWN IN NUMBER 5
A terminally ill coal miner struggles to find refuge for his 40-year old son with Down Syndrome. Based on a true story. (Drama, 17m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

DREAMING NICARAGUA
A moving portrayal of five children submerged in poverty in Nicaragua. This film witnesses the courage and dignity of the human spirit while facing a dark side of our modern world. (Doc, 60m, Nicaragua, Spain, USA) [VIEW TRAILER] * U.S. Premiere *
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ED HARDY TATTOO THE WORLD
An artist’s journey, his unexpected rise to cult status and his influence on pop culture. With one foot in the world of tattooing and the other planted in the fine arts, each informed the other. (Doc, 86m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
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FOR AARON: THE DOCUMENTARY
A film about coping with the death of a best friend by honoring life, not loss. Follow two friends as they embark on the greatest journey of their young lives as they cycle across America. (Doc, 111m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

GESTACION
Entangled in an emotional whirlwind of first love, two teenagers face the consequences of their carelessness. (Drama, 91m, Costa Rica)  

[VIEW TRAILER]

GIL’S BROTHER
A young man dreams of escaping the dead-end suburbs where he grew up, but on the night of his cousin’s wedding, he discovers that he must first stand up to his abusive father to save his younger brother. (Drama, 13m, USA)

[VIEW TRAILER] * World Premiere *

GOD AND VODKA
A lyrical drama about a writer’s final attempt to capture the words and moments, both touching and comedic, of a relationship that ended all too soon. (Romance, 28m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

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GRANT ST SHAVING COMPANY
An Indian widower visits his workaholic daughter in New York. When he breaks his favorite razor, a first anniversary present from his late wife, he sets off on his own to find the shop they visited long ago. (Drama, 14m, USA)

HIDDEN BOOKS: THE ART OF KUMI KORF
The work of book artist, printmaker and painter Kumi Korf is illuminated in this captivating documentary. Born in Japan, Kumi’s work can be found in the most prestigious libraries. (Doc, 28m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
* Virginia Premiere *

IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
After years of getting to know her neighbors of Chirilagua and building relationships, Dawnielle Miller now runs after-school and Bible study programs in the community. (Doc, 7m, USA)

JOUEUSE (QUEEN TO PLAY)
Middle-aged chambermaid Hélène’s newfound obsession with the game of chess leads her to seek the tutelage of a reclusive American expat, transforming both of their lives in the process. (Drama, 97m, France) [VIEW TRAILER]

LATZUF (FLOATING)
Reut’s parents don’t know how to make her lose weight, so they send her to a children’s ward for eating disorders. There, Reut meets Lilach, her opposite, a skinny and pale anorexic. (Drama, 30m, Israel) [VIEW TRAILER] 
* World Premiere *

LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK
Faced with his wife’s desire to become a mother, a filmmaker goes on a quest to find out how people decide to have kids and identify the source of his hesitation. (Doc, 21m, Mex./USA)

                                                                 [VIEW TRAILER] * D.C. Premiere *

MASONIC MEMORIAL SUNDAY SHOWCASE
Featuring: WEEP LIKE A WATERWHEEL and WEAPON OF WAR. Women and Peace Panel discussion to follow.

MISS SOUTH PACIFIC: BEAUTY & THE SEA
Addressing the impact of climate change on their countries, the contestants implore viewers to reduce carbon emission lest their islands be lost to rising seas. (Documentary, 39m, USA) 

[VIEW TRAILER] * East Coast Premiere *

OK BUCKAROOS
In the ‘60s, he was a street singer. In the ‘70s he led a musical movement. In the ‘80s he walked away from the recording industry. This is the life, music and good times of Jerry Jeff Walker. (Documentary, 80m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
* East Coast Premiere *

ONE PUNCH AT A TIME
Asia Stevenson had a difficult childhood. But the 18-year old found love, friendship, and family at the Headbangers Boxing Club in Washington D.C. (Documentary, 8m, USA)
* World Premiere *

PROFILE
Caro is approached by a man who seems to know her. When he convinces her to have coffee with him, she has no idea of the surprises the encounter will bring. (Drama, 7m, Germany)
* D. C. Premiere *

PROTEKTOR
A young married couple finds themselves on opposite sides of the conflict after the Nazi occupation learns that the wife, a film actress, is of Jewish descent. (Drama, 98m, Czech Republic) [VIEW TRAILER]
* D.C. Premiere *

RAPT
A rich industrialist is brutally kidnapped. As he physically and mentally degenerates in captivity, his double life threatens to emerge during negotiations of the 50 million euro ransom. (Thriller, 125m, France) [VIEW TRAILER]
* D. C. Premiere *

SECRET CLUB
Kyle is bored with high school and its equally boring clubs until he hears about the mysterious Secret Club. Directed by 16-year old Ben Kadie. (Comedy, 3m, USA)

SEPARATION ANXIETY
Two childhood friends come to terms with their once-innocent relationships as they grieve the loss of their best friend and the mystery of his death. Was it an accident, or did Bailey commit suicide? (Drama, 94m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

SHAKESPEARE HIGH
Students compete in the 90th SoCal Shakespeare Festival. Featuring Kevin Spacey, Mare Winningham, Val Kilmer and Richard Dreyfuss. (Documentary, 88m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
* D. C. Premiere *

SOMETHING VENTURED
Behind some of the world’s most revolutionary companies are a handful of men who, through timing, foresight, and a lot of luck, saw opportunity where others did not; these are the original venture capitalists. (Documentary, 84m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER] * D. C. Premiere *

TAILOR MADE IN AMERICA: THE LIFE OF GEORGE DE PARIS
The story of a French immigrant who worked his way up from homelessness in Washington, D.C. to become a tailor. George de Paris’ custom suits have adorned every U.S. President since Lyndon Baines Johnson. (Doc, 8m, USA)
* World Premiere *

THE FAIRY
A woman who claims to be a fairy grants a hotel clerk three wishes. The clerk asks for a scooter and an endless supply of gas, but what he really wants is the love of the fairy herself. (Comedy, 93m, Belgium) [VIEW TRAILER]
* D. C. Premiere *

THE GENERAL
Johnny loves Annabelle Lee and his train “The General.” When Civil War breaks out, he is turned down for service. When Union spies capture The General with Annabelle on board, Johnny must rescue both his loves. (Comedy, 107m, USA)

THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH
The transformation of the American city in the decades following World War II, through the lens of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe public housing development and the words of the St. Louis residents who called it home. (Documentary, 83m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

TOUCHED BY A LAWYER
Phil has a phenomenal ability, but one that — practically speaking — seems all but useless. That is, until an accidental encounter convinces him that he may have a chance to be a real superhero. (Comedy, 5m, USA)

UNFINISHED SPACES
Fidel Castro strove to create a new language of Cuban architecture with his National Arts Schools. This is the story of the rise and fall of an architectural experiment and the efforts of its restoration. (Doc, 93m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER] * D.C. Premiere *

VOICES FROM MARIEL
Facing political oppression, 125,000 Cubans fled their homes through the port of Mariel and sailed to the U.S. 30 years later, one man returns to the country that rejected him.  

                                                                 (Doc, 79m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]
* East Coast Premiere *

WEAPON OF WAR
During the decades of conflict in the Democratic Rep. of Congo hundreds of thousands of women were brutally raped. Capt. Basima works in Congo’s army and urges the soldiers to change. (Doc, 58m, The Netherlands) [VIEW TRAILER]

WEEP LIKE A WATERWHEEL
The Afghanistan Women Council was founded in 1986 to provide women education in health, literacy, and job skills. Today it graduates over 400 women every year. (Doc, 14m, Afghanistan) * World Premiere *

WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM
Enticed by a $20,000 signing bonus and college tuition support, Dominic and Cole join the National Guard. The young men from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are sent to Afghanistan to serve their duty. (Doc, 91m, USA) [VIEW TRAILER]

WISH ME AWAY
An intimate look at Chely Wright, the first gay country music star to come out. After a lifetime of hiding, she shatters cultural and religious stereotypes, and exposes her truth to her family and fans. (Documentary, 87m, USA) 

[VIEW TRAILER]