Celebrating Sikh Culture At the Kennedy Center

On Saturday at the Kennedy Center, the Kaur Foundation, a Maryland-based group promoting awareness and education about the Sikh religion and culture, presents the Spinning Wheel Film Festival, featuring documentaries, features and animated films intended to celebrate and inform the public about Sikhs. After each of the three groups of movies, filmmakers and cast members will discuss their films.

The first session (from 10:30 to 1) includes educational films by the FBI and Department of Justice, as well as films about notable people and events in Sikh history. Intelligence analyst Sunjeet Randhawa, who appears in the FBI's "Sikhs Help Protect America," will speak, as will director Sandeep Singh, who made "On Common Ground" for the Justice Department. Also, twin sisters, artists and filmmakers Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh will talk about "1984," their film exploring artistic responses to the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in New Delhi.

The second session (from 2:30 to 5) features children's films, and panelists include "Saka Sirhind" director Narindra Singh and "The Peace Tree" director Mitra Sen. The three films in the third session (from 6:30 to 9) are Safina Uberoi's "My Mother India," about an Australian woman married to a Sikh man; "Acting Our Age," by "Bend It Like Beckham" director Gurinder Chadha; and "Runaway Grooms," by documentary filmmaker Ali Kazimi, who will lead a discussion afterward.

Each session is $30 for adults, $15 for ages 10 and younger; all-day passes are $70, $35 for children. For tickets and information, visit http://www.spinningwheeldc.org or http://www.kennedy-center.org.

Lunafest

On Wednesday at Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington), the Luna bar snack food company and exercise company Stroller Strides will sponsor Lunafest, a touring festival of films by, for and about women with a 90-minute program of nine short films from around the world, most of which are directed or produced by women.

Films include the experimental "Top of the Circle"; the documentary "Kylie Goldstein -- All-American," about a 6-year-old girl adopted from China; and the animated "Agricultural Report," about a happy cow. The evening kicks off at 6 with a wine tasting and live jazz music. The screening starts at 7:30.

Tickets are $10; proceeds benefit organizations fighting breast cancer and postpartum depression. Call 703-486-2345 for more information.

For tickets, visit http://www.lunabar.com/lunafest or e-mail jlungren@strollerstrides.net.