Director's Cut

A New Film Festival Puts the Spotlight On Washington's Less-Familiar Faces and Places

Video

Films Showing at Our City Film Festival

The offerings at the day-long screening of D.C.-based documentaries include "The Tivoli: A Neighborhood Landmark Reborn," "Ready to Play," and "Blue Line: Destination Christylez." Director's Cut (Post, Feb. 3, 2008) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/01/ST2008020101510.html

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By Joe Heim

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 3, 2008; Page N01

Offi cial Washington holds few surprises. The city the rest of the world sees, with its museums and institutions all wrapped in tourist-friendly bows, is territory well-trodden. But stray from the manicured Mall into the city's far-flung neighborhoods and oft-bypassed side streets, and suddenly D.C. can seem much less familiar. Not everyone you meet is obsessing about the election or dissecting the minutiae of the latest spending bill. Bureaucratic doublespeak and the hot air of prognosticators give way to neighborly friendliness and even welcome frankness. Here, official Washington evaporates, and the lives and stories of people who call the city home emerge.

A good starting point to immerse yourself in unofficial Washington is the first Our City Film Festival, a day-long screening of locally based documentaries next Sunday at Busboys and Poets. Presented by Yachad ( http://www.yachad-dc.org), a Jewish nonprofit group that focuses on repairing homes for low- and middle-income homeowners in the Washington area, the 11 films introduce a memorable cast of characters, from bike messengers and former dope fiends to U Street barbers and kickball aficionados. The festival is the brainchild of Yachad's Kendra Rubinfeld, 24, who sees it not only as a way to generate interest among young people in her organization's work, but as an opportunity to showcase docs that present aspects of life in the nation's capital that are rarely explored.

"Washington is much more than politicians and bad traffic and monuments," Rubinfeld says. "It's full of subcultures and personalities and interesting groups, and the festival is a way of promoting and encouraging pride in the city. D.C.'s cool, and we want to keep it that way."

Even for longtime Washingtonians who think they know their city well, the festival's films offer revelations. And for residents who operate only in "official" Washington, these docs should be required viewing. Turn to Page 4 to meet four of the directors and find out how you can see all the films.