2021 Made in Hong Kong Festival

One of the great things about living in DC is that so many of our cultural institutions are free to the public. This includes some of the Smithsonian’s special events, like the annual Made in Hong Kong film festival hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art. The festival is virtual this year due to the pandemic, but admission is still free! You can sign up for tickets to virtual screenings here. Some of the films are simulcast, but most will become available on various dates in July. After you purchase passes, you’ll have anywhere from three to seven days to watch each film for free!

This year the festival is celebrating the filmography of Ann Hui. Her forty-five year career spans mediums, genres, and eras, and three of her films — The Golden Era, Keep Rolling, and A Simple Life — will be available for free through the virtual festival starting July 9.

Made in Hong Kong Film Festival at the Freer/Sackler

Looking for something FREE to do while avoiding the scorching temperatures? The Freer/Sacker Gallery is currently hosting its annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival. This event, which runs until August 18th, features the following films: Project Gutenberg: Sunday, August 4, 2 pm The Leakers: Friday, August 9, 7 pm Master Z: Ip Man Legacy: … Continue reading “Made in Hong Kong Film Festival at the Freer/Sackler”

Looking for something FREE to do while avoiding the scorching temperatures? The Freer/Sacker Gallery is currently hosting its annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival. This event, which runs until August 18th, features the following films:

Project Gutenberg: Sunday, August 4, 2 pm

The Leakers: Friday, August 9, 7 pm

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy: Sunday, August 11, 2 pm

Full Contact: Friday. August 16, 7 pm

Police Story: Sunday, August 18, 2 pm

Free Passes — See the First Four Episodes of Amazon’s “Homecoming”

Attention movie and tv lovers! The Media Services Desk has two free passes available for a screening of the first four episodes of “Homecoming,” a new show from Amazon Prime. The screening is scheduled for 7pm on October 29th. If you’d like to claim these passes, please present your AU ID at the Media Services … Continue reading “Free Passes — See the First Four Episodes of Amazon’s “Homecoming””

Attention movie and tv lovers! The Media Services Desk has two free passes available for a screening of the first four episodes of “Homecoming,” a new show from Amazon Prime. The screening is scheduled for 7pm on October 29th. If you’d like to claim these passes, please present your AU ID at the Media Services Desk.

Smithsonian African American Film Festival

One of the great things about living in DC is that we have this incredible city right at our fingertips. Case in point: the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting its first ever African American Film Festival. While you do have to pay to attend a film screening and a … Continue reading “Smithsonian African American Film Festival”

One of the great things about living in DC is that we have this incredible city right at our fingertips. Case in point: the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting its first ever African American Film Festival. While you do have to pay to attend a film screening and a master class, the festival is also hosting a bunch of free events.

You can find more information here. We’ll also be adding the free events to our events calendar.

Films at the Freer|Sackler

This weekend marks the reopening of the Freer|Sackler here in DC. The films shown at this Smithsonian gem are always worthwhile, and there are a few coming up. Check out their website for the lineup: https://www.freersackler.si.edu/events/films/ …if we may be allowed to highlight, here’s the trailer for Neko Atsume House, a film based on the popular … Continue reading “Films at the Freer|Sackler”

This weekend marks the reopening of the Freer|Sackler here in DC. The films shown at this Smithsonian gem are always worthwhile, and there are a few coming up. Check out their website for the lineup: https://www.freersackler.si.edu/events/films/

…if we may be allowed to highlight, here’s the trailer for Neko Atsume House, a film based on the popular app, which will be shown Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 3:30. It’s free!!

 

Disco Film Screenings at the LOC

The Library of Congress just announced their “Bibliodiscotheque” and a whole series of film screenings to go with it!Here are a few disco-themed movies from our collection to get you dancing! The Greasy Strangler (HU DVD 13736): Ronnie runs a disco walking tour of Los Angeles with his adult son Brayden when the appearance of … Continue reading “Disco Film Screenings at the LOC”

The Library of Congress just announced their “Bibliodiscotheque” and a whole series of film screenings to go with it!
Here are a few disco-themed movies from our collection to get you dancing!

  • The Greasy Strangler (HU DVD 13736): Ronnie runs a disco walking tour of Los Angeles with his adult son Brayden when the appearance of a beautiful woman on their tour along with the surfacing of the killer The Greasy Strangler changes their world forever.
  • 54 (HU DVD 12193): Just another kid with big ambitions, Shane O’Shea was like countless others, stuck at the end of the line outside New York’s infamous Studio 54 Disco. But when he finally gets a foot in the door, it doesn’t take him long to experience 54.
  • Saturday Night Fever (HU DVD 3123): Tony is an undereducated Brooklyn teenager who is bored with his daytime job. The highlight of his week is going to the local disco, where he is the king of the dance floor. Tony meets Stephanie at the disco and they agree to dance together in a competition. Stephanie resists Tony’s attempts to romance her, as she aspires to greater things. Gradually, Tony also becomes disillusioned with the life he is leading and he and Stephanie decide to help one another to start afresh.
  • Boogie Nights (HU DVD 8): A film that throws the covers back on California’s adult entertainment industry in the swinging seventies. It’s a touching and often humorous portrait of a most unusual family of filmmakers, brought to dazzling life by an all-star cast and sizzling seventies soundtrack.
  • The Last Days of Disco (HU DVD 3318): Depicts the ’last days’ at a disco palace, where drugs, sex and weirdness ran rampant. Icy Charlotte and demure Alice toil by day as publishing house assistants and by night the two look for romance and entertainment at a premier disco club. But, as the disco is closed, they wonder if disco can ever really be dead?
  • Airplane (HU DVD 6241): An off-the-wall comedy that spoofs airplane disaster flicks. An ex-fighter pilot is forced to take over the control of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning. (Has a disco scene!)
  • Xanadu (HU DVD 6744): Danny, an aging musician who wants to open a nightclub, and Sonny, a young artist, are both searching for inspiration. Kira, a beautiful mythical muse, is brought to earth in order to help both men fulfill their dreams.

And let’s not forget this epic disco scene:

Come check out a movie! You should be dancing…yeah!

See Rings two days early!

There are many, many reasons you might want a break this week. So we have one for you – free passes to see the upcoming movie Rings two days early! The American remake of The Ring came out 15 years ago, back when most people probably had the means to watch a cursed videotape. This … Continue reading “See Rings two days early!”

There are many, many reasons you might want a break this week. So we have one for you – free passes to see the upcoming movie Rings two days early!

The American remake of The Ring came out 15 years ago, back when most people probably had the means to watch a cursed videotape. This time around, it looks like Samara’s video has ended up on YouTube. That’s probably way more efficient for cursing people. Although there are plenty of cursed videos on the internet already.

We have passes to see this movie tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 1st, at 7pm in Friendship Heights. We only have physical passes this time, so you’ll have to swing by the Media Services desk in the library to grab one. As always, keep in mind that advance screenings are intentionally overbooked. Show up early to guarantee a seat.

See The Accountant early and for free, with director Q&A!

We have more passes to see movies in advance this week – with a Q&A with the director! This time around, we have passes for a preview screening of The Accountant, the new Ben Affleck-fronted thriller with a title that doesn’t suggest that all. You’d normally have to wait until this hits theaters to see … Continue reading “See The Accountant early and for free, with director Q&A!”

We have more passes to see movies in advance this week – with a Q&A with the director!

This time around, we have passes for a preview screening of The Accountant, the new Ben Affleck-fronted thriller with a title that doesn’t suggest that all. You’d normally have to wait until this hits theaters to see whether a movie about an accountant could actually be exciting, but you can see it for free on Thursday, October 6th, at 7pm in Friendship Heights. Stick around afterwards for the Q&A with director Gavin O’Connor.

We only have physical copies of these passes, so you’ll need to swing by in person at the Media Serviecs desk to pick these up. As always, remember that these events are intentionally overbooked, so get there as early as you can to ensure that you get a seat.

SOC’s Media that Matter series kicks off with Thank You for Playing

Every semester, SOC’s Media that Matter film series highlights social issues as captured on the screen, from race issues in America to the ethics of food. It’s a very AU film series in the best way, and often, the screening includes a discussion with the filmmakers. Last semester, the series included a screening of Best … Continue reading “SOC’s Media that Matter series kicks off with Thank You for Playing”

Every semester, SOC’s Media that Matter film series highlights social issues as captured on the screen, from race issues in America to the ethics of food. It’s a very AU film series in the best way, and often, the screening includes a discussion with the filmmakers. Last semester, the series included a screening of Best Picture winner Spotlight and an interview with then-Boston Globe editor Martin Barton.

Media that Matter starts again this Wednesday with a screening of Thank You for Playing, a documentary about the development of the video game That Dragon, Cancer – an autobiographical game by Amy and Ryan Green about caring for their infant, who was diagnosed with cancer. That Dragon, Cancer is a raw, emotional experience to play, and Thank You for Playing looks at the people who chose to tell their story through an unexpected medium.

The screening begins at 6pm on Wednesday, September 14th, in the McKinley Building’s Forman Theater; the film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers led by AU Game Lab’s Lindsay Grace.

See Queen of Katwe for free TOMORROW!

One of the great perks of living in a major city is getting to see movies before they come out. This week, we have free passes to see Queen of Katwe, the upcoming biopic about Ugandan chess player Phiona Mutesi, weeks before it hits theaters! The screening is tomorrow, Monday, September 12th, as 7pm in … Continue reading “See Queen of Katwe for free TOMORROW!”

One of the great perks of living in a major city is getting to see movies before they come out. This week, we have free passes to see Queen of Katwe, the upcoming biopic about Ugandan chess player Phiona Mutesi, weeks before it hits theaters! The screening is tomorrow, Monday, September 12th, as 7pm in Friendship Heights.

To redeem your pass, visit SeeItFirst.net and enter the code 625515. You can redeem a pass for one or two people. These screenings are always intentionally overbooked to ensure a full house, so plan to show up early to ensure you get a seat.