We’re now 16 – officially in the throes of adolescence.

And in many ways, this year’s slate of films encompasses all the turbulence of adolescence – the coming out, the growing up, the running away, the coming back, the emerging sense of self, and most importantly – the ability to find love and happiness in your own skin.

Along with growing up comes an eagerness to try new things.

• Opening and closing night parties are under the stars with a fantastic view of DC’s skyline from the Ellington Apartment rooftop terrace. For more information:
  The Opening Night Party and Film
  The Closing Night Party and Film
  
  
• Women’s Brunch with a Latin theme at Alero Restaurant, just steps away from Lincoln Theatre.
  
  
• A partnership with Alero Restaurant, this year’s “Fest Central.”
  
  
• Artistic growth in a relationship with Landmark’s E Street Cinema. We’ll bring you more films from around the world and present them with state-of-the-art technology and stadium seating.
  
  
• Our new Executive Director, Margaret Murray. Previously Executive Director of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Margaret brings One In Ten and Reel Affirmations both experience and a new perspective.

We’re eager for you to see the new and to renew the old. Have a wonderful festival.

New venue, new ideas, new visions

The Landmark Theatres have been the beacon of new cinema in the metropolitan DC area – unafraid to challenge theater goers to think differently.

Reel Affirmations also takes the responsibility of challenging our audience to step outside the bounds of typical GLBT cinema and to expand the way they look at film.

The offerings during the five days of RA16 at Landmark’s E Street Cinema are meant to provide outstanding and interesting stories told in unique ways. For RA16’s films at Landmark we’ve found thought-provoking works that often leave you to make your own conclusions — no spoon feeding a neat, tidy ending wrapping up everything. These are films that show the totality of who we are and the experiences that we share.

From the experimentation of speaking directly to the camera in Looking For Cheyenne, to the fantastical poisonous tree frogs in Whispering Moon to the coming-of-age story of A Summer Day the films tend to challenge the status quo, but not in a “way out there” sort of way, but more of redefining our thought process on GLBT cinema.

This year, take a chance on the line-up at the E Street cinema and find a few gems sure to be talked about long after closing night.

— Joe Bilancio, Programs Director