2026 DCIFF Annual Forum Schedule
Click through titles for ticketing and more information
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- The Avalon Theatre: 5612 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015
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- The Miracle Theatre: 535 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
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- Regal Gallery Place Theater: 701 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
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- German-American Heritage Museum: 719 Sixth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
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- All screenings are followed by a conversation with cast & crew.
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- Questions? Email dciff.outreach@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm : On the Hill, South Congressional Congress Building, Capitol Hill
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm : STORIES THAT STAND UP: DOC SHORTS PROGRAM #1, The Miracle Theatre
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm : Opening Night Party – EASY DIGGING, Location TBD
8:30 pm – 11:00 pm : EASY DIGGING directed by Marissa Macy ( United States / 2024 / 1 hour 39 mins), The Miracle Theatre
Thursday, February 12, 2026
5:30 pm – 7:45 pm : THE MAGIC LANTERN directed by Eli Brown ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 16 mins ), The Avalon Theatre
8:00 pm – 10:45 pm ARIA: OPERA ON THE EDGE directed by Karen Day ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 30 mins ), The Avalon Theatre
Friday, February 13, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm : SEMINAR — Grantsmanship & Film-Focused Foundations, Arlo Hotel, Studio A
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm : SEMINAR — Film Financing: Strategies for Independent Producers, Arlo Hotel, Studio A
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm : CLINIC — Grants & Financing, Arlo Hotel, Studio A (Sign-up on site, after attendance at both the Admission with ticket from Grant and Financing seminars)
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm : EUGENE O’NEILL’S THE FIRST MAN directed by Hardeep Giani ( United States / 2025 / 2 hours ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm : SPECIAL EVENT — Creating Compelling True Crime & Premiere of the New Hulu Series: The Scream Murder: A True Teen Horror Story, Arlo Hotel, Studio A & B
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm : THE IMMIGRANT’S WIFE directed by Jon Lutz ( United States / 2025 / 52 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
8:30 pm – 11:00 pm : “FRIDAY THE 13TH: UNLUCKY FOR SOME” FILM SHORTS PROGRAM, Regal Gallery Place Theater
9:00 pm – 11:15 pm : AWESOME ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #1, Regal Gallery Place Theater
Saturday, February 14, 2026
10:00 am – 11:45 am : FAMILY WORKSHOP — Lights, Camera… SOUND! A Kids Fun-with-Foley Workshop, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
*** 12:00 pm : FESTIVAL BAR OPENS, German-American Museum ***
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm : SEMINAR — Women Behind the Lens: Directing, Cinematography & Craft, German-American Museum
12:30 pm – 2:15 pm : MERCY AT THE GATES directed by Dan Tarrant ( United States / 2025 / 46 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
1:00 pm – 3:15 pm : CONTACT TRACING directed by Amy Tofte ( United States / 2025 / 90 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm : MASTERCLASS — The Business of Filmmaking with Kirk Wolfinger, German-American Museum
2:15 pm – 4:30 pm : PERSONAL STORIES. INTIMATE DRAMAS. A SHORTS SHOWCASE, Regal Gallery Place Theater
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm : MASTERCLASS — Demystifying Distribution: A Masterclass with Sana Soni, German-American Museum
3:15 pm – 5:45 pm : FOREVER FREE AND THE ILLITERACY PLAYBOOK directed by Dion Johnson ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 36 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater (SOLD OUT, SECOND SCREENING ADDED)
4:15 pm – 5:30 pm : SEMINAR — Voice, Music & Motion: The Sound of Animation, German-American Museum
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm : IS IT LOVE? COMEDY SHORTS PROGRAM, Regal Gallery Place Theater
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm : Animation Happy Hour at the Festival Bar, German-American Museum
5:45 pm – 8:15 pm : CHILD OF DUST directed by Weronika Mliczewska ( Poland / 2025 / 1 hour 30 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
*** 6:30 pm : FESTIVAL BAR CLOSES ***
6:30 pm – 8:45 pm : THE MAGIC LANTERN directed by Eli Brown ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 16 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
8:15 pm – 10:45 pm : VELVET VISION: THE STORY OF JAMES BIDGOOD (AND THE MAKING OF PINK NARCISSUS) directed by Bart Everly ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 37 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
8:45 pm – 11:15 pm : AMAZING ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #2, Regal Gallery Place Theater
Sunday, February 15, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am : SEMINAR — Verticals, Verticals, Verticals: Filmmaking in a Mobile-First World, Apple Store / Carnegie Library
*** 12:30 pm : FESTIVAL BAR OPENS, German-American Museum ***
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm : CHILD OF DUST directed by Weronika Mliczewska ( Poland / 2025 / 1 hour 30 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
12:30 pm – 2:45 pm : AWESOME ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #1, Regal Gallery Place Theater
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm : SEMINAR — Casting: A Creative Force in Filmmaking That Makes or Breaks the Story!, German-American Museum
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm : MASTERCLASS — The Invisible Half of Filmmaking: Challenges in Sound Production by Heidi Gerber-Salins, German-American Museum
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm : FOREVER FREE AND THE ILLITERACY PLAYBOOK directed by Dion Johnson ( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 36 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm : DARA (A PORT HARCOURT LOVE STORY?) directed by Kingsley Bobby Okey-Ejiowhor ( Nigeria / 2025 / 1 hour 59 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm : SEMINAR — Cinematic Worlds: Immersive Sound & Film, German-American Museum
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm HALMEONI directed by Lenny Maréchal ( France / 2025 / 45 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm : Happy Hour at the Festival Bar, German-American Museum
*** 6:00 pm : FESTIVAL BAR CLOSES ***
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm : WEB SERIES PROGRAM, Regal Gallery Place Theater
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm : IS IT LOVE? COMEDY SHORTS PROGRAM, Regal Gallery Place Theater
8:00 pm – 10:30 pm : EASY DIGGING directed by Marissa Macy ( United States / 2024 / 1 hour 39 mins ), Regal Gallery Place Theater
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm : BETWEEN NOISE AND SILENCE: DOC SHORTS PROGRAM #2, Regal Gallery Place Theater
