As the nation's capital, a seat of international power, and a theater of political intrigue, Washington, D.C. is one of the most filmed cities in the world. Even people who have never been to the city are familiar with many of its sites, monuments, and important buildings. Movies play a huge role in shaping this familiarity. Numerous films have featured famous D.C. locations like the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, and the National Mall.
Part of the city's ubiquity in film is that, unlike other cities, Washington, D.C. is difficult to fake. Often, movies set in cities like New York City or Chicago are actually filmed in Los Angeles, or even in international cities such as Toronto or Sydney. In contrast, D.C.'s wealth of instantly recognizable architecture and urban landscapes allows no stand-ins. For this reason, filmmaking has become a substantial contributor to the local economy and an important aspect of the city's culture.
Film history contains hundreds of movies shot wholly or partially in Washington, D.C. From classics such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, All the President's Men, and The Exorcist to more recent films like Thirteen Days, Syriana, and The Good Shepherd, the city has served as both the setting and the shooting location for successful and enduring movies.
Understanding the city's importance as a filming location, the D.C. Film Commission has made it an attractive working location for film and television production companies. Over the last two decades, the commission stepped up its efforts to compete with other locations around the globe, implementing tax incentives and other enticing perks. Because of this, the number of film productions in D.C. has exploded in the 21st century. On any given day, you're almost certain to find at least a few major film or television productions operating in the city. So, along with D.C.'s multitude of well-known political figures, don't be surprised if you run into a few Hollywood stars.
Bolstering its reputation as a film-friendly town, the city hosts an international film festival called Filmfest D.C. Taking place each spring, the festival features ten days of movies from all over the world, including such far-flung countries as New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, South Africa, and Denmark. For a visiting film buff, taking in the breadth and variety of the festival's offerings is a great way to enrich your understanding of global cinema. Plus, in many cases, Filmfest D.C. is the only chance for American viewers to catch movies that won't receive theatrical runs elsewhere in the country.
In addition to viewing exciting international films, attendees of Filmfest D.C. also get to experience several of the city's movie theaters, all located in Northwest D.C. From small art-houses to huge multiplexes, all of the theaters are accessible by the Metro. Following some of the screenings, attendees can stick around for question and answer sessions with filmmakers. At the end of the festival, the public may also attend the awards ceremony.
Another major film event held in the city is the D.C. Independent Film Festival. One of the biggest independent film events in the country, the festival takes place every March, featuring local, national, and international feature-length and short films. Whether you're into features, documentaries, animation, or student films, this festival presents a bevy of highly original and creative works.
One of the things that sets the D.C. Independent Film Festival apart from other similar events is its active engagement with the D.C.-area film community. Alongside movies from well-known independent directors, the festival screens work from local filmmakers. In addition, aspiring filmmakers can attend informative seminars held by the festival. Through panel discussions with experts in the field, attendees can expand their knowledge of the film industry's inner workings.
Other annual film festivals in Washington, D.C. include the D.C. Shorts Film Festival; Reel Affirmations (an international gay and lesbian film festival); and the Washington Jewish Film Festival.
Of course, if you're not in town during one of these festivals, you may simply want to catch a movie at a local theater. D.C. offers many easily accessible movie theaters. For big-budget Hollywood films, the city's several large multiplexes show all of the current blockbusters. If you enjoy independent and foreign cinema, the centrally-located E Street Cinema plays films that can be difficult to catch in smaller towns. In walking distance from the Metro, this theater also serves gourmet coffee and locally made confections.
For a different movie-going experience, head to one of the city's two IMAX theaters. The Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater, at the National Museum of Natural History, specializes in exciting 3-D nature and animal films. At the National Air and Space Museum, the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater shows adventurous 3-D films about space, technology, and flight. Especially for kids, seeing an IMAX movie is a thrilling sensory experience.
Washington, D.C. has been immortalized on film many times over the years. Travelers can enjoy atttending one of D.C.'s film festivals or movie theaters, or just stroll the city to marvel at the larger-than-life locales featured in its starring roles on screen.
Washington DC has an active Arts and Entertainment scene.
