26th Reel Affirmations at The Gala Hispanic Theatre
Reel Affirmations to screen 26 films from 11 countries
Washington D.C.’s LGBTQ Film Festival, Reel Affirmations, returns to the nation’s capital for its 26th year on Friday, Oct 25. Screenings and events will continue throughout the weekend, ending on Sunday evening, Oct 27. The film festival’s three day schedule includes 26 films from 11 countries on five continents, encompassing many genres including comedy, drama, romance and documentary. Both feature length and short film will screen, with all showcases at the Columbia Heights historic Gala Hispanic Theatre. Both general admission tickets and festival passes are available.
“Quality films make us laughs, cry, and nod our heads in understanding and empathy, and The DC Center loves curating such empowering and enlightening films each year to share with the community, and all communities, at the Reel Affirmations Film Festival,” says Kimberley Bush, Director of Arts & Cultural Programs. “Bringing new ideas and situations out in the open creates the understanding we all need, and an opportunity for greater awareness, with some fun and occasionally sexy entertainment along the way.”
Upcoming Screenings
Queen of the Capital follows Muffy Blake Stephyns, a drag performer with high aspirations. Muffy and her everyday persona, Daniel, navigate the drag and her bureaucratic day job in Washington, D.C., while following her dream to lead a colorful group of philanthropic drag performers. As a former political consultant, she campaigns for “empress” of the Imperial Court of Washington, D.C.
Ek Aasha: Aashish is an aspiring teacher and has struggled with his gender identity since childhood. Aashish makes the difficult decision to leave home and join a traditional transgender community (known as Hijras). The film focuses on Aashish’s transition into Aasha; the life of a traditional Hindu Hijra in modern India is stifling, but she finds some solace in her affair with a married man. The hostility from both her family and Hijra community, betrayal from her lover and sexual assault do not deter Aasha from pursuing her dream career of teaching – something that only a handful of Hijras could do out of around five million of them in India.
Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life: In Heymann’s new Documentary we enter into one of the most desired Israeli Male Gay Porn Stars, Jonathan Agassi, while diving deep into his unusual and unique relationship with his mother, Anna. Blurring the line between freedom and oppression, this film shows Agassi’s power become his greatest weakness.
Reel Affirmations is DC’s only international LGBTQ film festival, each year bringing to the national capital region stories from around the globe highlighting the humor, the humanity and the struggles that we all have in common.
Reel Affirmations Film Festival, October 25-27, 2019.
