The 15th annual Arlington international film festival is shifting its focus to an experience-based showcase called the Finding Bright Film Festival, running Nov. 6 to 8 at the Capitol Theatre, yourarlington.com reported. Executive director Jaina Cipriano and her programming team are shifting focus away from traditional screenings to include puppet events, immersive theater by the Witch Hunt Theatre company, and a live performance by the local band Sapling.
Capitol Theatre Hosts Renamed Festival Featuring Immersive Arts
- The renamed event runs from November 6 to November 8 at the Capitol Theatre.
- Programming introduces immersive elements including puppet events, live art rock, and site-specific theater.
- The lineup blends open-call submissions with curated arthouse titles secured through indie distributors like Oscilloscope and Altered Innocence.
Indie Distributors Supply High-Profile Festival Films and Genre Experiments
While the festival embraces non-traditional formats, its core film slate stays strong, featuring a mix of local and international projects. Programming team member Alex Kittle collaborated with indie distributors to secure high-profile festival titles for the opening and closing nights. Oscilloscope provided the new feature from experimental German auteur Ann Oren, titled “Objet A,” while Altered Innocence supplied Diego Fuentes’s DIY punk superhero satire, “Matapanki.”
Submissions poured in featuring low-budget genre experiments spanning sci-fi, horror, westerns, and thrillers. Strong short films focused on family dynamics inspired the “Family Affair” block slated for Friday evening. Subsequent curated blocks include the nature-focused “Field Guide” on Saturday, the dark narrative “Nightmare Alley” block on Saturday night, and experimental projects grouped under “Down the Rabbit Hole” on Sunday.
| Festival Block | Day and Timing | Featured Content |
|---|---|---|
| Family Affair | Friday Evening | Short films exploring family themes across comedy, drama, and sci-fi. |
| Field Guide | Saturday | Films examining the duality of nature. |
| Nightmare Alley | Saturday Night | Projects centered on dark narrative themes. |
| Down the Rabbit Hole | Sunday | Experimental and unconventional works. |
Cipriano Offers Tickets Through Capitol Theatre for Unconventional Filmmakers
Cipriano emphasizes that the rebrand aims to connect the local community with global perspectives while offering a destination for unconventional filmmakers. Festival passes and block-specific tickets are currently available directly through the Capitol Theatre.
