Since 1993, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF)
has been enthralling and educating people in the D.C. area with hundreds of
movies. Held annually in the spring, the 2017 festival featured more than
180 movies and tens of thousands of people came to see films on topics
varying from the Flint, Michigan water crisis to a charming story about
cats in Istanbul.
Beginning this year, and coinciding with their 25th anniversary, the DCEFF
has launched a year-round schedule of events. Called DCEFF 365, the program
is dedicated to becoming an educational resource for local schools,
libraries and other locales that can enable young people to connect to the
Festival after spring has ended and all year long.
“We’ve had a lot of youth programming throughout our festivals and it’s
important to expand on that idea because there is a lot of interest out
there,” says Arjumand Hamid, Director of Educational Outreach at DCEFF. “We
are using films to excite and educate young people about our amazing planet
and inspire them to protect it and take care of it.”
Executive Director Maryanne Culpepper, who joined DCEFF in the summer of
2016, is also excited about what the new programming can mean for the
area’s children. “Kids are so tuned in to their environment,” Culpepper
says. “They love frogs and creeks, rocks and clouds. We want to tap into
that natural excitement with films and stories about our amazing planet
because if they love it, they’ll want to protect it.”
In early March, for an event at the historic Lincoln Theatre, DCEFF 365
showed the film, “Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale” to more than 1,300
students at two back-to-back showings.
“Thanks to support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities we
were able to have this program,” Hamid says. “We had the filmmakers come to
the event. The vibe was just fantastic. The students’ reactions were great
and it really just showed what D.C. culture is all about. We showed the
film and then right afterward we had a Q&A with the filmmakers. We had
students of all ages join in and their questions were so incredible. It was
really exciting for everyone involved.”
While the educational outreach department is new this year, the DCEFF has
been working with schools, libraries and children for some time.
Hamid is excited about the possibilities of expanding the relationships the
festival has in place. “Ever since we started expanding our educational
programming, we’ve had so much interest from our existing partners,” she
says. “The film festival partners with embassies, museums, theaters,
research foundations and other non-profit groups. To us, and to our
partners, it’s just been great to keep those relationships going. It makes
complete sense to continue working together.”
One relationship that continues to go strong is the one between DCEFF and
the D.C. Public Library system. “DCPL has been a partner with us since the
beginning and that is just incredible,” Hamid says. “There are more than 25
separate D.C. libraries and we hope to be showing different programs there.
You cannot underestimate how excited the librarians are and how much they
want to get involved. From putting together packets to laying out books
related to the films being shown, DCPL has been a great partner.”
“We are also excited to bring in authors whose books have been made into
films and have even more workshops,” Hamid says. “These librarians are just
so great and so excited to host our ideas.”
The programs and events range in size. “Last year we had one at DAR
Constitution Hall and we were able to have 2,400 people attend,” Hamid
says. Other programs, such as those held at libraries, allow for a more
intimate setting, with as few as 15 to 30 attendees. “It depends upon how
we present the film; whether it is in a classroom, an assembly or a
theater, but our reach is really growing.”
Hamid is excited for what the future of the year-round programming can
bring. “We hope to not only spark interest and spread awareness about
environmental topics, but also provide guidance and ideas about how
participants can help in bringing on change for the better,” she says.
For more information about the DCEFF and the programming they provide
year-round, check out their website at dceff.org, their twitter at
@dcenvirofilm or their
Facebook under Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital.
