Tony Gittens to Leave Arts Commission, Stay With Filmfest DC

Tony Gittens has been with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for as long as I can remember. As executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, he has helped the city bring the artscene to life over the past eleven+ years. Before his watch, I don't recall the amount of public art, funding opportunities and programs that are now available to local DC artists and art organizations. It's been a pleasure to witness the changing face of public art under Tony Gitten's watch. From my view, he's put together a great team of players who are working diligently to keep the arts centerstage in Washington, DC. As well as thanking him for his commitment and dedication, I wish him many more successes in his next endeavors!

Read today's WaPO article about Tony Gittens career with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

In the past decade, the arts commission has raised its visibility through a number of programs. The agency initiated the Party Animals project, a public display of donkeys and elephants designed by artists, which it followed with a similar public art exhibition of painted pandas.The commission revived the honorary Mayor's Arts Awards and managed the art program for the Washington Convention Center and the John A. Wilson Building. "The commission felt the public doesn't have to go to museums to see art," said Gittens.

The commission provides funding for Artomatic, a volunteer organization that hosts an annual multimedia art festival, and also has purchased work from Artomatic participants. By Jacqueline Trescott

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The 22nd Annual FILMFEST DC

Washington DC's International Film Festival
April 24 through May 4, 2008

This year focuses on New Latin American cinema and Politics on Film. Special guests and events for every age will be featured. Encompassing a global range of cultures, music, and politics, Filmfest DC will represent cinema from over 30 countries. "This is an exciting year for the festival. We have a large selection of DC premieres, international festival headliners and award winners plus a handful of Official Foreign Language Film Oscar® Selections. In addition, we are offering a strand of films from Washington DC directors," said Festival Director Tony Gittens.

Highlights

Thursday, April 24
Filmfest DC's Opening Night Gala will feature the premiere of the French film Two
Ladies at the Historic Lincoln Theatre at 7:00 pm. Guests will include the director, stars and producer of the film. A reception with live music and dancing will follow under a tent behind the Lincoln.

Friday, April 25
Patti Smith in person for the screening of her new film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, 9:30 pm at the Lincoln Theatre.

Also
Made in Jamaica, a film featuring the sounds of Gregory Isaacs, Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Bunny Wailer, Beres Hammond, Third World, Toots, and Capleton, 6:30 pm, Lincoln Theatre. A complete list of films and events is available at: www.filmfestdc.org

Tickets for most screenings are $10.00 each and can be purchased in advance at www.tickets.com or by calling 1-800-955-5566.Tickets may be purchased online at http://filmfestdc.org/tickets.cfm

VENUES:
* Regal Cinemas, 701 7th St., NW
* Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St., NW
* Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut, Ave., NW
* AMC Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin, Ave., NW (select days)

Filmfest DC Director Tony Gittens Responds

There's been some criticism of Tony Gittens for being a part-time film festival director. "On Filmfest DC's opening night, I was knighted by the government of France for my work in the cultural community, especially for my success with the Washington, D.C., International Film Festival.... tens of thousands of people of all backgrounds from across the metropolitan area attended festival screenings and events." Read Tony Gittens Letter to The Editor in Sunday's Washington Post here.

Highlight's from FilmFest DC

Washington, DC International Film Festival
Highlights of the Festival's Two-Decade Run
Sunday, April 29, 2007; Washington Post -- Desson Thomson
1987 - 2007

No Plans To Expand Filmfest DC

Washington, DC International Film Festival
April 19-29, 2007

The 21st edition of the Washington, DC International Film Festival features some of the best, new and exciting films in international cinema today. Films encompass a global range of cultures, music, and politics from over 30 countries. Tickets are on sale through www.tickets.com.

By popular demand, a screening of Armenia has been added for Saturday at 10:30 AM. For the first time, screenings will take place primarily in one venue, located at
4000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC USA

Read Article on DC Filmfest and its part-time director, Tony Gittens.

Filmfest DC Starts Today

April 19-29, 2007
The 21st edition of the Washington, DC International Film Festival will feature some of the best, new and exciting films in international cinema today. Films will encompass a global range of cultures, music, and politics from over 30 countries.

The 11-day event offers opportunities that make any festival exciting: Q&As with filmmakers after the screenings, seeing movies before they get their official big-screen release, taking kids to their own special programs and checking out something different. Who knows? You might discover a passion for, say, Hawaiian dancing ("Hula Girls") or short films from Australia. WaPo article here By Christina Talcott

Tickets for most screenings are $9 and can be purchased at http://www.tickets.com or by calling 800-955-5566. For information, call 202-628-3456. The festival's complete lineup is online at http://www.filmfestdc.org