D.C. on a Dime: D.C. Shorts Film Festival at the E Street Cinema

Photo courtesy of Catherine Sheffo

I love a good summer blockbuster as much as the next person, but for those who are looking for more variety in theaters, the D.C. Shorts Film Festival will have you sprinting to the cinema. The E Street Cinema to be exact.

The D.C. Shorts Film Festival, which was started by a D.C. native 10 years ago, is the only event of its kind, catering to small, independent filmmakers without major corporate sponsors. This year the festival, which runs from Sept. 19 to Sept. 29, is featuring 153 films from 23 countries, according to its website.

Founder Jon Gann said he created the event as an answer to industry events that focus on celebrity and Oscar buzz rather than upcoming artists.

Films range from 1 to 30 minutes long and are screened in 90-minute blocks at six locations around the city. Each block includes a variety of topics from documentaries to comedies to family friendly films. A 110 person volunteer committee judges the films and a collection of the winners is screened on the closing weekend.

While all six locations are showing similar films all week, the E Street Cinema is the best location for those who rely on public transportation. The Washington Post voted the theater the best in D.C. in 2012 and its great location near Metro Center makes it easy to get to from anywhere in the city.

The cinema is known for its swanky décor and gourmet snack bars featuring lattes, fresh pastries, specialty chocolates and even alcoholic drinks for the of age crowd. When it’s not hosting the festival, the theater airs independent and foreign films as well as re-releases of classic hits.

Screenings for D.C. Shorts occasionally sell out so buy your tickets online ahead of time, especially if you’re planning on catching a show on the weekend. Click here for a complete list of show dates and times for each location. Most tickets are $12.50 if purchased in advance and $15 at the door.

To get to the E Street Cinema take the 104 Metro bus from Stamp to the College Park Metro Station and board a Green line train toward Branch Avenue. Transfer to the Blue line toward Franconia-Springfield at L’Enfant Plaza and get off at Metro Center. The one-way trip takes around 25 minutes and costs $2.75 with a SmarTrip card. Once you’re at Metro Center, the cinema is just a short two-block walk away.