Alexandria’s first international film festival opens this week with screenings in the Carlyle neighborhood, part of efforts to draw after-hours visitors to the developing area.
“We’re delighted the Patent and Trademark Office is screening the films at their auditorium,” said Janet Gregor, executive director of the Eisenhower Public Private Partnership, one of the festival’s sponsors. “It’s definitely going to attract visitors.”
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There will be movie screenings at the auditorium Friday through Sunday, including the award-winning “God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan,” directed by Christopher Quinn, who graduated from T.C. Williams High School.
The Carlyle neighborhood is a mixed office, retail and residential area that has been dogged by vacancy problems. It was designed around the new U.S. Patent and Trademark Office buildings, and some blocks are still under construction. Residents are moving into its apartments and condos, and about 6,200 people live in the area, Gregor said.
“Once we get people coming down here for entertainment and dining, hopefully we’ll attract people who want to live here,” Gregor said.
The festival kicks off Thursday in Old Town with the Alexandria Singers’ live performance of movie songs and the screening of short films. Four of the shorts were produced by Mount Vernon and Tucker Elementary schools students, showcasing Alexandria landmarks. The Tucker students’ film shares the story of their school’s namesake, who led a 1939 sit-in at Alexandria’s Barrett library to desegregate it.
Movie times and listings are available at www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org.
