Environmental Film Festival, through March 27 The horrors that have struck Japan this past week are still being documented, and the total impact is far from being realized.
And it’s just a dark coincidence that as Japan struggles with a catastrophe that includes damage to some of its nuclear power plants, the focus of the 19th Annual Environmental Film Festival in D.C. is energy and its influence on the environment.
The theme for this year’s festival was partly inspired by BP’s Gulf oil spill last year.
“We thought it was an important subject,” said Helen Strong, Public Affairs Director for the Environmental Film Festival. “Energy impacts the environment.”
Festival highlights include “Stories From the Bayou: Living With the BP Oil Disaster” and “Into Eternity,” a film about storing nuclear waste.
Though the festival is scheduled tightly, and films have been slated well in advance, Strong has no doubt that conversations about the situation in Japan will be discussed.
Founded in 1993, the Environmental Film Festival features 150 films at more than 60 venues in the D.C. area. The event is one of the leading green-themed festivals in the country.
“It was very pioneering,” Strong said. “A lot more people are now talking about the environment.”
For more information on the Environmental Film Festival, including tickets prices and schedule, visit dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org.
Grande Fete de la Francophonie, Friday
The Francophonie Cultural Festival runs through April 15 at the French Embassy, with concerts, exhibits, salons, seminars and more. The big event of the festival is the Grand Fete de la Francophonie, featuring food, drinks, music and lots of fun celebrating all French-speaking countries.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: $30; la-maison-francaise.org/francophonie.htm
Jenny Owen Youngs at the Red Palace, Saturday
Admittedly, Tim Barry of Avail is actually the headliner of this show, but Youngs is a definite highlight. Her 2009 full-length release, “Transmitter Failure,” with the tracks “Last Person” and “Clean Break,” is a real treat. Josh Small opens.
When: 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show Saturday
Info: $10; redpalacedc.com
Eighties Mayhem at the Black Cat, Saturday
In last week’s Take 5, we mentioned a ’90s dance party. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about the decade that brought us Madonna, Duran Duran and the Cure. Check out the Eighties Mayhem dance party at the Black Cat with DJs Steve EP, Missguided, Killa K and Krasty McNasty.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Info: $10; blackcatdc.com
Flip Orley at the D.C. Improv, through Sunday
The popular comic hypnotist Orley comes through town every now and again, but if you haven’t sat in on a show, you’re missing out. Look, if you believe in hypnotism or are a skeptic, it doesn’t matter: You’ll still laugh.
When: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $17 Friday and Saturday, $15 Sunday; dcimprov.com
