On the Red Carpet with WFI

As one of the Washington Film Institute's signature events, this year's WFI Oscar Party stood testament to how much the organization has grown in the year and half since its inception. WFI Founder John Hanshaw is also Director of the Guerrilla Film Fest, an annual showcase of independent films.

WFI's 2009 Oscar Party packed over 200 attendees into the German cultural Goethe Institut, a venue used by WFI for many of its now, almost monthly, film events. Many of these showings are collaborations with local businesses, embassies or cultural institutes and aim to showcase films that might not be so easily available to the DC audience. As with many of WFI's events, the evening featured open bar, hors d'oeuvres and big screen viewing for a very reasonable rate.

Less related to WFI's central mission of making independent film accessible to DC, but no less fabulous an evening, was the January 17th Pre-Inaugural Ball hosted by the Institute in the 7th Street Warehouse Theater. While this venue experienced some minor logistical challenges that chilly evening -- namely heat ! -- the crowd assembled by WFI was, as usual, culturally curious, internationally-minded and open to making new acquaintances.

Washington-film and party goers can look forward to monthly events sponsored by the WFI as well as a late spring or early summer annual Guerrilla Film Fest. Upcoming events will include, among other themes, a Saint Patrick's Day inspired evening, a prom re-run themed event and a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

As one of Greg's List DC's oldest event host collaborators, and a longtime friend of the Greg's List DC editorial board, it is with much pleasure that we finally publish about the Washington Film Institute already close to our hearts and nestled in our datebooks. We wish WFI continued success in future endeavors and will keep our eyes peeled for a 2010 WFI Oscar Party venue commensurate with public interest in WFI. Clearly, enthusiasm for WFI exceeded capacity on this year's plush red carpet!