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Tickets are now on sale for DCEFF 2026! Running March 19-28, the Festival will feature 50+ programs at venues throughout DC (many free).

Check out the links in our bio or visit dceff.org for more info.

📸 Credit: Malaika Pictures - YANUNI, directed by Richard Ladkani

We are so honored to again be voted the District’s Best Film Festival in Washington City Paper’s Best of DC! This is our 7th(!) year in a row receiving this accolade and it always leads to a lot of “hooray for us!” But our staff, hardworking as they are, also share this award with our filmmakers, special guests, and partners.

Are we still the best fest without great films like OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT, and KEEPER? Do we make the cut without panelists like Quannah Chasinghorse, Ben Masters, and Royal Ramey - and pros like Greg McGruder, Juliet Eilperin, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood leading those conversations? Do we still get the most votes without our free screenings at embassies, museums, and universities? Probably not.

So, thank you to everyone who made DCEFF 2025 so special. We’re looking forward to doing it all again in 6 months.

Streaming recs for #worldbeeday! Today, we acknowledge the outsized role these small creatures play in the health of our ecosystems! 🌺 🐝

It should come as no surprise that bees have been prominently-featured in DCEFF programming over the years. To celebrate, we put together some free streaming suggestions. 🔗 in bio to start watching!

Streaming recs for #worldbeeday! Today, we acknowledge the outsized role these small creatures play in the health of our ecosystems! 🌺 🐝

It should come as no surprise that bees have been prominently-featured in DCEFF programming over the years. To celebrate, we put together some free streaming suggestions. 🔗 in bio to start watching!

Streaming recs for #worldbeeday! Today, we acknowledge the outsized role these small creatures play in the health of our ecosystems! 🌺 🐝

It should come as no surprise that bees have been prominently-featured in DCEFF programming over the years. To celebrate, we put together some free streaming suggestions. 🔗 in bio to start watching!

How can journalists cover climate change with urgency and nuance?

The warnings about climate change have been crystal clear. Getting people to pay attention is the hard part. Marianne Lavelle, @insideclimatenews D.C. Bureau Chief shares her view on the media's role in communicating this crisis at a recent screening of Plan C For Civilization at @dceff_org

Interested in more climate + communications deep dives? Check out the 'Changing the Climate' Substack at the link in bio.

Did you miss our sold out screening of NUISANCE BEAR back in March? The film, which won our 2026 William W. Warner Award, was recently acquired by MUBI. They plan to announce release details in the near future. We’ll certainly post updates as they become available.

“The animals we label as unwanted often reveal a great deal about us. We were drawn to a bear no one wanted because its story felt deeply human.” - Co-directors Gabriela Osio Vanden & Jack Weisman

Packed room for our world premiere at @dceff_org, where we were joined by protagonists @jessica.moerman and @raygaesser -- Thanks to @chelseah_writes, Director of Editorial Content at @republicen, for moderating, and to everyone who joined us for this special evening.

Next up, @mountainfilm ... 🌄 🎬

Packed room for our world premiere at @dceff_org, where we were joined by protagonists @jessica.moerman and @raygaesser -- Thanks to @chelseah_writes, Director of Editorial Content at @republicen, for moderating, and to everyone who joined us for this special evening.

Next up, @mountainfilm ... 🌄 🎬

Packed room for our world premiere at @dceff_org, where we were joined by protagonists @jessica.moerman and @raygaesser -- Thanks to @chelseah_writes, Director of Editorial Content at @republicen, for moderating, and to everyone who joined us for this special evening.

Next up, @mountainfilm ... 🌄 🎬

Packed room for our world premiere at @dceff_org, where we were joined by protagonists @jessica.moerman and @raygaesser -- Thanks to @chelseah_writes, Director of Editorial Content at @republicen, for moderating, and to everyone who joined us for this special evening.

Next up, @mountainfilm ... 🌄 🎬

“This Tony Leung drama will leaf you mesmerized.” - RogerEbert.com 🍁 🌳 😏

The critically-acclaimed SILENT FRIEND (also starring Lea Seydoux) opens Friday at the @afisilvertheatre! We’re proud to be co-presenting this stunning and thoughtful new film on humanity’s connection to the natural world. 🔗 in bio for showtimes and tickets.

“This Tony Leung drama will leaf you mesmerized.” - RogerEbert.com 🍁 🌳 😏

The critically-acclaimed SILENT FRIEND (also starring Lea Seydoux) opens Friday at the @afisilvertheatre! We’re proud to be co-presenting this stunning and thoughtful new film on humanity’s connection to the natural world. 🔗 in bio for showtimes and tickets.

“This Tony Leung drama will leaf you mesmerized.” - RogerEbert.com 🍁 🌳 😏

The critically-acclaimed SILENT FRIEND (also starring Lea Seydoux) opens Friday at the @afisilvertheatre! We’re proud to be co-presenting this stunning and thoughtful new film on humanity’s connection to the natural world. 🔗 in bio for showtimes and tickets.

We’re so excited to again be a community partner of the Hollywood Climate Summit! This partnership grows our creative sector’s awareness and action on this issue, while emphasizing the importance of storytelling to direct public attention toward the climate. hollywoodclimatesummit.com/tickets

If you work in entertainment or media and care about the environment, then the Hollywood Climate Summit is for you. June 3 and 4 in LA (and FREE online), this conference brings cross-sector professionals together for programming, networking, and plant-based eats built around real climate action. Use our partner code for 25% off your pass (DM us for the code)!

Happy 100th birthday to the one-and-only Sir David Attenborough!

We were so fortunate to have Attenborough join us for our 2004 Festival, where he received a the Smithsonian Medal for a lifetime of distinguished work. In the 20+ years since, he hasn’t slowed down, continuing to lend his considerable talents to moving and award-winning nature films and series, including last year’s OCEAN and A GORILLA STORY, released just last month on Netflix.

Happy 100th birthday to the one-and-only Sir David Attenborough!

We were so fortunate to have Attenborough join us for our 2004 Festival, where he received a the Smithsonian Medal for a lifetime of distinguished work. In the 20+ years since, he hasn’t slowed down, continuing to lend his considerable talents to moving and award-winning nature films and series, including last year’s OCEAN and A GORILLA STORY, released just last month on Netflix.

Happy 100th birthday to the one-and-only Sir David Attenborough!

We were so fortunate to have Attenborough join us for our 2004 Festival, where he received a the Smithsonian Medal for a lifetime of distinguished work. In the 20+ years since, he hasn’t slowed down, continuing to lend his considerable talents to moving and award-winning nature films and series, including last year’s OCEAN and A GORILLA STORY, released just last month on Netflix.

10 years later. The fight isn’t over.

Stream NOT WITHOUT US free till May 6th. The documentary that followed Indigenous leaders, frontline communities, and climate justice organizers as they demanded a seat at the Paris table.

Then join us LIVE on May 6 at 1PM EST for a panel with key cast members reflecting on a decade of promises, progress, and what still needs to change.

Who gets to shape climate solutions? That question was urgent in 2016. It’s urgent right now.

Watch April 22 – May 5
Live panel: May 6 | 1PM EST

Link in bio

#NotWithoutUs #EarthDay #ClimateJustice #IndigenousRights

10 years later. The fight isn’t over.

Stream NOT WITHOUT US free till May 6th. The documentary that followed Indigenous leaders, frontline communities, and climate justice organizers as they demanded a seat at the Paris table.

Then join us LIVE on May 6 at 1PM EST for a panel with key cast members reflecting on a decade of promises, progress, and what still needs to change.

Who gets to shape climate solutions? That question was urgent in 2016. It’s urgent right now.

Watch April 22 – May 5
Live panel: May 6 | 1PM EST

Link in bio

#NotWithoutUs #EarthDay #ClimateJustice #IndigenousRights

10 years later. The fight isn’t over.

Stream NOT WITHOUT US free till May 6th. The documentary that followed Indigenous leaders, frontline communities, and climate justice organizers as they demanded a seat at the Paris table.

Then join us LIVE on May 6 at 1PM EST for a panel with key cast members reflecting on a decade of promises, progress, and what still needs to change.

Who gets to shape climate solutions? That question was urgent in 2016. It’s urgent right now.

Watch April 22 – May 5
Live panel: May 6 | 1PM EST

Link in bio

#NotWithoutUs #EarthDay #ClimateJustice #IndigenousRights

Berta Cáceres was Lenca. She co-founded COPINH. She organized her community against the Agua Zarca Dam on the Río Gualcarque, a river sacred to her people, and she won. The world’s largest dam builder pulled out. She received the Goldman Prize in 2015.

A year later, armed men entered her home and killed her. She was 44. Her name had been on a hitlist carried by soldiers trained at Fort Benning.

Not Without Us is dedicated to Berta and to every land defender who has been killed for refusing to move. Twelve in Honduras the year before her death. Hundreds since, around the world. The work she did is the work this film is about. The work that is still being done by the people in it.

Watch the film, free through May 6 with @dceff_org. Then join us for the live panel, May 6 at 1 PM EST, moderated by director Mark Decena, with the people who went to Paris and told the truth.

Berta vive. La lucha sigue.

Link in bio.

Berta Cáceres was Lenca. She co-founded COPINH. She organized her community against the Agua Zarca Dam on the Río Gualcarque, a river sacred to her people, and she won. The world’s largest dam builder pulled out. She received the Goldman Prize in 2015.

A year later, armed men entered her home and killed her. She was 44. Her name had been on a hitlist carried by soldiers trained at Fort Benning.

Not Without Us is dedicated to Berta and to every land defender who has been killed for refusing to move. Twelve in Honduras the year before her death. Hundreds since, around the world. The work she did is the work this film is about. The work that is still being done by the people in it.

Watch the film, free through May 6 with @dceff_org. Then join us for the live panel, May 6 at 1 PM EST, moderated by director Mark Decena, with the people who went to Paris and told the truth.

Berta vive. La lucha sigue.

Link in bio.

Berta Cáceres was Lenca. She co-founded COPINH. She organized her community against the Agua Zarca Dam on the Río Gualcarque, a river sacred to her people, and she won. The world’s largest dam builder pulled out. She received the Goldman Prize in 2015.

A year later, armed men entered her home and killed her. She was 44. Her name had been on a hitlist carried by soldiers trained at Fort Benning.

Not Without Us is dedicated to Berta and to every land defender who has been killed for refusing to move. Twelve in Honduras the year before her death. Hundreds since, around the world. The work she did is the work this film is about. The work that is still being done by the people in it.

Watch the film, free through May 6 with @dceff_org. Then join us for the live panel, May 6 at 1 PM EST, moderated by director Mark Decena, with the people who went to Paris and told the truth.

Berta vive. La lucha sigue.

Link in bio.

Berta Cáceres was Lenca. She co-founded COPINH. She organized her community against the Agua Zarca Dam on the Río Gualcarque, a river sacred to her people, and she won. The world’s largest dam builder pulled out. She received the Goldman Prize in 2015.

A year later, armed men entered her home and killed her. She was 44. Her name had been on a hitlist carried by soldiers trained at Fort Benning.

Not Without Us is dedicated to Berta and to every land defender who has been killed for refusing to move. Twelve in Honduras the year before her death. Hundreds since, around the world. The work she did is the work this film is about. The work that is still being done by the people in it.

Watch the film, free through May 6 with @dceff_org. Then join us for the live panel, May 6 at 1 PM EST, moderated by director Mark Decena, with the people who went to Paris and told the truth.

Berta vive. La lucha sigue.

Link in bio.

Did we live up to the title of DC’s Best Film Festival again this year? Washington City Paper’s Best of DC voting is going on now! DCEFF is honored to have been voted the District’s Best Film Festival the past seven(!) years in a row, but we also feel that 2026 was our best Fest yet.

Did you enjoy free programming at unique venues? Were you moved by a particular film and/or conversation? Did you make connections or gain new understanding? Now more than ever, we hope you will help send a message about the importance of environmental storytelling by voting for us in the Arts & Entertainment category.