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New & Coming Soon

New African Film Festival
April 1–18
Presented by AFI, Africa World Now Project and afrikafé
See every film and save with an all-access pass!
This year, for its 17th edition, the festival is entirely virtual, presenting a lineup of outstanding contemporary African cinema online for audiences in the Washington, DC, area and beyond.
THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN
Kaouther Ben Hania's provocative follow-up to 2017's BEAUTY AND THE DOGS follows a Syrian refugee living in Lebanon and desperate to get to Europe to reunite with his lost love. In exchange for the possibility of achieving his goal, he agrees to become a canvas for a world-famous tattoo artist. Oscar® nominee, Best International Feature Film.
CENTER STAGE
30th anniversary; 4K restoration
International superstar Maggie Cheung (IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE) embodies tragic screen siren Ruan Lingyu, known as the "Greta Garbo of China," in this unconventional biopic by Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan (ROUGE). The film deftly blends lush period drama, archival footage and metatextual documentary sequences.
THE MALI-CUBA CONNECTION aka AFRICA MIA
During the Cold War, 10 young musicians from Mali were sent to Cuba on a cultural exchange, where they developed a revolutionary new sound and became the iconic ensemble "Las Maravillas de Mali." Decades later, French music producer Richard Minier attempts to get the band back together.
SLALOM
This riveting, Cannes-selected #MeToo drama from debut filmmaker Charlène Favier follows the relationship between a teenage ski prodigy and her predatory instructor Fred, played by frequent Dardenne brothers collaborator Jérémie Renier. "A searing account of athleticism and abuse." – The Hollywood Reporter.
MAŁNI – TOWARDS THE OCEAN, TOWARDS THE SHORE
Sky Hopinka's poetic, experimental debut feature circles the origin of the death myth from the Chinookan people in the Pacific Northwest. MAŁNI (pronounced moth-nee) follows two people as they wander through their surroundings and take separate paths, contemplating the afterlife, rebirth and death.
DC Labor FilmFest – Spring Screening Series
March 24–April 14
Leading up to this year's DC Labor FilmFest (online in May!), enjoy a selection of screening events featuring films about work and workers. This week: Pietro Marcello's MARTIN EDEN, April 14, 7:00 p.m. + livestream Q&A with filmmaker and novelist John Sayles.
Spanish Cinema Now+
March 26–May 30
In the lead-up to the 2021 edition of the Spanish Cinema Now festival (coming in June!), AFI Silver Theatre and SPAIN arts & culture are proud to co-present a selection of outstanding films from Spain. Now playing: MADRE, Rodrigo Sorogoyen's slow-burn thriller about a mother grappling with the loss of her son.
Save a Seat at AFI Silver
Custom, commemorative seat plaques are available in the historic Silver I theater. Have a personalized message or name engraved on the seat of your choice!

All Available Films