Select Quotes from 2025 Survey

"It's truly a fantastic event that I look forward to every year. I was devastated when E Street Cinema closed and worried about the fate of FilmFest DC, but you all pulled it off well. I'm so glad the new venue worked out!"

"Absolutely fabulous festival. It is a tradition now for me and my fiance to attend every year."

"I always enjoy the films I see at Filmfest DC. Thank you for bringing such interesting and thought provoking works to the city."

"I always feel that I understand other cultures better when I see foreign films. Can't think of details, just overall insight into how others live, and that we all share so much more in common than we imagine."

"What a window into cultures you don't have access to otherwise."

"Films open your mind to different cultures, points of view, perspectives, and filming."

"Thank you for your good work. Happy that the event took place at easily accessible downtown theaters."

"The film festival is a highlight in my life. I love to see my friends, go get a bite, and watch meaningful movies. Love it!!!!"

"Always a fun festival – with a great community of volunteers and filmgoers. Appreciate all the hard work that went into putting on a great curated list of films representing many different countries!"

"Thank you for making this event possible. It is amazing to be able to experience films from multiple countries, to see actors, the work of screenwriters, directors, camera teams, etc. from so many countries. To hear the languages, to see inside homes, cities, transportation systems, etc. It is an amazing reminder of the richness of our planet's diversity."

"It's really hard for a Westerner to understand the importance of honor in cultures that place such a high value on it. Bushido illustrates it in an understandable way. Great film."

"I didn't know much about Aznavour's life and now appreciate how much of an icon he is to France and its immigrant community."

"I was fascinated by the African influence in China as portrayed in the movie, Black Tea. I was aware of the Chinese influence in various parts of African nations but was pleasantly surprised to learn about the reverse. Also, I learned about the culture and politics, particularly impacting women during that time period via the movie, Confidante. All very interesting and informative!"

"The movie The Most Beautiful Deaths in the World provided an extremely interesting window on El Salvador and the Salvadorians in DC of which I knew nothing about."

"Souleymane's Story gave me more insight into the immigrant experience."

"The one-two punch of Grand Finale and Odd Fish felt like a light shown on Icelandic cinema, which is apparently great!"

"Aicha was a beautiful portrait of Tunisia, a country I knew very little about before."

"Palestinian films are particularly useful for opening a window into people's complicated lives there."

"I lived in Tunisia but Aicha gave me a totally different picture of life there, and of another person's struggle to live under challenging circumstances."

"I loved how, for example, in Diamanti and Fez Summer 55, they portrayed the authenticity of how people from those parts of the world perceive the same human and familial issues that Americans aren't alien to. People live through life very similarly, but just with a different sort of regional flavoring or spice. Essentially, however, we as Americans are not better or more advanced than other countries. Artists are keen to humanity, regardless of which country they are from."

"Fez Summer 55 felt like a window into a world I hadn't known."