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There are several substantial film festivals in Washington, D.C., but none of them seem to have ignited the fire and excitement as the 1st annual DMVIFF (DC, MD, and VA International Film Festival). There's no doubt that the enthusiasm and passion of its creator, Tanecia Britt, is contagious. Tanecia is not only a "homegirl"-born in D.C., and raised in Maryland, she's an experienced filmmaker with a Master's in Film, Video, and New Screen from the University of East London.  Yes, London. 
  
This is where Tanecia truly fell in love with filmmaking. It was in London where she learned about theory and more advanced concepts of filmmaking, and as she'll tell you, "there's nothing like making films overseas." While in East London, she wrote, directed, and edited her first feature film, School Without Walls. But when her film got more love overseas than in the States, Ms. Britt decided to take matters in her own hands. 

What was the goal of the 1st DMV International Film Festival, and do you think you achieved it?
The goal was to bring more visibility to the independent filmmakers, artists, and musicians of the D.C. area into one joint festival. We wanted to give these talents a platform to display their work and promote unity within the arts, while introducing a new audience to D.C's art scene. Ultimately, I wanted to bridge the international audience past what is reflected in media. I think we did that.

Overall, were you pleased with the submissions?
Well, the international submission count surpassed the national submissions. So that was surprising. We had international directors coming to represent their film brand and also speak on topics that were important to the film community.

What types of topics were discussed at the workshops?
One of our panels was "Investments in Cinema" where our financial expert stressed the importance of investing your work in cinema and how to acquire funds. Another good panel was "Cinematography 101 an In-depth workshop of experimental camera work" that explored different camera angles, directions, and functions of various cameras.

What was one of your favorite films?
There were several, but one that stood out was called Dust. It's an international feature that depicts a real time perspective of life in the UK. It was shot in Dogme' 95 style, so it had a gritty, raw appeal that the audience connected with. The cinematography of the film forced the audience to become captivated.

Besides seeing films from all over the world, and going to events and workshops, what do you think the average attendee got from the experience of the DMVIFF?
I hope they walked away from the festival with an open mind to new types of cinema. DMVIFF is a place of unity within the arts in the DMV area. It is also an event that connects talented individuals to each other. I want this event to gain a following. I want filmmakers use this as a springboard for their independent projects throughout the city and worldwide.
 

PART 2: Tanecia was super busy during this interview since it took place just a few days before the festival. But she was able to follow-up with how it went, and advice to filmmakers. Listen Here!  

-Candace Simmons