Filmmakers of color are getting to shine this week on Barracks Row in Southeast D.C. as part of the eighth annual D.C. Black Film Festival.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews the D.C. Black Film Fest (Part 1)
Filmmakers of color are getting a chance to shine this week on Barracks Row in Southeast D.C.
The eighth annual D.C. Black Film Festival returns to the historic Miracle Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, followed by a virtual festival extension from Aug. 18 to Aug. 25.
“It’s just been awesome to see how the competition [has grown] in terms of the films, oh my goodness, every year it just gets stronger and stronger,” founder and festival director Kevin Sampson told WTOP.
“We’ve definitely had submissions from all over the globe. The only stipulation of submitting to the festival is that one or more of the above-the-line crew is of African descent, so that helps us to be more inclusive, it’s not exclusive.”
The festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 15 with the narrative feature “Money Game” directed by Julian Lowenthal.
“It’s set during the COVID-19 pandemic where a young widowed father of two struggles to navigate a broken financial system while fighting to give his daughters the life his late wife promised him,” Sampson said.
“It’s a really good, moving feature. It’s interesting because we know that films are going to show us what we lived during the pandemic and the different struggles of it, so it’s a really good film that I think people will really like.”
The festival continues Friday, Aug. 16 with Ilana Trachtman’s feature documentary “Ain’t No Back to the Merri-Go-Round,” narrated by Jeffrey Wright to chronicle a troubling true story at Glen Echo Amusement Park in Maryland in 1960.
“This is really dealing with five Howard University students that sat on a Maryland carousel in the 1960s — that arrest made headlines,” Sampson said. “It’s dealing with segregation, integration and the 1961 Freedom Riders. … It’s information that is not necessarily hidden but maybe it’s just something that you’ve never heard of before.”
Friday also includes the narrative feature “The Novelist” by prolific D.C.-area filmmaker Harold Jackson III.
“Listen, this one is our Friday night feature film and it has everything you want in a film,” Sampson said.
“It’s a thriller, it’s also a dark comedy, it’s a kind of mystery, so you want to find out what’s going to happen to certain characters. Basically it’s about a woman who steals a manuscript from someone else, then out of nowhere his estranged son comes to seek compensation. It’s just a fun ride and I think people will be talking to the screen.”
Saturday, Aug. 17 brings “A Time to Yell: More Than a Statue” by Eric Newman and Daniel Levin about the infamous “Unite the Right” rally around the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, seven years ago.
“We all remember Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017, but one thing you don’t know about what kicked that off is there was a certain catalyst to kind of start those events and ‘A Time to Yell’ really covers that,” Sampson said.
Saturday also brings “Running Our Way: The Story of Chocolate City Relay” directed by Jason Taylor.
“It’s a 60-plus-mile relay crafted to go deep into each of D.C.’s wards,” Sampson said. “This is looking at a group of Black women runners who come together — running brings them together — but they’re also running through the District, so you’ll definitely see some spots that you’ve seen all the time and also some people you might know.”
It all wraps up on Saturday with the closing-night film “ToxiCITY” by filmmaker Felix Wayne Jordan.
“That is about an up-and-coming app developer who really struggles with his past, trying to break free from childhood trauma and trying to balance family, work and love,” Sampson said. “It’s a beautifully shot film.”
Attendees can use the promo code “WTOP” for 20% off individual tickets.
Find more information here.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews the D.C. Black Film Fest (Part 2)
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The 2026 USU Summer Meeting is a premier convening for presidents and chancellors of public, urban-serving research institutions who are often at the forefront of innovation within higher education. This meeting will be hosted in downtown Washington, DC on June 16, 2026, from 12:00 – 4:45 pm, in association with APLU’s Council of Presidents summer convening.
Please direct any questions to usucoalition@aplu.org.
Dechert Law have boosted their Washington DC practice with the addition of three former White & Case lawyers with significant litigation experience in everything from government contracts to sports law.
The firm’s media statement making the announcement is below –
Dechert LLP continues to build on the momentum of its expanding litigation practice with the additions of Tara Lee, Scott Lerner and Melissa Taylormoore (pictured above). Their arrival bolsters the firm’s trial bench and significantly enhances the sports and gaming and government contracts practices. All three will be based in Dechert’s Washington, D.C. office and will be partners in the firm’s enforcement and investigations group.
“This year has been a defining one for Dechert’s growth, and the arrival of Tara, Scott and Melissa exemplifies our commitment to expanding our teams in service of our clients’ businesses,” said Dave Forti, co-chair of Dechert. “As we continue to welcome exceptional talent across our steeples of excellence, from investment management to litigation, additions like these are what elevate our platform to the next level.”
The three partners join Dechert from an international law firm, where Ms. Lee headed the trials practice, Mr. Lerner headed the U.S. sports and gaming practice and Ms. Taylormoore was the global head of the U.S. government contracts practice and co-chair of the defense working group.
“Joining Dechert has coincided with a period of growth for the firm, spanning both new geographies and sectors of the market. The firm has recently opened three new offices and complemented existing strengths while expanding its offerings. The arrivals of Tara, Scott and Melissa further deepen our government contracts and sports and gaming capabilities,” said Mike Poulos, vice chair and global head of strategy. “Tara’s arrival is especially meaningful to me, as she and I served together in leadership at a prior firm, and I am glad to be reunited with her at Dechert.”
Ms. Lee has a broad practice spanning complex commercial litigation, wrongful death and mass tort matters, arbitration enforcement, and corporate investigations. She has represented multinational companies, sovereign nations, public and private companies, funds and individuals across a broad range of industries. In 2017, Ms. Lee was named U.S. Trial Lawyer of the Year and is consistently ranked among leading litigation lawyers by Chambers USA. She has been recognized as a Pioneer and Trailblazer in Litigation by the National Law Journal, as one of the Ten Most Innovative Lawyers in the United States by the Financial Times and as one of the top investigations lawyers by Global Investigations Review. Prior to her legal career, she served as an officer in the United States Navy and was named the ATLA Outstanding Military Trial Lawyer while serving in the Navy JAG Corps.
“I am delighted to join Dechert alongside Scott and Melissa,” said Ms. Lee. “The firm’s commitment to this space, the quality of its people, and the strength of its client base made this a compelling opportunity, and we look forward to working on the most complex and consequential matters for clients.”
Mr. Lerner is a trial lawyer with significant experience in sports- and gaming-related disputes and a focus on complex commercial litigation, class actions, investigations and corporate crises. He regularly advises clients across the sports and gaming industries, including professional athletes and coaches, sports franchises, team owners, event organizers, sports charities, unions and online sports betting companies.
Ms. Taylormoore brings more than two decades of experience advising clients on government contracting and regulatory matters involving federal, state and local governments, including matters involving national security, defense, aerospace and dual-use technologies. She leads sensitive internal and cross-border investigations and advises boards and executive teams on governance, remediation and crisis response.
Ms. Lee, Mr. Lerner and Ms. Taylormoore are among more than 35 lateral partners Dechert has welcomed this year, reflecting the firm’s strategic goal of strengthening capabilities across its steeples of excellence in litigation, investment management, finance and restructuring, capital markets and securitization and mergers and acquisitions.
Dechert litigators win some of the largest and most complex, domestic and multijurisdictional disputes in the world. The firm’s global litigation practice is comprised of more than 350 lawyers across multiple offices, combining the knowledge and capabilities of former law clerks and government officials, experienced litigators and homegrown talent.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Zac Brown Band perform onstage during the Uber One Rodeo on October 18, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Uber)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The heavyweight headliner for the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest this summer has officially been announced.
What we know:
Zac Brown Band will take the stage at The Ellipse, which is just south of the White House, on Saturday, June 13, at 9:30 p.m.
The free event will also include live shows with UFC athletes, celebrity appearances, meet-&-greets, immersive fan experiences and the UFC Freedom 250 Ceremonial Weigh-in. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, fans will gather once again at The Ellipse for a watch party as a series of fights take place in the Octagon on the South Lawn.
What you can do:
Tickets for UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest are available on Tuesday, April 21. However, fans can register for early access until Thursday, and will receive a link on Friday.
Dig deeper:
President Donald Trump is set to oversee the event as part of festivities marking the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
The fight card for the landmark event was revealed last month, with lightweight champions Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje announced as the main event for a title unification bout.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by UFC.
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