An Arlington filmmaker is back on the film circuit, this time showcasing a film tackling end-of-life care issues.

The movie, “Nothing to Do,” centers on a radio D.J. who has take care of his dying father. Director Mike Kravinsky was inspired in part by taking care of his own father during his final weeks.

“It was frightening and challenging, but unbelievably rewarding, to be there for my dad at the end,” Kravinsky said. “Even though this very sad thing is happening, life goes on.”

To prepare for filming, Kravinsky interviewed doctors and funeral directors about a family’s experience at the end of a parent’s life, including the inevitable and emotional fighting that was a reoccurring scene in the movie.

Some scenes were shot in Kravinsky’s bedroom, but also at Clarendon’s Goody’s pizzeria and Columbia Pike’s Twisted Vines wine bar.

Filmmaking was a career change for Kravinsky, a Lyon Village resident who worked for ABC News in D.C. as an editor for 30 years before accepting a buyout in 2010.

“In the back of my mind I always had this thing, like ‘film making is so cool,'” said Kravinsky. “I just gave this a shot and it’s been really gratifying, really rewarding for me.”

The film will be screened this Friday and Sunday (March 2 and March 4) at the Durango Independent Film Festival in Colo., and it was just screened at the Beaufort International Film Festival in Beaufort, S.C., where it was nominated for best actor/director.

Kravinsky said more film festivals have been interested in “Nothing to Do” than his previous film “Geographically Desirable” which came out in 2015.

“Nothing to Do” won the Special Jury Award at Virginia’s Alexandria Film Festival. It was also a finalist at the Cinequest Screenplay Competition in San Jose, Calif., and an honorable mention at the TrackingB Screenplay Competition in Los Angeles.

Kravinsky said he hopes he can bring the film back to the D.C. area and is currently applying for different screenings nearby.

Photos courtesy of Mike Kravinsky

The Rosebud Film Festival, which honors the “innovative, unusual, experimental, and deeply personal” in film, will run Friday (January 26) through Sunday (January 28).

The festival, put on by Arlington Independent Media, will screen 34 films across three different showings — Friday at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday at 8:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for one film screening block cost $15, or viewers can pay $40 for the whole weekend. The screenings will be held at the Miracle Theater in Washington, D.C. (535 8th Street SE).

On Sunday, AIM will host two free panel discussions, entitled “Student Filmmaking: From the Classroom to the Real World!” at 12 p.m. and “What Critics Look For?” at 2 p.m. An awards ceremony at the Clarendon Ballroom will follow that day, with the top five films set to each receive a $1,000 cash prize.

This year was a bit different for the festival as it expanded accepted entries from the world. Before, it only accepted films from people living in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

As a result, festival director Kevin Sampson said the submissions nearly doubled. Some of the themes in this year’s films include politics, identity, gender and sexuality.

One film titled “A Name that I Admire” follows a seventh-generation dairy farmer in Virginia as he decides who to vote for in 2016 election. An animated film also reflects on today’s politics in a project titled “Trump’s Got No Tact.”

Another film “Spectrum” is a documentary focusing on the social, political and spiritual world of 10 transgender people living in Israel.

Sampson said one of the best things about Rosebud is that it’s different from other mainstream festivals and movie viewings.

“Coming out to Rosebud you really get to hear from these artists that are speaking from their hearts,” he said. “I think if people want to be entertained as well as challenged that Rosebud is the perfect fit in terms as a festival to come out to and check out.”

Photo via Rosebud Film Festival

The Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) is expanding its Christmas Movie Festival for the first time this year.

The festival usually takes place on one day, but instead will last for three weeks, starting on Friday, November 24 with showings of Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life. It wraps up on December 13 with Gremlins.

Paying for one $10 ticket will get attendees unlimited admission to all the scheduled festival movies across all three weeks, depending on space.

Dates for each movie screening are as follows:

• Elf (November 24-27, December 2-4, December 10)
• It’s a Wonderful Life (November 24, November 27, December 2-3, December 10-11)
• Home Alone (November 25, November 26, December 7, December 11)
• Miracle on 34th Street (November 25, November 26, November 28, December 3, December 9, December 12)
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (November 26, November 30, December 2, December 5, December 10)
• Scrooged (December 3, December 4, December 6, December 10)
• Gremlins (December 13)

Flickr pool photo by Bekah Richards

Celebrate the transformative power of film with the Washington West Film Festival, an annual showcase of the best new films and talented filmmakers from around the globe.

Create your own fest experience — reserve your favorites from over 40 films we’ll be screening in Reston and Arlington from October 25-30, with a limited time offer to the ARLnow community, a 30% discount off our popular The Fest Experience.

And the best part is you can feel good about Fest-binging. 100% of our net box office proceeds go to our charity partner each year that works to help alleviate childhood hunger, illness and poor education.

Purchase Today’s Deal Now
Discount Code: ARLnowDeal17 has been applied for you

WHEN: October 25-30, 2017

WHERE: Multiple locations in Arlington and Reston

WHAT: Enjoy the best a film festival has to offer. By purchasing this pass, you will have the opportunity to explore the variety of film options and styles showcased at the festival — a documentary film, a narrative film, two shorts programs and the Pavilion party.

Story Can Change The World. Learn more about the Washington West Film Festival

(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.

Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.

Tuesday

Willy Wonka
1901 S. Bell Street
Time: 30 minutes after sunset

Crystal City will host an outdoor screening of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” with the late Gene Wilder as part of its “Sweets and Sips” film series. Moviegoers can get wine and Schakolad Chocolate Factory candy during the showing.

Arlington County Civic Federation Candidate Forums
Virginia Hospital Center Hazel Auditorium (1701 N. George Mason Drive)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Candidates for Congress, the Arlington County Board and the Arlington School Board will make their cases for why Arlington residents should vote for them in November.

Wednesday

The Death Penalty: An Artist’s View*
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Boulevard)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Yvette Allen will talk about what she sees as flaws in the criminal justice system as she discuses her brother, Billie, a death row inmate who creates art.

Thursday

Rocklands: Pig Roast & Hot Sauce Competition
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company (3471 Washington Boulevard)
Time: 5:30-8 p.m.

The BBQ restaurant will throw an all-you-can-eat-and-drink pig roast for $25 to raise money for the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping burn victims. The eatery also will have its third annual hot sauce competition.

9/11: Fifteen Years Later
Kenmore Middle School Black Box Theater (200 S. Carlin Springs Road)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m

Arlington’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission will host a discussion with Arlington County Deputy County Manager James Schwartz and Major General James Jackson, who will reflect on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Saturday

Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2016
Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway)
Time: 1-7 p.m.

Jazz bands will take the stage in a Rosslyn park for the neighborhood’s annual jazz festival. The day also will include a “Jazz Art Jam” with poets and visual artists, along with a “Kids’ Jazz Zone.”

Free Home Buyer Seminar*
Optime Realty (1600 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 101)
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Optime Realty will host a home buying seminar with lenders and buyer agents. Elysia Stobbe of NFM Lending will give tips on how to get the best mortgage during the event.

Arlington Police, Fire & Sheriff 9/11 Memorial Race
DoubleTree Hotel (300 Army Navy Drive)
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Arlington County’s police, fire and sheriff’s office officials will have a 5K race to raise money for people who were affected by the War on Terror and the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Sunday

Beckett’s Celtic Festival
The Village at Shirlington on Campbell Avenue
Time: Noon-7 p.m.

Campbell Avenue will close down for the fourth annual Beckett’s Celtic Festival. The day will include live music, dancers, bagpipers, food and drinks.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

(Updated at 4 p.m.) Candy and booze are set to star in Crystal City’s al fresco film series later this year.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District’s “Sweets and Sips” flicks for Crystal Screen in September are slated to include four movies that feature chocolate and wine. Initially, the organization planned to screen Star Wars movies this summer, but were unable to show them.

“Despite earlier confirmations with the movie licensing company, rights to publicly show the Star Wars movies for the Crystal Screen outdoor movie festival were lost due to an unexpected move from the DARK SIDE!” a Crystal City BID email says. “So, we’re celebrating by drowning our sorrows in the comfort of sweets and sips.”

The email adds: “Bring a picnic or take-out from area restaurants and enjoy sips from the pop-up wine bar (cash) with hand-selected offerings from the Crystal City Wine Shop and tasty sweet samples from Crystal City‘s Schakolad.”

The movies are:

• “Willy Wonka” (1971) on Sept. 6.
• “Bottle Shock” (2008) on Sept. 13.
• “Chocolat” (2000) on Sept. 20.
• “Sideways” (2004) on Sept. 27.

Movies are scheduled to start about 30 minutes after sunset outside 1901 S. Bell Street.

Arlington Drops in Happiness Rankings — After being ranked 15th last year, Arlington has dropped out of the top 25 of the “happiest counties in America” list. [WTOP, SmartAsset]

Unsettled Weather This Weekend — Expect rain today, Saturday and Sunday, says the National Weather Service. On Sunday there’s a good chance of severe storms. [Twitter]

Rosslyn Outdoor Movie Fest Starts Tonight — Weather permitting, Rosslyn’s outdoor movie festival starts tonight with a showing of “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.” This year’s Rosslyn movie theme is “Incredible Journeys.” [Rosslyn]

Fisette Mum on Reelection — Jay Fisette, the longest-serving current County Board member, says he will wait until the end of the year before deciding whether to run for reelection in 2017. [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Starting Saturday, the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) will begin its annual showing of outdoor movies.

From June 4 until September 17, movies will be shown every Saturday in Penrose Square and movies will also be shown on Thursdays from August 11 to September 15 at the Arlington Mill Community Center.

All movies will begin around 8 p.m. or when it gets dark. Seating is limited, with patrons encouraged to bring their own chairs. In the event of inclement weather, updates will be posted on the CPRO website along with its Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Penrose Square schedule is as follows.

• June 4: Spongebob Squarepants: A Sponge Out of Water
• June 11: The Martian
• June 18: Belle
• June 25: The Fault In Our Stars
• July 2: Juno
• July 9: Fantastic Four
• July 16: The Book Thief
• July 23: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
• July 30: Moulin Rouge
• August 6: Joy
• August 13: All That Jazz
• August 20: The Devil Wears Prada
• August 27: The Princess Bride
• September 3: Spotlight
• September 10: That Sugar Film
• September 17: Water

The Arlington Mill schedule is as follows.

• August 11: Kung Fu Panda 3
• August 18: Maze Runner: Scorch Trials
• August 25: The Sandlot
• September 1: The Peanuts Movie
• September 8: Brooklyn
• September 15: He Named Me Malala

Rosslyn’s annual summer movie festival will kick off on Friday, June 3 with the theme “Incredible Journeys.”

The movies start just after sundown Friday nights on the lawn at at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Hwy). Admission is free.

This year’s film festival will feature new food, beer and wine options.

“Food will be available for purchase from food trucks and local restaurants and from 5 p.m. until the film starts, grab a glass of beer or wine at our Mobile Bar in partnership with the Alexandria Aces and Mobile Event Bars,” said the Rosslyn BID, which is organizing the festival.

This year, June 10, July 15 and Aug. 5 are designated as special family movie nights, with kids’ activities and story time before the movies.

The full movie lineup is below.

• June 3 – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
• June 10 – Beethoven 2
• June 17 – Eat, Pray, Love
• June 24 – Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark
• July 1 – Coming to America
• July 8 – Dirty Dancing
• July 15 – Finding Nemo
• July 22 – Casablanca
• July 29 – Top Gun
• August 5 – Up
• August 12 – Roman Holiday
• August 19 – Casino Royale (2006)
• August 26 – The Notebook

File photo