Domestic Animals is Official Selection at DC Independent Film Festival in Washington.

Our short film Domestic Animals, is Official Selection at the DC Independent Film Festival in Washington, DC!

Domestic Animals Official Selection at DC Independent Film Festival

As the oldest independent film festival in Washington, DC—running continuously since 1999—DCIFF has established itself as an essential platform for showcasing bold, innovative cinema from around the world. Since transitioning to a Film Forum model in 2022, the festival has strategically refined its focus, presenting a carefully curated selection of approximately 50 films over five days with substantive, filmmaker-centered programming designed to foster meaningful dialogue between artists and audiences. What sets DCIFF apart is its unique commitment to bringing the concerns and perspectives of independent filmmakers directly into conversation with policymakers in the nation's capital, bridging the worlds of art and advocacy in ways few festivals attempt.

Domestic Animals, co-directed with the extraordinary Sandy Siquier, confronts domestic and family violence as both a social crisis and a public health emergency. Through the intimate story of a couple trapped in a cycle of pain, the film explores the emotional complexity and nuances of domestic partner abuse. Inspired by real survivor testimonies, Domestic Animals is a bold, unflinching call to awareness and empathy.

The film will screen on Saturday, February 14, from 2:15 to 4:30 PM at the Regal Theater Gallery Place, located at 701 Seventh Street NW in Washington, DC. As with all DCIFF screenings, the film will be followed by a Q&A session, offering an opportunity to engage directly with audiences about this vital subject matter.

I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity to engage with the passionate community of artists, filmmakers, critics, and film enthusiasts that DCIFF brings together each year. The festival's emphasis on thoughtful, seminar-type programming around each selected film creates an environment where real conversation and connection can happen.

This selection feels particularly meaningful given DCIFF's reputation for curatorial excellence and intentionality. The festival's volunteer-driven model and its steadfast commitment to supporting filmmakers throughout the entire process exemplify the collaborative spirit that allows independent cinema to thrive. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the selection committee for recognizing Domestic Animals and for creating space for this work to be seen, discussed, and, we hope, to contribute to larger conversations about violence prevention.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project and helped bring it to audiences. I look forward to being in Washington, DC in February and to the conversations that will follow the screening.