DC APA Film Opening Night at E Street Cinema, Washington DC. (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

Ten years. Ten thousand APA points of view. Ten thousand reasons to celebrate.

It was indeed a night of celebration as DC APA Film celebrated its 10th anniversary in grand style Thursday night.

The 9500 Liberty screening at E Street Cinema was jammed-packed and completely sold out. Before the screening, fans were treated by the short films of the P.O.V. student filmmakers class and director Geoffrey Quan. DC APA Film observed a moment of silence for George C. Lin, who sadly passed away almost one year ago. Lin founded and served as Executive Director of APA Film 10 years ago.

Desson Thomson, Annabel Park and Eric Byler (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

Venerable movie critic Desson Thomson, formerly of the Washington Post for more than two decades, led a lively Q+A with filmmakers Eric Byler, Annabel Park and Quan after the screening.

The celebration continued at a rooftop buidling on 7th + F Streets, NW, where several hundred enjoyed food, drinks, music by a live DJ, mingled with the filmmakers and much more. Were you there for all the fun?

Food, Drinks, Music + Mingling at the Rooftop Party (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

The party continues tonight at the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke theatre at 6:30 p.m. where we’ll screen two outstanding films, The Speed of Life (dubbed as the darling film of the festival) and the uber-hip film, The New Twenty. We’ll be raffling off some cool prizes after the Q+A with the filmmakers. Actress Nicole Bilderback will also be in attendance. This is guaranteed to be a fun Friday night!

And yes fashion fans, we’ll continue to sell our merchandise, include our pretty smokin’ hot festival t-shirts. Your humble blogger already has two. Yes indeed, our t-shirts rock.

What are you waiting for? Buy your tickets now! http://www.apafilm.org/festival-2009/

Our volunteers modeling our truly killer t-shirts(Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

All photos by Laura Elizabeth Pohl – The Adventurous Photographer: http://www.theadventurousphotographer.com

See more photos at our Flickr account by clicking here.

Those cool cats from the POV Filmmaker Class (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

Film critic Desson Thomson

DC APA Film has yet another reason why you should join us for Opening Night this Thursday at E Street Cinema in Washington D.C.

We are thrilled to announce that long time Washington Post film critic Desson Thomson will lead the Q&A with filmmakers Eric Byler and Annabel Park after the screening of their award-winning documentary 9500 Liberty. Thomson is familiar with the work of Byler: He reviewed the director’s film Charlotte Sometimes back in August of 2003.

Thomson has been part of the D.C. community since moving to the area in the mid 70s. He’s a professor at American University – where he got his degree in Communications and Cinema Studies in 1980 – and George Mason University. Thomson also has been a lecturer for the Smithsonian Resident Associates, teaching film comedy and encouraging groups to explore foreign films.

Presently, he is a professional speaker and has made appearances at movie premiere screenings, conventions, colleges, writers associations, film series and even retirement homes. He writes reviews for NPR.COM and is a member of the National Society of Film Critics. He makes occasional guest appearances on NPR affiliate, WAMU-FM.

Most will remember Desson for his reviews and features as a film critic for the Washington Post where he worked for 25 years. Some may wonder, “Didn’t the Post have a guy named Desson Howe?” Desson Howe is Desson Thomson. He was known as Desson Howe until 2003 when he changed his name back to Desson Patrick Thomson after reuniting with his birth father, Alexander George Thomson.

We are delighted to have Thomson, the most accurate and insightful movie critic in the area*, at our screening. For more information about Desson, or to book him as a speaker – working lunches, high school commencements, weekend retreats, prayer breakfasts, working seminars, annual conventions or executive training sessions – visit his website at http://www.dessonthomson.com/index.html

Buy your tickets now for the screening, Q+A and rooftop reception for our Opening Night film 9500 Liberty:

http://www.apafilm.org/festival-2009/9500-liberty/

Editor’s Note: *Yes I dubbed him as the most accurate and insightful movie critic in the D.C. area. This is based on his review of Lethal Weapon 4. Say what, he never reviewed Lethal Weapon 4? That is correct. Desson changed careers briefly in 1998 and worked as a reporter at the Metro desk so he wouldn’t have to review Mel’s flick. I took it as a sign that Lethal Weapon 4 must really stink and that I shouldn’t waste money (and time) seeing it. Thank you, Desson.