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)

Some of the footage that filmmakers Eric Byler and Annabel Park shot will stir your emotions.

9500 Liberty focuses on the residents and leaders of Prince William Country, Virginia who are targeting illegal immigrants. “There are 12 million illegals in this country,” says one angry caucasian citizen who admonishes a group of Latinos to learn how to speak English.

The Latinos of Prince William Country just want to be treated as citizens. A billboard erected in the county (that has been taken down) expressed their sentiments: They pay taxes, their brothers and sons are fighting and dying in Iraq, they do the jobs that nobody wants yet they are treated like criminals. All they want is respect.

9500 Liberty is a must-see documentary.

Our opening night events have sold out in the past so buy your tickets now!

Buy online to save $5 ($20 online and $25 at the door). The filmmakers will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. There will also be a rooftop opening night party. Food, drinks, socialize with filmmakers and film fans. It will be an exciting night so buy your tickets now!

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