2nd Annual Greater Washington Immigration Film Festival kicks off at WES with the East Coast premiere of On the Bride’s Side (Io Sto Con La Sposa) on Friday, October 23. This documentary follows the nail-biting journey through Europe of five Syrians and Palestinians fleeing the war. In the Milan train station the group discovers there is no train that will take them to safety in Stockholm. Concerned Italians wanting to help propose dressing the group as members of a wedding party. Will the ruse get them safely across borders and into Sweden? The resulting journey is suspenseful, funny and heartrending. Viewers are invited to discuss the film and the current situation in with the Italian director, Gabriele del Grande, a journalist specializing in immigration issues, who is flying in for the event! The evening is co-hosted by Georgetown’s Institute for German and European Studies. 

The Film Festival was conceived of last year by WES members, and now boasts an organizing committee with members from many other congregations and non-profits. The Festival runs all weekend (October 22-25) at locations throughout the DC metro area, including a gala performance at UDC on Saturday night. For more information, check out their Facebook page and their website.