This year we are proud to showcase a strain of documentary films that encourage and demonstrate participation in activism. This comes in many forms. The kick-off event will be a Sunday afternoon with Suheir Hammad, a spoken word activist, and Dahr Jamail, an independent journalist reporting on Iraq, as they share their experiences in creating a more peaceful world climate. The next six days each feature a different film about activism. It might be anything from men fighting social justice in luchadore costumes to women turning the direction of their anger following 9/11 and raising money for the widows in Afghanistan. In between, we see the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the effect of AIDS in South Africa, and the Snake River Dams controversy. Every weekday at 5:30 PM plan to join us for these outstanding documentaries. If that isn’t enough, Saturday, November 10, we will enjoy Dr. Bronner who believes you can clean up the world with his amazing soap. Not to be missed.

Saturday, November 10, midnight!

EXCITING! TERRIFYING! UNBEARABLE!

Do you dare to witness the ultimate onslaught of MONSTER MAYHEM as Olympia is overrun with creeps, spooks, ghouls, and fiends? Be there at the Capitol Theater, Midnight, November 10th, and behold as the monsters take over the screen for over ten hours of the most unbelievably shocking, thrilling, and amazing fright features teeming with screaming thrills! Can you survive ALL FREAKIN' NIGHT? See if you have what it takes! We will have on hand every manner of horrific creature that the human brain can comprehend: Blobs! Mummies! Werewolfs! Vampires and Vampire Women! Mad Doctors! Undead Spectors!

And live, in person, on stage, the triumphant return of the most horrible of all... the FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER! The overflowing crowds barely survived his bloody rampage last year! Now he's back to finish what he began! Challenge him, prove your worth, and take home the GRAND PRIZE!

Even your fearless hosts Humbug and Ballyhoo, attuned as they are to the mysteries of the supernatural and otherworldly, dare not attempt to handle these creatures alone in case they break loose and run amok! In an attempt to keep the bodycount to a minimum they have called in their "fiend" and fellow spook-laureate filmmaker David "The Rock" Nelson. Travelling great distances to join us, "Rock" will be astounding the audience with short films and clips from his bizarre journeys into realms of the strange and unnatural, all the while protecting them from these savage titans of the night.

Have you ever wanted to join in the ULTIMATE MONSTER MASH? If you are brave enough, wear a costume and try to infiltrate their ranks! The most convincing wins a prize and the respect of monsters everywhere! For those who aren't up to the challenge there will be plenty of candy, treats, and surprises to placate your fiendish appetites!

You may think you are cool but these monsters are going to KILL YOU! Seriously! Heed our warning: Such ferocious creatures do not take well to jest and derision! Upset them at your peril! For those who don't call upon themselves the monsters' wrath, the night promises fun and frights galore! Guaranteed to be the BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE!!!

CINE-X celebrates the work of those who defy industry conventions and ignore commercial expectations.

Struggling to X-ist beyond the boundaries of mere entertainment, these films X-plore the forbidden and forgetten potentials of the cinematic arts.

Fringe exists in a land outside the box of the traditional cinematic canon. Expectations must be cast to the wind and minds opened to a collaboration of new sensory experiences. This year, a classic film will be remade by twelve-year-olds, journalism and poetry will move us beyond the screen, experimental cinema will be combined with live music and a spectacular closing night sensory experience with a newly created silent film that has been scored for narrator, orchestra, sound effects, and castrato singer. Rest assured, all of these events will astound beyond where your imagination will take you.

Kids and adults alike are in for a treat with this year’s line-up of family friendly cinema. We kick off the Fest with a special presentation of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation created in the 1980s by a trio of twelve-year-olds over seven years. One of those ‘kids’ (he’s grown up now) will be at the screening to share his experience as a young actor/filmmaker. Spokane-based film director Rich Cowan will be in town to share a 35mm print of his marvelous period tale The Basket. Last but not least, a year in Summercamp! is explored by master documentarians, providing an emotionally honest depiction of children’s and counselors’ summer experiences. You don’t want to miss any of these films!

Begin your Opening Night experience before you enter the theater with our vibrant Street Party featuring DJ Shannon and live fire performers. In a triumphant return, our MC Pat Castaldo will get the show started right! John Jeffcoat, George Wing and Tom Gorai, the Seattle-based filmmakers behind Outsourced, will join us to celebrate their film. After the film, enjoy complimentary treats, courtesy of Old School Pizzeria, Blue Heron Bakery, Chica's, and other local favorites. Upstairs in the Mezzanine, those 21 and older (ID required) can indulge in champagne and Fishtale Ales. The festivities continue with Dance!!Attack!! who will play rocking tracks to keep you dancing throughout evening. It all adds up to a great night out and a fantastic opening to the 24th annual Olympia Film Festival!!

Festive and colorful dress is encouraged but not required.

We’ll see you there!

Welcome to the Passport Series, the Olympia Film Festival’s showcase for the best cinema the world has to offer. These are films that are traveling the world, complete in their original language, with full English subtitles and properly synched dialogue.

This year, Olympia visits China, Japan, France, Canada, the Middle East, Argentina, Spain, and a glorious look back at Sweden. These films vary from existential meditations to full-out action films, horror movies to enlightening documentaries, and everything in between.

Passport Series was conceived from an idea by Jeanne Allan who has been an OFS volunteer, former Board member, and founder of Artswalk in 1990. She envisioned cultural connections between the Festival and high schools’ foreign language programs. Your ticket is your passport to the world. Come with us!

For centuries, the ancient Silk Roads moved ideas and goods between the great civilizations of China, central Asia, India, and the Middle East. From Marco Polo to Genghis Khan to Yo Yo Ma, the Silk Roads have connected empires and fostered the development of music, art, religion and commerce. Contemporary Silk Roads encircle the globe in digital, economic and cultural connections. This year the Olympia Film Festival and the Silk Roads program at The Evergreen State College are introducing the Silk Roads series to showcase feature and documentary films as mediums to cultivate the communication and understanding between cultures that is so vital for our world today.

This year there will be two FREE educational workshops during the Festival. Back by popular demand will be a Kids Animation Workshop at Mariah Art School on Saturday, November 3, at 10:00 AM. This workshop is for kids of all ages. Have you been shooting videos at home? Want to share them with the world? Worry no more! On Tuesday night, November 6, at 7:00 PM, Justin McKaughan will be presenting Uploading Your Video To YouTube. The Voyeur will be host to this valuable event in the pursuit of your self-expression.