If you have any interest in documentary cinema, you probably know Sky Sitney. She is the festival director of DC/DOX, the city’s new-ish documentary film festival that ran for the second time earlier this summer. A cinema professor at Georgetown University, Sitney attracts luminaries in the nonfiction film world, and sometimes even the subjects of the films themselves. It is no surprise she is also deeply plugged into the city’s arts community, and she’s looking forward to a wide variety of events in a number of disciplines this season. She was kind enough to share those events with City Paper.

What are your most anticipated events of the season?

First of all, what strikes is the amount of stuff going in D.C. I appreciate an opportunity to look at everything. In terms of theater, I am excited that Matthew Broderick will come to D.C. at the Shakespeare Theatre this October. I’ve seen him on Broadway multiple times over many decades, and even though the play—Babbitt—might be a conventional choice, I think it will be very interesting. Babbitt opens Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 3 at STC’s Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. $39–$160.

I’m unfamiliar with that show!

It is based on a beloved Sinclair Lewis novel. I have never read it, but knowing Lewis, it’s probably satirical. I do know it is about a middle class man who is never satisfied, always aspiring for more, which leads to catastrophic results.

What about music you plan to see?

I do hope to see the Magnetic Fields, who are coming to the Lincoln Theatre this October. They’re doing the 25th anniversary of 69 Love Songs, performing the album in its entirety. The Magnetic Fields play at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 and 18 (the Oct. 19 show is sold out) at the Lincoln, 1215 U St. NW. $49.50 – $79.50.  

Air is playing the Anthem on Oct. 18, where they will be playing Moon Safari, so that is another kind of anniversary show. Air play Moon Safari at 8 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Anthem. $75–$125.

Any other kinds of art you want to mention?

I love photography, I try to see all the photography here, so I am excited about the National Gallery’s upcoming The ’70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography. It is going to have over 100 works from [more than] 80 different artists, looking at the style of the period and a radical shift in the nature of documentary photography itself. The exhibition opens Oct. 6 and runs through April 6 at the National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free.

I also love textiles, and there’s an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts called Myth from Matter, which focuses on the Guyanese artist Suchitra Mattai. It looks amazing. Suchitra Mattai: Myth from Matter opens Sept. 20 and runs through Jan. 12, 2025, at NMWA, 1250 New York Ave. NW. $13–$16.

It would be remiss not to ask you about film, since that is your wheelhouse: What film events are you excited about?

The Middleburg Film Festival is an exciting event for film folks. In many ways, it is like Telluride [another major film festival] coming to D.C. It is just kind of astonishing what they are able to bring: incredible filmmakers, almost all of whom are present to talk about their work. These films typically end up being the talk of awards season. Admittedly, the festival mostly covers the narrative space, not the documentary world, but I had such a blast last time. The film festival runs Oct. 17 to 20 at the Salamander Resort, 500 North Pendleton St., Middleburg. Most advanced ticket passes have sold out.

What did you see? Did you get a chance to talk to any filmmakers?

I saw Saltburn, and after an intimate talk about her film, I got a chance to chat with writer and director Emerald Fennell. I also saw Alexander Payne, who was there for his film The Holdovers, and his Q&A was a standout. Last year, I was only there for two days, but this year I rented an Airbnb with friends and we plan to be there the entire time.

What other film events are on your radar?

Every year the National Gallery of Art has a silent movie day, usually with a live accompaniment, and this year they’re showing the Jean Epstein classic Cœur Fidèle. Silent movie day with live accompaniment by Andrew E. Simpson on piano starts at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 at, NGA East, 4th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Free. 

I also always love AFI’s Latin American Film Festival, and I plan to go there later this fall. I haven’t deeply immersed myself in their lineup, but I will definitely catch a few of those films. The film festival starts on Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 10 at AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $15–$200.

Check out more of our 2024 Fall Arts Guide here.