Film Series: Transatlantic Rising Stars
Beat the summer heat with a day-and-a-half film series showcasing five recent feature films from the European Union’s Transatlantic Rising Stars Project, presented in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Washington, DC. The program highlights emerging and acclaimed directors from Greece, Estonia, Belgium, Spain, and Poland, each offering a distinct perspective on cultural and geographic borders. Screenings take place in the Ring Auditorium at the Hirshhorn Museum.
When: Saturday, August 1, 2026 (10:30 AM–late afternoon) and Sunday, August 2, 2026 (1:00 PM–5:00 PM). The series runs across both days.
Schedule and Showtimes: Saturday, August 1: 10:30 AM – "Animal" (116 min); 1:00 PM – "The Black Hole" (115 min); 3:30 PM – "Julie Keeps Quiet" (100 min). Sunday, August 2: 1:00 PM – "Sleepless City" (97 min); 3:30 PM – "Under the Grey Sky" (81 min).
Films and Descriptions: "Animal" (Greece, 2023, dir. Sofia Exarchou) follows Kalia, a lead entertainer at an all-inclusive island resort, as the summer heat and work pressure lead to violent nights beneath the glossy surface of shows and costumes. "The Black Hole" (Estonia, 2024, dir. Moonika Siimets) is a comedic triptych about apartment-block residents who, after a black hole appears in a lilac bush, must contend with aliens, a giant spider, and an Austrian in breeches. "Julie Keeps Quiet" (Belgium, 2024, dir. Leonardo van Dijl) centers on a star tennis player at an elite academy who chooses silence when her coach is investigated and suspended, while others are urged to speak. "Sleepless City" (Spain, 2025, dir. Guillermo García López) portrays Tonino, a 15-year-old Roma boy living in La Cañada Real, one of Europe’s largest illegal shantytowns, as he grapples with an eviction notice and his best friend’s departure, torn between a new life and his roots. "Under the Grey Sky" (Poland, 2024, dir. Mara Tamkovich) dramatizes the 2020 Belarusian protests after a rigged election, following journalist Lena as she livestreams the crackdown, is arrested, and together with her husband faces impossible choices; the film is inspired by the true story of Belarusian journalists Katsyaryna Andreeva and Ihar Ilyash.
Run time: Feature-length films; individual runtimes listed above (81–116 minutes). Total series duration spans two afternoons.
Tickets: Price not available. Registration is recommended.
Ages: Not specified, but the content (violence, political themes) suggests likely PG-13 or R equivalents.
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Ring Auditorium, Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560. Phone: 202-633-1000.
Organizer: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, in cooperation with the European Union Delegation in Washington, DC. Contact: HirshhornExperience@si.edu.
Note: The Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (TRSP), funded by the EU and led by the EU Delegation to the US, is a three-year initiative connecting European talent with American peers and communities; this screening series is one of its public-facing opportunities.