Yachad, a non-profit organization committed to restoring Washington, D.C. neighborhoods and strengthening D.C. communities, has recently announced the launch of its latest, and most creative, outreach effort:  the Our City Film Fest.   "Our City" will host films that take place in or are about Washington, D.C.  The festival, to be held on February 3, 2008, at Busboys and Poets -- the popular Northwest, D.C., neighborhood meeting place known for its political consciousness and eclectic crowds - will promote pride in the city, bring communities together, and celebrate "our city's" diversity and culture.  Submissions are being accepted now until December 3, 2007 and cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Acclaimed documentarian Aviva Kempner is heading the advisory board for the festival.  Women in Film & Video of Washington, D.C., (a non-profit dedicated to advancing the professional development of women working in film), Docs in Progress (a non-profit committed to supporting local documentary makers) and Speakeasy (a D.C. based group whose mission is to entertain, inspire, and build community by encouraging storytelling) are all promotional partners.  The festival will include prizes for selected films, including the best film submitted by a filmmaker under 18 years of age and a Grand prize of $1000.  All length films up to 90 minutes are being accepted, in three categories: Documentary, Narrative, and Animation.  There are no restrictions on premier status.

To learn more or get involved, please visit Yachad's website at

http://www.yachad-dc.org/, or call Kendra Rubinfeld, Yachad's program coordinator, at 202-296-8563.