D.C. arts briefs: Feb. 24

Indie film festival kicks off next week

The 2012 D.C. Independent Film Festival starts on Wednesday and runs through March 4.

The festival will have screenings of feature films, documentaries, short films, animated and experimental films, including horror film “The Big Bad,” documentary “Patriot Guard Riders” and more.

The festival will also have workshops about filmmaking, financing, distributing and more, as well as other events for attendees, including a wine tasting.

All events will be held at the U.S. Navy Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) except for Wednesday, which will be at the Landmark E Street Cinema (555 11^th St., N.W.). Tickets range from $7 to $16.

For more information and a complete list of films and workshops, visit dciff-indie.org.

Comedian Lily Tomlin plays the Strathmore on Sunday at 7 p.m. (Image courtesy Strathmore)

Tomlin to play Strathmore

Oscar-nominated actress Lily Tomlin, a lesbian, is performing at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Tomlin has won many awards for her work including two Tonys, two Peabodys, six Emmys, a Grammy, awards from the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle and the Mark Twain Prize for American humor.

Tickets range from $35 to $75 and can be purchased online at Strathmore.org.

Gay civil rights leader honored with screening

In honor of Black History Month, SAGE Metro D.C., the D.C. Center and AARP are hosting a screening of the film “Brother Outsider” on Monday at AARP (601 E St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.

The film celebrates out civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will provide opening remarks and Ron Simmons of Us Helping Us will moderate a discussion following the film. Light refreshments will be served and RSVP is required.

For more information on the film, visit rustin.org.

Classical ensemble plans weekend concert

Left Bank Concert Society has a performance at the Katzen Arts Center at American University (4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) Saturday at 8 p.m.

The performance will feature the Left Bank Quartet, comprised of David Salness, who’s openly gay, and Sally McLain on violin, Katherine Murdock on the viola and Evelyn Elsing on the cello, with Jonathan Richards on the viola.

The artists will perform Johannes Brahms’ “String Quartet No.1 in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1,” Anton Webern’s “Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 9 (1911 and 1913)” and Max Bruch’s “Viola Quintet in A Minor, Op. posthumous (1918).”

Tickets range from $10 to $30 and can be purchased online at leftbanksociety.org.

Center hosts Oscar party

The D.C. Center holds its seventh annual “Glamour, Glitter & Gold Oscar Gala” Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m. at Town Danceboutique (2009 8^th Street, N.W.). Tickets are $20 for general admission or $50 VIP. The event is a benefit for the Center. Visit thedccenter.org for details.