Pleasure at Her Majesty's: 'The Secret Policeman's Ball' Film Festival at AFI Silver

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Eccentric Humor
The singularly British nuttiness that was "The Secret Policeman's Ball" was brought about by Monty Python's John Cleese and featured a parade of high wit, style and absurdity. The 1976 film directed by Roger Graef captured a live performance (and rehearsals and interstitial silliness) staged for an Amnesty International benefit and included sketches from Dame Edna, Peter Cook, Eleanor Bron and the Pythons. As part of the Secret Policeman's Film Festival, a six-day "Ball"-fest, AFI Silver presents "Pleasure at Her Majesty's." The movie's producer and co-creator, Martin Lewis, and culture writer Richard Harrington hold a between-screenings chat and Q&A. "The Secret Policeman's Ball" screens with "The Mermaid Frolics," a television special of the 1997 benefit also directed by Graef.
» AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; Fri., Dec. 11, 7 p.m.; festival runs through Dec. 15; 301-495-6700. (Silver Spring)

Word From on High
Andean and Andean-themed films are the focus of the metro area's first festival devoted to movies — from documentaries to serious dramas to horror flicks — about Peru's altiplano region. The festival runs through Saturday and is part of Arlington County's multi-ethnic Planet Arlington program.
» Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington; 7:30 p.m., through Sat., Dec. 12, $10 per film; 800-551-7328, Arlingtonarts.org. (Rosslyn)

Photo courtesy Amnesty International