Celebrating independence, creativity, and the researcher in all of us, the What It Is: Documentary Film Festival is a three-day festival that presents both short and feature-length documentaries from across the world.

The What It Is: Documentary Film Festival is hosted around the Olympia, Washington downtown area, mainly inside the Capitol Theater, a 1924 concert and movie palace owned and operated by the Olympia Film Society. This organization supports a small staff and board of directors along with over 125 dedicated volunteers who select films, organize events, and run the Capitol Theater.

Awards & Prizes

Best entries will be screened during the What It Is: Documentary Film Festival at the Capitol Theater July 12 - 14, 2019

Rules & Terms

The Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington has been screening dramatic narratives and documentary features since 1924, and our belief in arts, inclusivity, and emerging directors has been the staple of our programming.

If your film is accepted, filmmaker(s) must be prepared to send a DCP of their feature or short to the Olympia Film Society for screening purposes.

Dates and Deadlines:

May 3, 2019
Opening Date

June 10, 2019
Final Deadline

June 14, 2019
Notification Date

July 12 – 14, 2019
Event Date