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This year, there were protests that the Sundance Film Festival has gotten too commercial and mainstream, but such complaints are not unprecedented. That’s why an alternative festival, Slamdance, was founded five years ago by directors excluded from Robert Redford’s indie-cinema party. Slamdance is an institution of sorts now, too, and one of its traditions is sending a package of its entries to the Hirshhorn every year. At press time, this year’s program was still in flux, but it will definitely include Cry Havoc, writer-director Adam Lamas’ short feature about an American sniper in Word War II Italy who, after closely observing one of his potential German victims through his scope, decides to put down his rifle and meet the man rather than shoot him. Festival Executive Director Peter Baxter will introduce both night’s programs, which be entirely different. At 8 p.m. Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s Ring Auditorium, 7th & Independence Ave. SW. Free. (202) 357-2700. (Mark Jenkins)