Act festival is held by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) at district, regional, and state levels, in which student-directed plays are evaluated on direction, acting, and ensemble effect (coordination).

The Alexandria City High School One-Act Play Festival is an annual competition between four student-directed one-act plays each under 35 minutes. The festival occurred over three showings: the first on Friday, January 14 at 7 PM, and the other two on Saturday, January 15, one at 2 PM and one at 7 PM. Four judges determined the winner of the competition, which went onto a local tournament at West Springfield High School on Saturday, January 29. The program is run by ACHS teachers Mrs. Hope Bachman and Ms. Leslie Jones.