TO BENEFIT THE

25^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL

(CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) – The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to Charlottesville on Oscar Night.  Residents of Charlottesville can experience the thrills and surprises of the 84th Academy Awards^® on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at Charlottesville’s own Oscar Night America party.

The Charlottesville event is one of 49 parties officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar Night.

Benefiting the 25^th Anniversary of the Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville’s Oscar Night is presented by Virginia National Bank and will be held at The Paramount Theater beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $45.00 and go on sale Tuesday, January 24 at www.virginiafilmfestival.org.   Tickets will also be available by phone at 434-924-3376 or in person in the lobby of the U.Va. Drama Building, Monday through Friday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

The Charlottesville audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live on Virginia’s largest high definition screen courtesy of WVAW, the Charlottesville affiliate of the ABC Television Network, which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation.  This is the 19th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar Night viewing parties throughout the country.  This year marks the third year that Charlottesville’s party has been sanctioned by the Academy.

“Oscar night is an event meant to be a shared with others.  This network of fundraising parties across the nation is a natural extension of that experience, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.  “This February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country.”

Oscar Night parties last year raised more than $3.5 million in 51 cities.  All money raised stays in the local community.

The Academy will provide party guests in Charlottesville the same official program distributed to guests at the Oscar^â presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center^® in Hollywood.

Charlottesville guests may feel like stars themselves as they walk down the red carpet, dine on fine foods provided by some of the area’s leading restaurants, sample the best of the thriving Virginia wine scene and sit back and enjoy the festivities, which will be hosted by the Newsplex’s own Dan Schutte and Tara Wheeler.

“Oscar Night generates excitement all over the world,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa. “Each year, with the Academy’s help, this event has grown bigger and bigger, and we look forward to another memorable evening, and to raising even more money for the Virginia Film Festival – money which will support the continued growth of the festival itself and our outstanding Outreach and Education program, which brings the magic of the movies to thousands of local community members each year. I think this year’s Academy Award broadcast will be of particular interest to local audiences because it is very likely that several films featured in our 2011 program will be nominated.

I continue to be proud of the fact that we are able to give our community members a chance to preview the very best films each Fall.”

The Virginia Film Festival, presented by the University of Virginia and its College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, will celebrate its 25^th Anniversary this year. Over that quarter century, the Festival has grown into one of Virginia’s premier cultural landmarks and earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading regional festivals. Each year the VFF presents a unique collection of films and events including some of the hottest titles on the festival circuit, cutting-edge documentaries, beloved classics, acclaimed foreign films and more –accompanied by fascinating discussions with a wide range of special guests and cultural experts. In addition, the Festival, through its acclaimed Outreach and Education program, presents a year-round schedule of film and cultural offerings for students, educators and families from throughout the region.

Charlottesville’s Oscar Night America is presented by Virginia National Bank and supported by presenting media partner Charlottesville Newsplex and supporting media partners Charlottesville Radio Group and Cville Weekly.

For more information on Charlottesville’s Oscar Night America, visit http://www.virginiafilmfestival.org/.

JANUARY 24, 2012 AT 10AM AT MLK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER –PART OF U.VA. COMMUNITY MLK CELEBRATION

Event To Be Presented by The Virginia Film Festival
Along With the U.Va. Center for Politics and Office of Diversity and Equity

Charlottesville, VA – January 12, 2012– Legendary entertainer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte will screen the acclaimed documentary Sing Your Song exclusively for an audience of area middle and high school students on January 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center.

The event, presented by the U.Va. Office of Diversity and Equity, the Virginia Film Festival’s Outreach and Education Program, the U.Va. Center for Politics, and the Virginia Festival of the Book, will feature a post-screening discussion with Mr. Belafonte moderated by Professor Larry J. Sabato, director of the U. Va. Center for Politics.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Reservations for the event are being accepted now from area schools and educators on a first-come, first-served basis, and may be made by contacting VFF Community Outreach and Education Coordinator Jane Freeman at janefreeman@virginia.edu.

“We are thrilled and honored to be welcoming a man who has combined his remarkable talents and boundless compassion to make a difference in the lives of people around the world,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa. “This is a truly unique opportunity for students and educators to hear from one of the most fascinating and heroic entertainment and political figures of the last 60 years, and a perfect example of the role the festival can and does play through our dynamic year-round outreach efforts.”

Those efforts continue to gain important attention and support both in the Charlottesville area and beyond. Most recently, the Virginia Film Festival received a special community outreach grant of $10,000 from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s Community Endowment Fund. This grant, along with the recently-announced grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, plays a key role in the festival’s ability to present events like this one, in addition to supporting its many other outreach activities throughout the year.

The highly-acclaimed documentary Sing Your Song captures the remarkable life of a uniquely gifted artist and tireless humanitarian who rose from humble roots to international stardom, and has used his influence to advance causes around the world. Born in a rough Harlem neighborhood in 1927, Belafonte was sent to his immigrant mother’s native Jamaica in an effort to ensure his safety. There he discovered and honed cultural influences that would provide the foundation of his artistic success. Sing Your Song follows Belafonte’s rise from Greenwich Village folk and jazz clubs to his status as a truly global entertainment superstar. Still, as the film illustrates, Belafonte’s stardom hardly protected him from the prejudice that plagued African-American men and women throughout the country, all of which led him to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, where he worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and other leaders of the day.

Mr. Belafonte will be joined by one of those leaders, U.Va. history professor Julian Bond, for a  second screening of the film at The Paramount at 6:00 p.m. on January 24. The event will serve as the keynote event for the U.Va. Community MLK Celebration, and will also feature renowned poet Rita Dove, who will introduce the pair. Bond and Belafonte will discuss Sing Your Song and Belafonte’s recent memoir, My Song. A book signing will follow.

The evening’s event is free and open to the public. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.virginia.edu/mlk.

For more information on the Virginia Film Festival’s Community Outreach and Education programs as well as its  upcoming 25^th Anniversary year, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org.

# # #

Charlottesville, VA – December 13, 2011– The Virginia Film Festival has received a $20,000 grant from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to fund its education and outreach programs.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

“I’d like to thank The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its support of our education and outreach efforts,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa.

“From the first day I arrived in Charlottesville three years ago, I have made community outreach and education a major priority. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished under the direction of our Community Outreach and Education Coordinator Jane Freeman, and look forward to continuing to expand our programs and to share the magic of film with more people than ever before.”

Other highlights of The Virginia Film Festival’s Community and Education Outreach programming include:

• Middle and High School Film Screening
  Each year VFF hosts a free screening of a socially-relevant, curriculum-related film for local students and educators. This past November more than 900 were treated to the powerful documentary The Loving Story –chronicling an interracial couple’s fight to preserve their love in the face of Virginia’s racial purity laws. Past films have also included Freedom Riders, the tale of the brave Civil Rights activists who risked arrest and much more to expose racial inequality by riding buses through the heart of the segregated South.
• Family Day
  The VFF’s annual Family Day event, presented on the Saturday of the festival weekend, is highlighted by a special family screening at The Paramount Theater and also includes a variety of family-friendly events ranging from interactive film-related activities to a street fair on the Downtown Mall featuring live performances by various community groups.

• Social Service Partnerships
  The Festival regularly works with local organizations to use film to highlight important issues in the community. Past partners have included The ARC of  the Piedmont, The Virginia Institute of Autism, The Foothills Child Advocacy Center and others.

• Light House Studio Film Screenings
  Each year, the Festival hosts a special screening that showcases the work of the talented teenagers from this acclaimed not-for-profit, independent media education center.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

For more information on the Virginia Film Festival and its Community and Education Programs, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org.

AND THE CREDITS ROLL…

24^TH ANNUAL VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL FINISHES WITH

RECORD 27 SOLD OUT SCREENINGS

2011 Festival Drew More Than 24,000 Attendees

Highly Anticipated Silent Film The Artist Captures Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature

Charlottesville, VA – November 9, 2011– The 24^th Annual Virginia Film Festival is in the books and has once again made history with an all-time record 27 sold-out screenings.

The jam-packed weekend included 115 screenings in all, including appearances by special guests Oliver Stone, Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk, Larry Flynt, Rachael Harris, Bill T. Jones and others.  The festival was filled with a variety of highly-anticipated features, fascinating documentaries, engaging short films, as well as special events, parties, family fare and outdoor projections that welcomed the whole community to join in the celebration.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Ticket sales for the 2011 Virginia Film Festival came in at $89, 602 and attendance was 24,077.

The sales figure represents an almost equal tally to last year’s record-setting figure of $90,158, and the attendance represents a slight increase over last year’s figure of 23,750. The 2011 numbers are especially significant, VFF Director Jody Kielbasa said, because last year’s festival featured 13 more screenings.

“We are very happy with the numbers we are learning about from this year’s festival, particularly when you consider that we are operating with fewer screenings and fewer venues, given Newcomb Hall construction.”, “This was a truly extraordinary year for the Virginia Film Festival,” said VFF Director Jody Kielbasa. “Once again our community has embraced and supported the Festival in remarkable ways. This support was evident to us almost from the moment tickets went on sale, and became even more obvious as we started to see more and more sold-out screenings throughout the weekend.

It was extremely gratifying throughout the weekend to hear from so many people who took the time to tell me how much they love what they called the transformation of the festival in these past three years,” Kielbasa said. “Hearing comments like that reminds all of us at the Festival why we do what we do, and it inspires me to continue this evolution in creative ways as we look toward our 25^th Anniversary year and beyond.”

Once again this year, Kielbasa said, the Festival was helped immeasurably by its unique relationship with the University of Virginia and its College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. “We cannot possibly underestimate the value the University brings us in so many ways, and are extremely proud of our relationship and connections. In addition, we received remarkable support from our growing list of sponsors, headed up by primary sponsors The AV Company, Acura, The Virginia Film Office and Regal Entertainment.”

Finally, he said, thanks are due to the Festival’s army of volunteers who dedicate themselves to its success year after year. “The festival could not exist without the many community members who volunteer their time and talents. Even now in my third year, I am amazed at the dedication of so many volunteers who routinely go above and beyond to help ensure the best possible experience for our patrons.”

The VFF has also announced the winners of its annual Audience Favorite and Programmer’s Choice Awards. This year’s Audience Favorite Award for Narrative Feature went to The Artist, the highly-anticipated silent film about a silent film star at the dawn of the “talkie” age that is already garnering significant Oscar buzz. The 2011 Virginia Film Festival Audience Favorite Awards were sponsored by the University of Virginia Community Credit Union.

Other Audience Favorite Award winners were:

• Best Narrative Short – The Proposition (Edward Stein)
• Best Documentary Feature – Elevate (Anne Buford)
• Best Documentary Short – Wounded Warriors Resilience (Jay Lavender)

Winners of this year’s Programmer’s Choice Awards were:

• Best Narrative Feature – Days Together (Peter Monro)
• Best Narrative Short – The Box Man (Florencia Calcagno)
• Best Documentary Feature – Wrestling for Jesus: The Tale of T-Money (Nathan Clarke)
• Best Documentary Short – Jerry (Jeff Reynolds)

The tone of the weekend was set on Opening Night with the sold-out screening of The Descendants at Culbreth Theatre. The film was just one of the “sneak previews” of soon-to-be-released festival-circuit favorites that packed houses around Charlottesville this weekend. Others included the Tilda Swinton-led psychological thriller We Need To Talk About Kevin; the political satire Butter; the David Cronenberg film A Dangerous Method and Lars von Trier’s Melancholia.

Sold-out houses were hardly limited to major releases, however.

“What I am particularly proud of in looking at our numbers,” Kielbasa said, “is not just the number of sellouts, but the diversity of kinds of films that sold out. The list includes dynamic, and important new documentaries like !Women Art Revolution, Cafeteria Man, and Haze; fabulous documentaries that tell the stories of people here in our community, like Growing Up Cason and Rothstein’s First Assignment ; celebrated foreign films like Salt of Life and La Rafle, and many more. What this means to me is that we are continuing to engage our audiences across a wide spectrum of issues and topics, which is exactly what we are trying to do.”

Some of the weekend’s highlights include:

Oliver Stone

The acclaimed writer/director appeared before a sold-out Culbreth Theatre audience following the 20^th Anniversary screening of his celebrated and controversial JFK, and participated in an insightful discussion with Dr. Larry Sabato of the U.Va. Center for Politics.

Larry Flynt

The famed free speech crusader detailed his many battles for the protection of this inalienable right in a wide-ranging, insightful, and entertaining discussion presented by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. Flynt received a standing ovation from the nearly-packed house before heading to the Culbreth lobby to sign copies of his latest book for long lines of buyers.

Sissy Spacek/Jack Fisk

Saturday afternoon Downtown Mall visitors found a line of two-blocks or more snaking its way into The Paramount Theater for a thrilling reprise of the classic film Badlands, complete with an engaging interview by Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz with Sissy Spacek and her husband Jack Fisk, who first met on the film. The film was part of the special series, “Turner Classic Movies and the Library of Congress Celebrate the National Film Registry,” which also included a free Family Day screening of National Velvet, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and the silent film The General.

Albert Nobbs

Another Paramount packed house followed later that evening with Albert Nobbs, an arresting drama starring Glenn Close in a role she first originated on stage in 1982. Audiences stayed to hear from actress Mia Wasikowska, one of Hollywood’s fast-rising stars, who showcases her formidable talents in the film, director Rodrigo Garcia and the film’s producers, Julie Lynn and Bonnie Curtis.

Growing Up Cason

One of Albemarle County’s most enduring and dynamic families proved more than ready for its close-up when the lights went down at Vinegar Hill on Saturday for a tale that began in the Great Depression, carries through World War II, includes the founding of the famed City Market in Charlottesville and carries on to this day.

The Loving Story

One of the most important court cases in Virginia history got its due twice-over on Friday when the documentary The Loving Story was shown to a crowd of 925 area high school students and later played to a packed house at Nau Auditorium at U.Va. The Lovings’ determination to follow their hearts and fight for what was right paved the way for legalizing interracial marriage throughout the United States.

For more information on the Virginia Film Festival, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org.

Press Contact:

Publicity photos available by visiting http://www.flickr.com/photos/virginiafilmfestival/

24^th ANNUAL VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL TO RETURN NOVEMBER 3-6

Festival To Welcome Outstanding Roster of Special Guests Including Director Oliver Stone,

Actors Mia Wasikowska And Sissy Spacek, Media Mogul and First Amendment Crusader

Larry Flynt and Film Historian and Turner Classic Movies’ Ben Mankiewicz

More Than 100 Features, Documentaries and Short Films From Around the World On Tap Beginning With Special Opening Night Screening of Alexander Payne’s The Descendants

Other Festival Highlights To Include Sneak Previews of Rodrigo Garcia’s

Albert Nobbs; Acclaimed New Silent Film The Artist; Psychological Thriller

We Need to Talk About Kevin; David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method; Lars von Trier’s Melancholia And Psychological Thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene

Tickets Go On Sale Friday, October 7

Charlottesville, VA – October 5, 2011 – The Virginia Film Festival is returning for its 24^th year from November 3-6, bringing with it a fascinating lineup of more than 100 films and a long list of special guests set to bring some serious star power to Charlottesville.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Coming off the most successful year in its history, the festival will feature four full days of movie magic kicked off with a special opening night screening of Alexander Payne’s The Descendants, which stars George Clooney. The film is just one of many in the festival that have been earning big time buzz at major festivals throughout the world this season, including the much talked-about silent film The Artist; the chilling psychological thriller We Need to Talk About Kevin; David Cronenberg’s latest, A Dangerous Method; the creative political satire Butter and many others.

This year the Virginia Film Festival is delighted to welcome an outstanding array of special guests sharing their unique perspectives on some of today’s top titles and some of the most fascinating films of our time. Guests will include:

• Legendary director Oliver Stone, who will present and discuss his Academy Award®- winning JFK in a special discussion with Dr. Larry J. Sabato, director of the U.Va. Center for Politics.
• Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek and her husband, the acclaimed art director Jack Fisk, presenting a restored print of the classic Badlands, as part of a special series presented in collaboration with the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies.
• Rapidly rising star Mia Wasikowska, who starred as Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and won raves for her performance in The Kids Are All Right. Wasikowska will be appearing along with director Rodrigo Garcia and the film’s producers, U.Va. graduate Julie Lynn and Bonnie Curtis, to discuss the new film Albert Nobbs, which stars Glenn Close.
• Publishing magnate Larry Flynt, who returns to Charlottesville to present a 15^th Anniversary screening of his Academy Award-nominated film The People vs. Larry Flynt, and participate in a special discussion presented by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
• Talented actress and comedian Rachael Harris, a veteran of L.A.’s Groundlings troupe with a long list of credits ranging from a memorable turn as the notoriously difficult girlfriend of Ed Helms’ character in The Hangover to her starring role in Natural Selection, the breakout film at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. Ms. Harris will appear with the film’s director, Robbie Pickering.
• Turner Classic Movies weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz will be on hand to present a collection of classics under the heading “Turner Classic Movies and The Library of Congress Celebrate the National Film Registry.”

Other featured guests will include noted producer and U.Va. alumnus Paul Junger Witt, who will be presenting his latest film, A Better Life; celebrated family farmer, author and activist Joel Salatin (appearing with the film Farmageddon) and colorful chef and school food reformer Tony Geraci (appearing with the film Cafeteria Man).

“This year I am particularly excited by the fact that our guests represent so many aspects of Hollywood as well as of American culture and history,” Kielbasa said. “In Mia Wasikowska, we have one of the hottest young stars working today, now following up her recent string of high profile roles with Albert Nobbs and with starring roles in the upcoming Restless as well as the title role in Jane Eyre. We are so glad to be welcoming Mia to the Virginia Film Festival.”

This year’s festival also has its share of Hollywood legends, Kielbasa said. “Sissy Spacek and Oliver Stone are two people who have contributed to the art of film in immeasurable ways, creating experiences for their audiences that will never be forgotten. In Sissy Spacek, you have one of the most respected actresses of her, or any, generation, with a long list of some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable performances. We so look forward to welcoming her and her remarkably talented husband, Jack Fisk, to share their experiences on the classic film Badlands, which will be hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, one of the industry’s most highly-respected and well known film experts.

And in Oliver Stone, you have a true American iconoclast who has never been afraid to take on the hottest hot button issues in our society.”

Another man who never shied away from an ideological battle, Kielbasa said, is Larry Flynt. “Whatever anyone wants to say about the man and his colorful history, Larry Flynt is a uniquely American story. He is someone who has challenged authority at every turn and emerged victorious in the battle for the most cherished right we have in America.”

Rachael Harris, Kielbasa noted, is a great example of a mainstream actress and comedienne who splits her time and energies between high profile studio features and smaller, independent films, and does so with great success. “Rachael Harris is one of the most talented comedic actresses in the industry, with memorable roles in recent hits like The Hangover and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and she is now on top of the indie world with her incredible performance in Natural Selection.”

Coming off a record breaking 2010 year where it topped all-time attendance and box office records by some 25%, Kielbasa has once again set out to make sure VFF audiences have great options and tough choices when it comes to mapping out their festival experience.  “When you are talking about more than 100 films and so many interesting panel discussions and events over the course of only four days, it is virtually impossible to see everything you want to see at the festival,” Kielbasa said. “But on the other hand, there is such a rich and diverse range of offerings that I think people really enjoy creating their own unique festival experiences, and in the process, get excited about coming back year after year.”

Opening Night Film – The Descendants

Alexander Payne’s story of a rather uninvolved dad (George Clooney) forced by a tragic accident into a new level of engagement that sends him toward discoveries he never could have imagined.

Centerpiece Film – Albert Nobbs

Glenn Close stars as the title character in Rodrigo Garcia’s tale of a 19^th Century Irish woman who hatches a plan to dress like a man in order to make her way in the world and get a job as a butler – a role Close originated onstage in 1982.

Closing Night Film – Thin Ice

Academy Award-nominee Greg Kinnear is a slick-talking salesman determined to use his powers of persuasion to engineer an elaborate con and change his life, until he meets up with a mysterious man who more than challenges him at his own game.

Spotlight Films

• The Artist – This wildly creative and ambitious new silent film from French filmmaker Michael Hazanavicius traces the fall of a prominent silent film star in 1927, just as “talkies” enter the picture and change moviemaking forever.
• A Dangerous Method – Acclaimed writer and director David Cronenberg’s latest film, a look inside the complicated intellectual love triangle that included Karl Jung, Sigmund Freud and the woman whose role in their lives had fascinating and lasting consequences for modern psychotherapy.
• We Need to Talk About Kevin – Tilda Swinton stars in this tale of a mother’s chilling quest to understand the reasons behind her 15- year-old son’s school killing spree, and what responsibility she bears for the events.
• Melancholia –A bride’s best laid plans spin wildly out of control just as a far greater danger threatens existence itself in Lars von Trier’s acclaimed film that earned Kirsten Dunst top acting honors at Cannes.
• Martha Marcy May Marlene – Elizabeth Olsen is earning raves across the board for her star-making performance as a young girl looking to reconnect with her family after escaping a cult.
• Butter – Jennifer Garner stars as the scorned but determined wife of a retiring champion butter carver (played by Modern Family star Ty Burrell), who vows to carry on the family’s championship tradition herself rather than ceding the stage to a young African American upstart in this sharp political satire from director Jim Field Smith.

Special Event Screenings

• JFK – Featuring Oliver Stone – Presented in association with the U.Va. Center for Politics

The Virginia Film Festival is proud to welcome Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter Oliver Stone to present a 20^th Anniversary screening of his famed 1991 film JFK. Stone will then join Dr. Larry J. Sabato, head of the U.Va. Center for Politics, for a special discussion of the film.

• The People Vs. Larry Flynt – 15^th Anniversary Screening with Larry Flynt

In 1997, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt appeared at the Virginia Film Festival for a special screening of Milos Forman’s The People vs. Larry Flynt. The self-described “pornographer, pundit and social outcast,” was in Charlottesville for a conference with his longtime legal and ideological adversary Jerry Falwell to discuss the ten year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case that would forever link their names in First Amendment history.  The organizer of the conference, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, has again arranged for Flynt to visit Charlottesville for a 15th anniversary screening of The People v. Larry Flynt followed by a discussion on his many First Amendment battles.

Badlands – with Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk

Charlottesville’s own Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek and her husband, the renowned art director Jack Fisk, will be on hand for a special screening and discussion of the 1973 Terence Malick classic Badlands, the film on which the couple first met.

Cafeteria Man

Childhood obesity is one of the most important health issues in our nation today, and at the top of the priority list for school systems across the country. Cafeteria Man is the story of dynamic chef Tony Geraci, who combined his culinary talent with his own passion for the issue when he spearheaded the “greening” of the Baltimore city schools’ menu, and will share in a special discussion with area school and health officials.

Turner Classic Movies and the Library of Congress Celebrate the National Film Registry with Special Guest Ben Mankiewicz

This year the Virginia Film Festival is proud to be participating in a one-of-a-kind partnership with the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies to highlight a special series of films on the National Film Registry.

“This is a project we have been working on for the better part of a year,” Kielbasa said. “We are thrilled and honored to partner with both the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies to highlight these films that have been chosen for their cultural and historical significance to be part of the National Film Registry. It also allows us to celebrate the extraordinary preservation work being done by the Library of Congress right up the road in Culpeper, Virginia (work that is showcased in the fascinating and important film These Amazing Shadows). This is a great opportunity for film lovers to see these cultural treasures as they were intended to be seen, in beautifully restored and preserved 35 mm prints.”

The series will include:

• Badlands (1973) – Featuring Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk
• The General (1926) – 85^th Anniversary screening Featuring live musical accompaniment by Matt Marshall and the Reel Music Ensemble
• National Velvet (1944) – Showcase film of VFF Family Day
• McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) – 40^th Anniversary Screening
• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) – Preserved in-house at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation

A 45^th Anniversary Celebration of Kartemquin Films – Featuring A Good Man

The festival will celebrate the 45^th Anniversary of the founding of Kartemquin Films (www.kartemquin.com) with a series of screenings highlighted by A Good Man, which focuses on legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones’ Lincoln-inspired piece.

“Over its remarkable history, Kartemquin has captured the heart and soul of American society in ways few others have ever done,” Kielbasa said, “addressing issues ranging from the struggles faced by inner city youth to those faced by soldiers returning from battle and others seeking workers’ rights, to name just a few. It is particularly exciting for us to share A Good Man with audiences and to welcome its subject, the legendary Bill T. Jones, back to the University, which plays a big role in the related short film 100 Migrations, which we will also be screening.”

The festival will also welcome Kartemquin co-founder Gordon Quinn, along with filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams), a legend in the documentary filmmaking world, for a series of six full-length documentaries and three short films. They will include James’ The Interrupters, which takes a fascinating look at the extreme interventional steps being made by some in inner city Chicago to help stem the tide of youth violence.

The A Good Man screening and post-film discussion will be shared in a live broadcast to Virginia Tech as part of the 4VA Program. The live broadcast was initiated and organized by the Virginia Film Festival, the U.Va. Department of Drama and the U.Va. Office of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer.  The 4VA Program uses state funds and technology donated by Cisco to link the campuses of the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison University and George Mason University.

Bill T Jones’ residency is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts, U.Va. Department of Drama, U.Va. Arts Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

The Loving Story

“Fascinating documentaries have long been at the heart of the Virginia Film Festival experience,” Kielbasa said, “and this year is no exception. Among this year’s highlights are The Loving Story, which chronicles the tale of Richard and Mildred Loving, the Virginia interracial couple who, in the 1960’s took their battle for acceptance all the way to the Supreme Court, and changed history in the process.” The film will be presented along with a panel discussion organized by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The Loving Story will also be presented in a special high school screening at the Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center.

Food On Film

“From the explosion of cooking-themed TV programming to the serious issues of health, nutrition and sustainability,” Kielbasa said, “it’s clear that food is now a major ingredient in our cultural consumption. We decided to explore that a little further this year with a series of films that explore food-related issues around the world, and quite literally right in our own backyard.”

This series will include:

• El Bulli: Cooking in Progress – A look behind the scenes as one of the world’s most famous restaurants shuts down for its annual tasting and testing process which results in its highly anticipated menu

• Cafeteria Man – Chronicling the revolutionary efforts of New Orleans-born chef Tony Geraci to “green” the menu of Baltimore City Schools
• Farmageddon – The story of how small family farms are facing significant economic and bureaucratic hurdles in their attempts to provide safe and healthy foods. The film will be accompanied by a panel discussion featuring internationally renowned family farmer, author and activist Joel Salatin.
• Growing Up Cason – The film tells the story of one of Albemarle County’s most prominent, and colorful, farming families

Focus on Israel

The festival has partnered with representatives from the Embassy of Israel and Congregation Beth Israel to program a special series celebrating that nation’s outstanding film scene. The films will include Human Resources Manager, a black comedy (and winner of three Israeli Academy Awards) about one man’s transcontinental search for redemption after he is blamed for the death of a co-worker; Infiltration, military drama set just after the nation’s War of Independence that follows one platoon’s struggles at training camp; Restoration, an official Toronto Film Festival selection about a man’s herculean efforts to hold onto the antique restoration shop that has been his life’s work and 2-Night, an atypical love story of a couple whose relationship is launched during the search for a parking space.

The series will be grouped with a quartet of films focusing on Jewish themes and culture. They include David, a cultural coming of age story of an 11-year-old Muslim boy caught between cultural and family expectations and a new group of Jewish boys he befriends. Other films in this series will include Klezmatics: On Holy Ground, La Rafle, and In Darkness (Poland’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film this year).

Other highlight documentaries at the festival this year will include:

• Page One: Inside the New York Times – The look behind-the-scenes into the newsroom of the New York Times, featuring one of the film’s primary subjects, Brian Stelter
• !Women Art Revolution – Lynne Hershman-Leeson’s look at how the Feminist Art Movement transformed our culture and our times
• El Sicario:Room 164 – the story of a double-dealing Mexican hitman employed both by a powerful cartel and by the police
• Elevate – The story of Senegalese young men trying to achieve their college hoop dreams here in America – including U.Va. star Assane Sene, who will be on hand to discuss the film and his experiences.
• Armadillo – This documentary highlights the growing cynicism and adrenaline addiction of a group of  Danish soldiers in Afghanistan

Spotlight on Virginia Filmmakers

Once again this year, the Virginia Film Festival is showcasing the work of filmmakers from throughout the Commonwealth in a series that will include short films and features.

“Each year I am more and more impressed by the quality and the depth of the filmmaking talent right here in our own backyard,” Kielbasa said. “Last year’s screening of The Parking Lot Movie was one of the highlights of the entire festival, and we are excited to share the work of a number of terrific Virginia filmmakers this year, highlighted by a program of short films by Kevin Everson, whose recent installation at the Whitney in New York won a rave from the New York Times, among others.”

World Visions – Foreign Films

In addition to Poland’s In Darkness, this year’s crop of foreign films at the Virginia Film Festival is highlighted by Hungary’s The Turin Horse and Greece’s Attenberg, two more award-winning features submitted by their respective countries for Best Foreign Film consideration at the Oscars next year. Other foreign films include:

• Salt of Life (Italy)
• 3 by Tom Tykwer (Germany)
• Curling (Canada)
• Family Instinct (Latvia)
• King of Devil’s Island (Norway)
• The Monk (France)
• The Nine Muses (Ghana/UK)
• Tyrannosaur (UK)

Family Day

The Virginia Film Festival welcomes back one of its fastest-growing new traditions on Saturday, November 5. The special series of events, which regularly draws thousands to the Downtown Mall, will once again feature an array of fun-filled and FREE activities for all ages, highlighted by a Paramount Theater screening of the family classic National Velvet.

Meanwhile, on the mall, kids will once again be treated to their own “Red Carpet Walk”; debuts of films by members of the Young Filmmakers Academy and Light House Studio; healthy snack tastings from Whole Foods; Story Time with live readings of everyone’s favorite children’s books; live music and entertainment throughout the day on the Family Festival stage outside the Main Street Arena and much more.

Digital Media Gallery – Coming to a Building Near You!

After two successful years of commandeering Downtown Mall storefront spaces to show a variety of experimental films by student filmmakers from the University of Virginia and throughout the area, the festival is taking this innovative feature to the great outdoors. This year, these films will be projected onto buildings both on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall and on the University’s Arts Grounds.

“This has been a great opportunity for us to share the festival with the community, and we had more than 2,000 people come through our doors last year. This year, we were looking to expand upon that creatively while reaching an even larger audience, and we think these unique projections will be a great way to do that.”

The Digital Media Gallery projections will debut on Friday, October 28 as part of the monthly “Fourth Fridays” festivities.

Adrenaline Film Project

The Adrenaline Film Project, a Virginia Film Festival staple since 2004, will make its 8th heart-racing return this year for four days of highly caffeinated fun. AFP founder and Charlottesville native Jeff Wadlow will return alongside other mentors from the industry, offering guidance to teams of local filmmakers, who will pitch, write, shoot, edit and screen a film in just 72 hours. The event will culminate in a competitive screening, which takes place Saturday, November 5 at 10:00 p.m. in the University of Virginia’s Culbreth Theatre, followed by a reprise screening the next morning at the Regal Cinemas downtown.

Parties and Events

Once again this year, the festival is offering plenty of opportunities for everyone to share in celebrating throughout the weekend.

The Opening Night Gala – Thursday, November 3

U.Va., Alumni Hall – 9:00 p.m.

This year’s festival kickoff celebration, which will follow the opening night screening of The Descendants, will feature a celebration of Old Hollywood, and include beverages, light buffet refreshments and live musical entertainment, and plenty of chances to mingle with friends and festival guests.  Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $75.00 per person.

Late Night Wrap Party – Saturday, November 5

Main Street Arena – 10 p.m.

The Virginia Film Festival goes to Bollywood in this special themed Late Night Wrap Party on Saturday evening at the Main Street Arena on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. The event is open to the public and a great way to celebrate the weekend with the people who made it happen. Tickets for the Late Night Wrap Party are $35.00.

Additional premieres and special guests will be announced in the weeks between now and the Festival.

For a full schedule and complete information regarding the Virginia Film Festival, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 7 via that website, in-person at the U.Va. Arts Box Office (at Culbreth Theatre) and via phone at 434-924-3376.  Press images are also available at www.flickr.com/photos/virgniafilmfestival/.

Premiere sponsors for the 2011 Virginia Film Festival are Acura, The A/V Company, Regal Entertainment Group and the Virginia Film Office.

Festival Staple Continues For Eighth Year, Searches For Teams Of Local And Regional Filmmakers To Create Write, Cast, Shoot, Edit and Screen Short Films In Just 72 Hours

Charlottesville, VA – September 20, 2011 – The Adrenaline Film Project, a Virginia Film Festival staple since 2004, will make its 8th heart-racing return this year for four days of highly caffeinated fun.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Each year, the Adrenaline Film Project gives teams of filmmakers the chance to write, cast, shoot, edit and screen an original short film in just 72 hours.

The entire event culminates in a competitive screening in front of a packed crowd at the Virginia Film Festival. Filmmakers will get two opportunities to see their films on the big screen: at the University of Virginia’s Culbreth Theatre on Saturday, November 5 at 10:00 p.m., where an awards ceremony will follow, and again at the Regal Theater on the Downtown Mall the following morning at 10:30 a.m.

AFP founder and filmmaker Jeff Wadlow, a Charlottesville native, said the Adrenaline Film Project gives filmmakers a rare and unforgettable opportunity.

“Here’s a chance to pitch, write, shoot edit and then screen your film for a sold-out crowd in the Virginia Film Festival. People risk financial ruin trying to get a screening like this and we’re guaranteeing it. It’s a great reminder for filmmakers of why they make their movies. They make their movies so audiences can enjoy them in a communal setting and have an experience and respond to the materials the filmmakers have created. “

In addition to giving filmmakers the opportunity to learn from such Hollywood pros as Wadlow (whose directing credits include Cry_Wolf and Never Back Down) and fellow mentor Jay Lavender (whose writing credits include The Break-Up), the Adrenaline Film Project often puts them one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the business.

“It’s an incredible thing that the Virginia film festival does and Jody Kielbasa makes it happen for us with Adrenaline, because they bring in these living legends, people at the top of their game, like Peter Bogdanovich, Norman Jewison, Mark Johnson, Tom Shadyac and others. These people actually sit down and watch the rough cuts and give notes. I mean, people come to Hollywood and they’re willing to take terrible jobs as waiters and valets just for a chance to shake hands with guys like this. But what we’re providing is an opportunity for them to sit down and critique your work.”

The Adrenaline Film Project also gives actors the opportunity to work in front of a camera. This year, the AFP is not only in search of Central Virginia’s most talented filmmakers, but also its most talented actors.

“A movie is only as good as the actors who are in it. So not only do we need the best filmmakers in Virginia participating, we need the best actors showing up and being in these films,” Wadlow said.

The Adrenaline Film Project experience begins with an “Actors Meet and Greet” in Newcomb’s main lounge on the 3^rd floor from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Then, the teams gather again for the official kickoff meeting on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., at which point the clock starts on the 72-hour process.  Each team must turn in the final cut of their film by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6 in advance of the screening later that evening.

Wadlow called the AFP screening one of the most exciting moments of the entire Virginia Film Festival each year.

“Year after year without fail, filmmakers complete their films, their exhausted, they feel beat, down, because they had to make compromises to get it done so quickly, they’re starting to question not only the decision to participate but the decision just to be a filmmaker. Then they show up at that screening, man, and it is like an injection, like the greatest high they’ve ever felt. And as soon as that screening is over, they’re on cloud nine and they just get it.”

Teams interested in participating in the Adrenaline Film Project can find the application and additional submission guidelines online http://www.virginiafilmfestival.org/adrenaline-film-project/.

Applications are available to local filmmakers beginning September 20 and are due by 5:00 p.m. October 14. Teams will be notified of their acceptance on October 20.

Applications can be delivered to the Virginia Film Festival’s office at:

617 West Main St
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Or materials can be mailed to:

Virginia Film Festival
ATTN: Adrenaline Film Project
PO Box 400869
Charlottesville, VA 22904

For more information, visit http://www.virginiafilmfestival.org/.

The Virginia Film Festival would like to thank The University of Virginia Library’s Digital Media Lab and LIGHT HOUSE STUDIO for their generous support of the Adrenaline Film Project.

 Charlottesville, VA – June 21, 2011 – The Virginia Film Festival has announced the launch of its call for entries, inviting filmmakers from the state, region and the world to submit feature films, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental works.

The 24^th annual Virginia Film Festival is scheduled for November 3-6 in Charlottesville.

The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

“We are very excited to launch this year’s call for entries, particularly after the extraordinary response we received from filmmakers last year,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa. “Last year we nearly tripled our entries from the year before, which I think speaks to a growing level of enthusiasm and engagement from the artistic community here in Virginia and throughout the film world. What was particularly encouraging to us was not only the number of films submitted, but the quality of those films. Many of the films that resonated most with our audiences came through this avenue, including the award-winning documentaries Louder Than a Bomb and Barbershop Punk.“

The call for entries also provides a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the growing film scene right here in the Commonwealth, Kielbasa said.  “I feel like the film scene here is growing every year, and we are continually impressed with the quality of the work being done here. By offering Virginia filmmakers and students at Virginia schools the chance to submit their films for free I hope we continue to encourage them to share their work with our audience and with the growing list of film industry professionals who have come to discover all our festival has to offer.”

The deadline for submissions is August 12, with an extended deadline of September 2.  Filmmakers accepted into the festival will be notified by October 3.  Also, all accepted films will be eligible for Audience Awards and Programmer’s Choice Awards. Documentary works will compete for the opportunity to be shown on Snagfilms.com.

Submissions are free for Virginia residents and in-state students. Submission fees for all others range from $10-$55.

All submissions must be mailed to:

Wesley Harris
Virginia Film Festival
P. O. Box 400869
Charlottesville, VA  22904

For complete submission guidelines visit http://www.virginiafilmfestival.org/participate/call-for-entries/. For more information contact Wesley Harris at the Virginia Film Festival at wesleyharris@virginia.edu or call him at 434-243-6830.

The Virginia Film Festival will announce its 2011 program in early October. Visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org for more information.

# # #

Festival Teaming With University Programs Council To Present Powerful Story of Virginia Tech Shootings Survivor Colin Goddard’s Unique Quest To Bring Awareness To Gun Control Issues In America

Charlottesville, VA – March 29, 2011 – The Virginia Film Festival and the University Programs Council will present a free screening of Living for 32, a powerful and thought-provoking documentary about Virginia Tech shootings survivor Colin Goddard and his efforts to bring awareness to the issue of gun violence in America, on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Newcomb Hall Theater.

This special screening of Living for 32 (www.livingfor32.com), will feature a post-screening discussion be presented by Colin Goddard and his father, noted gun violence and mental health advocate Andrew Goddard.

Tickets can be reserved in advance through the U.Va. Arts Box Office at 924-3376 or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.

Colin Goddard was in a class in Norris Hall on the fateful morning of April 16, 2007 when he heard gunshots ring out in what would become one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. Goddard was one of the unsung heroes of the tragic event, making the first call to the police that day before being shot for the first of four times, and handing his phone to a classmate who completed the call. Police arrived on the scene three minutes later. By the time the shooting ended, 32 people would be tragically lost. Goddard was one of the 17 who were injured. If not for his brave actions, and those of others, the tragic toll may have been far higher.

Colin Goddard fought bravely back from his injuries, even after being told he may never walk again. But his fight did not stop there. After recovering and graduating from Virginia Tech, Goddard decided he had to do something about the issue of gun violence in America, about keeping dangerous people from having easy access to deadly weapons.

He volunteered for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the nation’s largest gun control organization. And he had an idea. Goddard convinced the organization to sponsor him in going undercover to gun shows across America, wearing a hidden camera to prove how easy it is for anyone to buy a gun without identification or Brady background checks. He simply had cash.

Living for 32 is the story of that journey.

“For the 32 Hokies who were lost that day,” Colin Goddard said, “and for the 32 Americans that are lost every day on average in our country I’ve decided to devote this time in my life to making a difference, so their memories might be honored and the damage to our society might be lessened. Many people say we can’t or shouldn’t improve the gun laws in this country. I’m part of the next generation. I reject that premise, and I say we can and should do better.”

“We are proud to be able to share this extraordinary film with our community,” Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa said, “and so glad to be able to welcome Colin Goddard to share his story with us. Especially in the wake of the tragic events in Tucson, this is an opportunity to continue an important dialogue and to hear from a person who has a truly unique perspective on one of the most important issues of our time.”

Colin Goddard will be joined for the event by his father Andrew Goddard, who has spent more than 20 years in international humanitarian relief and development. Turning his efforts toward mental health and gun safety issues following his son’s shooting, he is now President of the Richmond Chapter of the Million Mom March Against Gun Violence and a board member of the Virginia Center for Public Safety and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services as well as Board Chair of the National Gun Victims Action Council.

The father and son team contribute a regular blog on the issue to the Huffington Post.

The 24^th Annual Virginia Film Festival will be held November 3-6, 2011.  The Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

For more information on the Virginia Film Festival and to learn more about the festival’s year-round programming, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org.

Click to download the Living for 32_Poster.