Library of Congress Film Series
The Virginia Film Festival is proud to continue this new tradition of working with the Library of Congress to present a collection of classic films, including several which have been selected to be on the National Film Registry. “This is a very important series for a number of reasons,” Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa said. “The Library of Congress’ recognition and embrace of film as a treasure for our country really elevates the importance of film as an art form, as a historical reference, and as a window into our culture.” This year’s lineup of films from the National Film Registry will include; Ross McElwee’s award-winning documentary Sherman’s March; Alan Pakula’s political thriller All the President’s Men (presented to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Watergate break-in); and the particularly timely 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate. Also being presented as part of the series is Sparrows, the 1926 silent film classic in a screening that will include a newly-restored print by the Library of Congress and with musical accompaniment by the Reel Music Ensemble.
The Library of Congress series is supported by the Library of Congress and U.Va. Arts Council.
The Presidency in Film Series
This year marks the launch of this exciting new series, presented in conjunction with the Miller Center for Public Affairs at U.Va. The series, which was first suggested by former Virginia Governor and Miller Center Director and C.E.O. Gerard Baliles, will begin with two films this year. The first is All the President’s Men, presented to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Watergate break-in, and featuring a conversation with the internationally-acclaimed reporters who broke the story, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Governor Baliles will moderate the discussion. The second film is Hyde Park on Hudson, the Roger Michell (Notting Hill)-directed tale of the 1939 visit by the King and Queen of England to F.D.R.’s Hyde Park estate. The film stars Bill Murray as F.D.R. and features Laura Linney as his distant cousin (and reported mistress) Margaret Suckley.
The Presidency in Film Series is presented by the Miller Center.
Ethel
For 35 years, Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Robert F. Kennedy and the matriarch of a high-profile brood of eleven children, had refused countless interview requests. She finally relented, it seems, when the right person came calling. That person was her youngest child, documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, who was born six months after her father’s assassination. Rory presents an intimate and revealing portrait of her mother, told from the perspective of those who know her best – her children. The seven interviewed for the film include Max Kennedy, a graduate of the U.Va. School of Law, who will be on hand to discuss the film with Mr. Larry J. Sabato, director of the U.Va. Center for Politics and Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at U.Va. Ethel Kennedy proves to be an engaging, surprisingly funny, and formidable subject as she leads audiences along a life journey that includes RFK’s early days as an aggressive prosecutor to his days taking on infamous labor boss Jimmy Hoffa to his role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and finally to his stirring Presidential campaign and tragic assassination. The film goes on to showcase Ethel’s remarkable efforts to continue her husband’s rich civil rights legacy through the work of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights and Justice. Ethel will screen on Saturday, November 3 in Old Cabell Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Ethel is presented by the U.Va. Center for Politics, and supported by the Daily Progress, HBO and the U.Va. Office for Diversity and Equity.
Politics and Social Issues on Film
Given its timing this year, it is no surprise that political and social issues have a prominent place in this year’s Virginia Film Festival. Issue-oriented films will include: Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, a documentary that focuses on the pitfalls of a system that seems focused more on disease management than healthcare; 5 Broken Cameras, a look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the often-battered lenses of brave photographers committed to exploring it from never-before-seen angles; Journey to Darfur recounts the 2006 journey of longtime journalist and television host Nick Clooney and his renowned son, George, as they traveled to Darfur to explore the modern-day genocide decimating the region; Love Free or Die profiles the ongoing battle for equality and acceptance being waged by Gene Robinson, Christianity’s first openly gay bishop; Slavery by Another Name, a powerful documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winner Douglas Blackmon that challenges one of America’s most cherished assumptions: that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation; Julian Bond, a look at the civil rights giant by Charlottesville filmmaker Eduardo Montes Bradley; The Other City, a hard-hitting look at the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS on our Nation’s Capital; and Amazon Gold, a disturbing account of a clandestine journey into the Amazon rainforest.
Spotlight on Virginia Filmmakers
The Commonwealth’s own thriving filmmaking scene will once again be ready for its close-up with a remarkable collection of documentaries and exciting new features at the Festival this year. House Hunting, a spine-tingling chiller from Charlottesville director Eric Hurt, will get its world premiere at The Paramount Theater on Saturday at 10:00 p.m., bringing in a group of actors well known to movie and television audiences, including Marc Singer, Art LaFleur and Hayley DuMond. Boyd Tinsley, known to millions through his virtuoso work with the Dave Matthews Band, makes his first foray into the filmmaking world with Faces in the Mirror, a psychedelic, music-fueled drama about a man’s dream-like odyssey on the day of his long-estranged father’s funeral. The documentaries include Amazon Gold, produced by Charlottesville’s Sarah Dupont, a disturbing account of two journalists’ journey into a pristine rainforest to uncover illegal and environmentally devastating mining practices there; It’s Only (a) Natural, Richmond-based model and actress Yolanda Lee cuts off her trademark curly afro to explore the social issues surrounding black women and their hair; and Something in the Water, a look into the reasons behind Charlottesville’s surprisingly rich and diverse music landscape.
The Spotlight on Virginia Filmmakers is presented by the Virginia Film Office. The Virginia Film Office was founded in 1980, and is part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state’s tourism agency. The Virginia Film Office is dedicated to providing the best production experience for everyone who films in the Commonwealth. Whether it is locations, crew, incentives, or access to the state’s incomparable historic backlot, film office staff are always ready to assist. Recently, the state was host to the much anticipated Steven Spielberg feature film Lincoln and the production of Killing Lincoln, written by Bill O’Reilly and produced by Scott Free Productions for National Geographic Television.
Adrenaline Film Project
The Adrenaline Film Project returns for another year of highly-caffeinated, can’t miss moviemaking inspiration. This annual Festival highlight presents the traditional studio system as seen through time-lapse photography, with 10 to 12 teams of filmmakers pitching, developing, writing, shooting, editing, and screening their films in a mind-boggling and body and brain-numbing 72 hours. Each phase of production is closely monitored and advised by Adrenaline mentors. This year’s mentors include Adrenaline veteran Rom Alejandro, director Derek Sieg, whose debut film Swedish Auto opened the 2006 Virginia Film Festival, and Sieg’s producing partner Jeremy Goldstein.
In previous years, the film sets of Adrenaline teams have also been visited by guest mentors including Tom Shadyac (Director, Bruce Almighty), Mark Johnson (Producer, The Chronicles of Narnia), Brad Silberling (Director, Lemony Snicket), Ron Yerxa (Producer, Little Miss Sunshine), Guillermo Arriaga (Screenwriter, Babel), and many more! The process culminates in a competitive screening of the finished films at Newcomb Hall Theater on Saturday, November 3, at 10:00 p.m.
The Adrenaline Film Project is presented by Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia and supported by the University of Virginia Library – Robertson Media Center
Digital Media Gallery
Located at 503 E. Main Street on the east end of the Downtown Mall
FREE and open to the public.
Pre-Festival Sneak Preview
5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. on Friday, October 26
Gallery Hours During the Festival
5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. November 1-4
PLUS a special exhibit at the Progressive Performance on Friday, November 2 (information to the right)
Experience student-made video projection art and contemporary film at this year’s Digital Media Gallery. This space will showcase creative work from Kevin Everson’s U.Va. intermediate and advanced cinematography classes, beginning with a reception during Final Fridays and running throughout the Festival. Join us in our Downtown Mall gallery setting to explore and celebrate the boundless talent and creativity of these student filmmakers. The Digital Media Gallery will be located directly below City Space, on the Pavilion END of the mall. There will be signs conveniently located surrounding the gallery.
Presented by: AV Company
Progressive Performance: A Celebration of the Arts
Friday, November 2
4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Free & Open to the Public
Celebrate the vibrancy of the Arts at the University of Virginia on the Grounds at the University of Virginia. Progressive Performance: A Celebration of the Arts will feature a moveable feast of sights, sounds, songs, and more – all free and open to the public! Spend your evening sampling the best of the best from the U.Va. arts scene…browse through an open art studio at Ruffin Hall…take in a drama and dance performance on the Rotunda Steps…experience a melodious mash up of music and creative writing…open your mind and eyes to the experimental films of the VFF Digital Media Gallery…discover bold and creative “creatures” from the Drama and Art departments . . . check out a talented jazz combo….and cap it all off with a free screening of Aliens at 9:00 p.m. in the U.Va. Amphitheater! Register by October 26 at www.progressiveperformance.eventbrite.com.
Presented by the U.Va. College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Schedule of events include:
4 pm Art: Open Studio – at Ruffin Hall
5-9 pm VA Film Festival: Digital Media Gallery (The Range)
5 pm Drama & Dance: Nexus (Rotunda Steps*)
6 pm Music & Creative Writing: Sound & Light – (Pavilion VI)
Art: Screening ‘Paradise’ (Pavilion III)
7 pm Music & Creative Writing: Sound & Light – (Pavilion VI)
Art: Screening ‘Paradise’ (Pavilion III)
8-11 pm Creature Bash – (Amphitheater*)
Music: Gang of Eight Jazz Combo
VA Film Festival: Screening ‘Aliens’
*Rain site: Old Cabell Hall
