The Virginia Film Festival, operating this year under the theme, "Funny Business," begins today and runs through Sunday.
Virginia Film Festival press representative John Kelly said the festival will include 85 films and more than 100 guests in three and a half days, which is "an amazing amount of art to put out."
Additionally, Kelly noted that this year's ticket sales to date are ahead of the final tally of ticket sales last year.
Kelly said Virginia films are highlighted more so this year than previously. One film, "Locked Out: The Fall of Massive Resistance," covers the Massive Resistance effort to keep Virginia schools segregated. The showing of this film, which was produced by the University's Center for Politics and WCVE PBS, comes only shortly after the Charlottesville City Council passed an apology for its role in the state-wide effort 50 years ago. Former students of the involved schools are expected to attend the screening of the film, Kelly added.
A documentary, "Marching Band", will be shown opening night. This film focuses on the University and Virginia State bands against the backdrop of the 2008 presidential election, Kelly said.
For the first time, the festival will hold an open event on 106 East Main St. called the Digital Film Lounge, which will show the short films of 18 students in Prof. Kevin Everson's advanced cinematography class. Friday through Sunday, a mixture of 16mm film and digital projection films, some of which will loop and some of which will alternate, can be viewed on couches in the space with headphones, said fourth-year College student Yasminca Wilson, who is a member of the class and a Virginia Film Festival intern.
Wilson added that University students have not presented anything "quite like this" to the general public before.
The gallery-style event is a "really wonderful way of bringing the community and the students together," Festival Director Jody Kielbasa said, noting that it provides a great opportunity for student filmmakers to gain exposure.
"This year we have engaged community more effectively than past years," Kielbasa said.
Kielbasa said there also will be a strong lineup of guests for a four-day festival. Guests include Matthew Broderick, whose new film "Wonderful World" has sold out, and John Waters, whose 90-minute address Friday has been generating excitement in the University community, said fourth-year College student Zack Ketz, who concentrates in cinematography in the University's film program.
The festival will directly involve students with the annual Adrenaline project, a 72-hour competition in which groups must create a five-minute film in three days using a certain prop and token line. A consistently popular aspect of the festival, third-year College student Debra Cohen said it "includes the University community in a way that other parts of the festival might not."
Kielbasa noted that the festival's relationship to the University is "absolutely invaluable," adding that the University "gives so much creative firepower to throw at the festival and frankly I don't think we could do the festival without U.Va. - we're joined at the hip completely."
All full-time University students may reserve a free ticket to most events. The festival will host a party starting at 7 p.m. Friday at The Southern, with a $5 entry charge for students and $10 entry charge for non-student guests.
Read More
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 2 days agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | 4 days agoIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
