The fall marks the annual return of the Virginia Film Festival, a hallmark event celebrating cinema in the Commonwealth. The Festival’s 39th rendition, which will run for five days from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, will feature a myriad of films from Virginia and across the world, as well as live discussions and panels with celebrated filmmakers and industry professionals.
A prominent festival not just in Virginia but across the country, VAFF will provide a major opportunity for people across the Commonwealth to engage with films released this year. Ilya Tovbis, artistic director of the Festival, spoke about how the Festival seeks to unite the Charlottesville community through art and film.
“I am a big believer in the power of the arts to create and foster community,” Tovbis said. “When a group of people can gather with people they don’t know, that they’ll get to know around a great work of art or storytelling, I think that’s really special.”
Highlights of the Festival were revealed at the Paramount Theater Sept. 22, prior to the full lineup’s release Sept. 24. The Festival will kick off with its Opening Night Film, Jesse Eisenberg’s “The Debut.” The film, which stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, follows a shy housewife who becomes increasingly entangled in the production of a local play. “The Debut,” which has already screened at the Toronto International and Telluride Film Festivals, received rave reviews for Moore’s and Giamatti’s performance, so it is likely to be a popular showing.
The Closing Night Film for VAFF will be the documentary “1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph.” A collaboration between University Athletics and NFL Films director Greg Frith, the documentary will focus on the journey of the Virginia football team. The film follows the team from the tragic shooting of three players in 2022 to its record setting 2025 season, which included an appearance at the ACC championship game. The heartbreak of the shooting, a watershed moment in University history, will be depicted in this documentary, and the Festival’s placement of this film as the closer underscores the intrinsic connection between VAFF and the University. Jody Kielbasa, executive director of VAFF and vice provost for the arts at the University, spoke about the high level of engagement that University students have with the Festival.
“We love when students come,” Kielbasa said. “We average about 3,000 attendances by students during the Festival each and every year.”
Beyond showings on the silver screen, this year’s Festival boasts an impressive list of special guests and panelists. Among them is screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin, who will participate in a conversation with producer Todd Black, the winner of this year’s inaugural Career Producer Honor. This conversation will be accompanied by a screening of Sorkin’s upcoming film “The Social Reckoning,” a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2010 drama “The Social Network.”
Additional guests include actors Nathan Lane and Jessica Lange, who will each receive Visionary Awards at the Festival, an award dedicated to artists whose contributions have changed the course of cinema. Lane, a Tony and Emmy winner, will introduce a 30th anniversary screening of “The Birdcage,” while Lange, one of the rare actresses to receive an Emmy, Oscar and Tony for acting, will be present for a screening of her 1994 film “Blue Sky,” which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Beyond the high-profile showings, the Festival will screen a vast array of this year’s international films, many of which have already won major awards at other film festivals. This includes “La Bola Negra,” which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Minotaur,” which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and “Possible Love,” which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. In total, the Festival will feature 11 films in their “International Oscar Contenders” series, highlighting their commitment to displaying the best of cinema from across the globe.
Another featured series of the Festival is “Virginia Filmmaking” lineup, presented by the Virginia Film Office. Spanning 10 features and a host of shorts, the series platforms both established and upcoming filmmakers throughout the Commonwealth, and through its combination of narratives and documentaries, provides a multifaceted insight into the history and culture of Charlottesville and Virginia as a whole. Tovbis spoke about the importance of highlighting Virginia filmmaking as part of the Festival’s repertoire.
“We consider ourselves the primary showcase of cinema [in Virginia],” Tovbis said. “I think it’s our duty as the Festival of Virginia to amplify their voices.”
Other than film screenings, the Festival also contains a number of panels and live podcast recordings. Examples include a discussion with media executives about creating effective pitches and a conversation with Oscar-nominated production designer Ruth De Jong about her production design process. With appearances from industry professionals such as Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter and Anne Thompson of IndieWire, these events provide an opportunity to build real connections by engaging with notable people in the film industry. Kielbasa said that students should explore the Festival’s offerings beyond just screenings.
“I would highly encourage students to take advantage of our panels,” Kielbasa said. “We have some extraordinary people that participate in these panels … And they’re very happy to engage with the students and talk to them personally. It’s a terrific opportunity.”
With nearly 120 films on VAFF’s roster, there is likely to be a film for everyone. Featuring American, European, Asian, Indigenous, Black and LGBTQ+ cinema, among others, the Festival encompasses a wide variety of films that speak to all facets of humanity. Tovbis, who is responsible for the programming of the Festival, spoke about how he wanted films that were both relatable and new, ensuring a unique experience for all who attend.
“I would like to make sure that people see a version of themselves on screen … And simultaneously, I want to make sure that there is a possibility for discovery,” Tovbis said. “You both want to be able to see a version of yourself — something that you can empathize with and understand — and in perhaps another production, or sometimes even the same film, have a possibility of learning something really new.”
Tickets for the 39th Virginia Film Festival are on sale to the public as of Friday. Tickets to all screenings will be free for all University students and can be purchased through the University Arts Box Office website.
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