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Natalie Portman, wearing a gray shirt and holding a pen and paper, and Julianne Moore, who holds makeup and a beauty sponge, look into a camera.
Film

Virginia Film Festival highlights “May December” and the perils of public perception

Todd Haynes’ "May December” was one of the final screenings at this year’s Virginia Film Festival, and Sunday afternoon found the Paramount Theater packed with viewers eagerly anticipating his newest feature. The film, starring Academy Award winners Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, debuted at Festival de Cannes last May to critical acclaim, and has been making its rounds on the festival circuit in advance of its arrival in US theaters Nov. 17 and on Netflix Dec. 1.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/virginia-film-festival-highlights-may-december-and-the-perils-of-public-perception?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest

Four children in casual clothes sit on a wooden table outdoors.
Film

The women behind “War Pony” talk bringing Indigenous stories to the big screen

In the Paramount Theater Saturday, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown mall, sat a room full of film enthusiasts all gathered for a screening of “War Pony” and a discussion with writer-directors Gina Gammell and Emmy-nominated actress Riley Keough. The two talked about the making of their joint directorial debut and the importance of showcasing Native American stories.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/the-women-behind-war-pony-talk-bringing-indigenous-stories-to-the-big-screen

A still from "The Holdovers" shows Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph sit at a table eating dinner.
Film

“The Holdovers” is a holiday heartwarmer

Christmastime is often a time of joy and holiday cheer, but it can also serve as a depressing reminder of the people we are not with. In Alexander Payne’s new film “The Holdovers” — which screened at The Paramount Theater during the Virginia Film Festival Saturday — Angus Tully, played by newcomer Dominic Sessa, finds out he cannot spend the holidays with his mother. Instead, he has to stay at his boarding school over the holiday break with his unrelentingly headstrong history teacher Paul Hunham, played by Paul Giamatti.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/the-holdovers-is-a-holiday-heartwarmer

The sun sets on the Paramount Theater, a 1930s-style theater with a light-up marquee.
Film

Ava DuVernay unveils “Origin” at the Virginia Film Festival

On a warm Autumn evening, excited viewers poured into the Paramount Theatre to view one of the Virginia Film Festival’s most anticipated films — “Origin,” written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/ava-duvernay-unveils-origin-at-the-virginia-film-festival

Audience members look on as musician Jon Batiste sings and plays the piano at Carr's Hill

Origins, Music and More: Virginia Film Festival Wraps Up Record-Breaking Season

Carlehr Swanson knew she was in for a treat when Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste visited Carr’s Hill at the University of Virginia on Sunday. Swanson, a fan of Batiste’s genre-bending style who had put herself on the waitlist for Batiste’s “Arts on the Hill” event, just learned she had gotten a ticket and found a front-row seat to the action.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/origins-music-and-more-virginia-film-festival-wraps-record-breaking-season

A crowd in the Paramount Theater watches as Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa delivers a speech.
Film

Hundreds Pack Theater for Film Festival’s Opening Night

More than 1,000 people packed the seats at the Paramount Theater on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall Wednesday for the Virginia Film Festival’s opening night. Still more lingered outside the restored 1930s movie palace, hoping that additional tickets might be released for that evening’s sold-out showing of “Maestro,” written and directed by – and starring – Bradley Cooper.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/hundreds-pack-theater-film-festivals-opening-night

A photo of the marquee on the Paramount Theater from last year's Film Festival which reads, "Virginia Film Festival November 2-6, 2022"
Film

Hoos and Hollywood: Film Festival Begins Its 36th Run

The Virginia Film Festival kicks off its five-day run on Wednesday with a showing of “Maestro,” a new film written and directed by, and starring Bradley Cooper about the composer Leonard Bernstein’s life and romance with actress Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/hoos-and-hollywood-film-festival-begins-its-36th-run

Movie Still from THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE - a woman in the water writing in a journal
Film

Virginia Film Festival Announces 2023 Lineup

T​he Virginia Film Festival announces its lineup for its upcoming 36th year, set for October 25-29. The Festival’s Opening Night Film is Maestro. Written, produced, and directed by Bradley Cooper, the film focuses on the relationship between Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and his wife Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). The VAFF will welcome makeup effects artist Kazu Hiro (Academy Award winner for Bombshell and The Darkest Hour) to receive the VAFF Craft Award alongside the screening.

https://virginiafilmfestival.org/virginia-film-festival-announces-2023-lineup/

VAFF Logo on a screen in a dark theatre with an audience. Photo by Jack Looney
Film

VAFF to Continue 2023 Year-round Film Series

The Virginia Film Festival will continue its popular VAFF at Violet Crown Series this summer with a pair of highly acclaimed films including director Charlotte Regan’s inventive father-daughter comedy Scrapper and Fremont, the story of a young Afghan refugee adjusting to her new land.

https://virginiafilmfestival.org/vaff-to-continue-2023-year-round-film-series/

An image of someone watching a film at an exhibit
Film

In Newark, an Exhibition of Films Calls for Kinship

“Things We Do in the Dark: Cinematic Experiments in Kinship,” a two-part film exhibition currently on view at Express Newark, includes nearly two dozen films by Black and Indigenous artist collectives whose work takes on subjects including environmental and racial justice, beauty standards, education, and grief and healing

https://www.thecut.com/2023/04/express-newark-aliveness-art-exhibitions.html