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.
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.
The 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.
The Paramount Theater hosted more than just a screening Saturday night. “Go On, Be Brave” was instead a celebration of endurance and tenacity.
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.
The Indie Short Film Series returns to Vinegar Hill Theatre on Saturday, July 8, 7pm in the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia. This installment features 7+ short films, including the Multi-Emmy Award Winning producer and director, Annette Bank’s, FREEDOM HOUSE AMBULANCE: The First Responders. The film was produced for WQED, Pittsburgh’s PBS affiliate.
“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
A journalist and filmmaker-turned-assistant professor and an award-winning flutist and bandleader who teaches music have earned Guggenheim Fellowships to pursue their arts.
The Virginia Film Festival announced that it will welcome visionary filmmaker and musician Boots Riley for an advance screening of four episodes of his upcoming series I’m a Virgo, followed by a moderated conversation and Q&A on Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 PM at Violet Crown Charlottesville.
“We are excited to announce that this year’s Virginia Film Festival will be returning to Charlottesville for its 36th year from October 25-29,” said Virginia Film Festival Director and UVA Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa. “We continue to receive such positive feedback from our patrons about last year’s festival, which saw us presenting a stellar lineup of films, and an impressive guest list headlined by Jonathan Majors, who is fast becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars thanks to his role as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Universe and his starring role opposite Michael B. Jordan in the highly anticipated Creed III. We look forward to sharing another outstanding lineup and guest roster in 2023.”
The story told in the documentary, “The Lives Between the Lines,” brings together the persistent voices of student activists, the painstaking research of scholars, the careful planning of designers and the crucial participation of community members – all collaborating to create the University of Virginia’s Memorial to Enslaved Laborers.
Jonathan Majors receives the Virginia Film Festival’s “Breakthrough Star” award after the screening of his new film, “Devotion.” University of Virginia alumnus and actor Jason George, who is also on the festival’s advisory board, presented the award.
