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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

Fourth-year Piergiorgio Wilson sits at a piano and smiles for the camera next to a mirror.
Music

Piergiorgio Wilson, a composer of musical community

Enter Old Cabell Hall. Grab a practice module key. Walk downstairs, unlock the module and begin practicing. For University musicians like fourth-year College student Piergiorgio Wilson, this routine is muscle memory.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/11/piergiorgio-wilson-a-composer-of-musical-community?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured

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

Ben Sloan sits in a rocking chair by the lawn and reads a book.
Creative Writing

Local writer Ben Sloan uses poetry to take a walk in others’ shoes

Ben Sloan, Charlottesville resident and English professor who has taught at Piedmont Virginia Community College and the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, recently published his second book, entitled “Then On Out Into a Cloudless Sky.” The collection of poetry — depicting stories of childhood memories, longing for connection and many more — draws inspiration from the experiences of others, including his own students.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/local-writer-ben-sloan-uses-poetry-to-take-a-walk-in-others-shoes

Artists create posters at a table filled with paper, stickers, and drawings.
Visual Art

Like the Waters We Rise Poster Workshop inspired activism through art

University students took up arms — scissors in one hand, paintbrush in the other — on October 23 in Campbell Hall’s Elmaleh Gallery. Urban and Environmental Planning Prof. Jennifer Lawrence united these students by hosting the Like the Waters We Rise Poster Workshop, teaching art as a method for climate justice activism.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/like-the-waters-we-rise-poster-workshop-inspired-activism-through-art

A musician plays a guitar, surrounded by sound equipment and multicolored lights
Music

Chinchilla Café is more than a DIY venue

Chinchilla Café is not exactly a café, but they do have chinchillas — and so much more. A Google search for “Chinchilla Café, Charlottesville” will yield tour dates of bands, Reddit pages and local news articles, but none will deliver an address you can quickly plug into your GPS by itself.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/chinchilla-caf-is-more-than-a-diy-venue

Students Levi Green (wearing a blue and green striped shirt), Bridget Gauntner (in overalls and a red-and-white striped tee), and Laila Bolte (in a white and blue ringer tee) hold their hands up and sing to the audience.
Drama

Spectrum Theatre’s fantastic “Fun Home”

Spectrum Theatre staged the first of four performances of “Fun Home” Oct. 19, bringing the moving musical to an audience of friends, family members and fellow University students in the Student Activities Building.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/spectrum-theatres-fantastic-fun-home

Three abstract pieces hang on the wall of a room in the Fralin Museum. From left to right: (1) features multicolored, drip-like streaks; (2) a white canvas with pink and magenta swirls, (3) a horizontal brown and white piece made up of geometric shapes
Visual Art

Inspiring inquiry and profound self-exploration through The Fralin’s “Processing Abstraction”

Stepping foot onto the second floor of The Fralin Museum of Art, one crosses the threshold between the stress of everyday life and the fluid, expressive world of abstract art. This art has lived in the “Processing Abstraction” exhibit since its opening in February.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/inspiring-inquiry-and-profound-self-exploration-through-the-fralins-processing-abstraction

Professor Lisa Woolfork uses a sewing machine to stitch a shiny blue-purple fabric.
Visual Art

Black Women Stitch celebrates sisterhood through their love of sewing

In the heart of Charlottesville, a vibrant and close-knit community of creative souls gathers to celebrate the art of stitchcraft. Black Women Stitch, a local award-winning sewing group with over 20,000 followers on Instagram, stands as a testament to the resilience, creativity and cultural richness of Black women in the realm of textiles.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/black-women-stitch-celebrates-sisterhood-through-their-love-of-sewing

Hadelich and Weiss bow to the audience on stage at Old Cabell Hall, under a spotlight and next to a piano.
Music

Violinist Augustin Hadelich and pianist Orion Weiss enchant at Old Cabell Hall

For classical enthusiasts across Charlottesville, few events were as eagerly anticipated as the performance of chamber music duo Augustin Hadelich and Orion Weiss — and rightfully so.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2023/10/violinist-augustin-hadelich-and-pianist-orion-weiss-enchant-at-old-cabell-hall?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest