On Tuesday afternoon The Virginia Film Festival announced the bulk of its programming for the November 1-5 event with special attention to the commemoration of its 25th anniversary.
While a few of the choice feature films and special guests are still waiting for final confirmation, festival director Jody Kielbasa announced an impressive list of highlights from over 100 events in the 2012 program including:
- Festival opener Not Fade Away the first feature film by Sopranos creator David Chase.
- Family day with a rare screening of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- The Man with the Iron Fists written by and starring Hip-hop superstar RZA.
- Between Us starring Julia Stiles and based on the hit Off-Broadway play of the same name.
- A Late Quartet in which members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together by director Yaron Zilberman and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, and Catherine Keener.
Special guests at this year’s festival include Keith Carradine who will present and discuss The Duellists, Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band showcasing his first filmmaking effort Faces in the Mirror and actor Marc Singer will appear at the world premiere of House Hunting, directed by local filmmaker Eric Hurt. It was also announced that Carl Bernstein will be joining Bob Woodward for the Presidency in Film series screening of All the President’s Men.
With its mixed genre of screenings, from classics and documentaries to Oscar contenders, the festival brings together renown filmmakers, industry special guests, and audience members of all ages; and in its 25th year continues to grow in scope and popularity.
“It does my heart good to see people make tough choices,” said Kielbasa. “To have to run from the University to the Downtown Mall to see a film, then to emerge from that film and run back to the University to see another one. That really does my heart good.” Kielbasa stated that additional guests and films will be announced over the next ten days.
A full schedule for the Virginia Film Festival is available at www.virginiafilmfestival.org. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 5 via the website, in-person at the U.Va. Arts Box Office (at Culbreth Theatre) and via phone at 434-924-3376.
