Virginia Film Festival to open curtains in Charlottesville soon

Every year, the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences provides a great source for new and classic independent films to Charlottesville residents and cinema enthusiasts.

This Nov. marks the 24th annual Virginia Film Festival (VFF). The festival will take place from Thursday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 6, and will feature discussions and introductions by many special guests, as well as the screening of more than 100 films.

Opening night for the VFF will feature a presentation of Alexander Payne’s new film “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney, followed by the Opening Night Gala to be held in the UVA Alumni Hall.

Among the other new movies to be shown over the course of the weekend are David Cronenberg’s Sigmund Freud-Carl Jung biopic “A Dangerous Method,” Lars von Trier’s dark drama “Melancholia,” the acclaimed silent French film, “The Artist” and the psychological thriller “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”

Acclaimed director Oliver Stone will be presenting his Academy Award winning film “JFK,” followed by a special discussion of the film with Stone and Director of the UVA Center for Politics, Dr. Larry J. Sabato. Also set to attend the festival are comedic actress Rachael Harris and director Robbie Pickering, who will be screening their new comedy “Natural Selection,” rising star Mia Wasikowska and director Rodrigo Garcia for a discussion of their new drama “Albert Nobbs,” following a showing of the movie.

Last year proved to be the festival’s most successful year to date. “We broke an all-time attendance record, shattered the box office record and, more than anything, really partnered with and engaged the community here with the film festival at a level that I don’t think had ever been done before,” said Jody Kielbasa, Director of the Virginia Film Festival. “I am looking forward to this year. I think we’ve done a really good job in the community and in reaching out to a number of groups. And, I think we have programmed a festival that is exciting, compelling and engaging.”

For more information and tickets, visit virginiafilmfestival.org. Tickets are also available at the UVA Box Office at the Culbreth Theatre and over the phone at 434-924-3376.