VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026 VIRGINIA FILMMAKING LINEUP
Highlights Include 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph, The Cashier, and Death Becomes Us: And Hands Are With Us
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – The Virginia Film Festival has announced its 2026 Virginia Filmmaking Series for its upcoming 39th year, set for October 21-25 in Charlottesville, VA. This year’s Virginia Filmmaking lineup will include documentaries, features, and short films from across the Commonwealth, including the World Premiere of 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph. Presented in partnership with Virginia Athletics, the documentary follows the UVA Football team from the shootings that tragically claimed the lives of three players – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’SeanPerry – in 2022, through the history making, 11-win 2025 season that ended with a trip to the ACC Championship game. Combining interviews with coaches, players, UVA officials, teammates, and family members, the film features rarely seen behind-the-scenes and game footage to capture the stirring journey.
After nearly 30 years of championing Virginia’s film industry, Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office, comes to VAFF with The Cashier, his feature film debut as writer and director. Set in a world of everyday heroes and misguided villains, The Cashier is a feel-good, dark comedy centered on Glenda (Daphne Maxwell Reid), a humble cashier who stumbles upon a winning lottery ticket. Instead of smiling all the way to the bank, Glenda is concerned about the unfortunate soul who lost it. Built around themes of inclusion, kindness, and acceptance, The Cashier explores extremism, morality,and human decency, using humor as a lens to approach difficult subjects. The film also stars Michael Marundé, Robin “The Lady of Rage” Allen, and Paul Wilson — and was made with an all-Virginia crew. Daphne Maxwell Reid will be on hand to receive the VAFF’s Governor Gerald L. Baliles Award for her significant contributions to filmmaking in the Commonwealth.
Award-winning Charlottesville director Chris Farina returns to present the World Premiere of his final film, Death Becomes Us: And Hands Are With Us. His ALS diagnosis in 2022 transformed a small project into a deeply personal exploration of life’s end. Inviting us to choose acceptance over fear, Farina guides us through the stages that follow death, and the people who work beside it daily. Hospital and hospice workers, funeral home staff, and other guides offer striking, intimate perspectives that reframe how we understand life’s closing chapter, and the meaning of life itself. Made possible by family, friends, and community partners, the film emerges as Farina’s unforgettable gift to Charlottesville and beyond.
“We are very excited to shine a spotlight on this collection of extraordinary Virginia-themed films and filmmakers,” said Jody Kielbasa, Executive Director of the Virginia Film Festival and Vice Provost for the Arts at the University of Virginia. “Each year we are more impressed with the filmmaking talent showcased in this series and the way their voices reflect their visions of the Commonwealth.”
Additional feature films in the Virginia Filmmaking Series, presented by the Virginia Film Office, include:
9th & Gasoline
Dir. BL Shirelle
A visually innovative blend of documentary and music video, this emotionally triumphant work centers on B. Alexis, the first woman to release an album from prison. More than a depiction of her life, the film channels the struggles and resilience of hundreds of thousands of trauma-impacted people, especially young Black women.
Admission Possible
Dir. Matthew Syrett and Bowie Alexander
Seven high-achieving first-generation college applicants from New York City fight for access to higher education as they confront a rapidly changing admissions landscape. Includes the riveting and impactful story of Kamani Confident (UVA, ’28).
No More Punk Time: The Last Days of Crayola House (World Premiere)
Dir. Tarik Begic
A deeply researched and loving ode to the twisting history of Harrisonburg’s beloved cult music venue and cornerstone of Virginia’s punk scene: The Crayola House.
One of a Kind (World Premiere)
Dir. James Burns, Lee Adams, and Noah Gray
A propulsive portrait of American trailblazers woven into vivid vignettes of tenacity and triumph across Virginia and beyond. Featured stories include those of The Inn at Little Washington’s Chef Patrick O’Connell; renowned sculptor Mark Cline; and Winchester, VA’s White House Foods’ David Gum.
Our Community. Our Canvas. (World Premiere)
Dir. Pam Hervey
In this VPM production, Virginia-based artist Hamilton Glass explores how public art can serve as a catalyst for political action and collective healing in multiple communities across the country.
A Price We Have to Pay (World Premiere)
Dir. Ricardo Preve
Charlottesville’s Ricardo Preve returns to the festival with a bravura work of investigative filmmaking: starting with a single blurry photograph from 1968, he doggedly pursues the long-buried truth about the killing of Argentine journalist Ignacio Ezcurra during the Vietnam War.
Rock & Reel: A Film About Monticello’s Black Fiddlers
Dir. David McCormick and Stephen Brouillette
A deep dive into the historical instruments and music performed by Black fiddlers of Virginia, starting with the children of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson.
The Virginia Filmmaking Series will also feature three short film programs, including Light House Studio Shorts, Our Wealth in Common Shorts Program, and a new program featuring short films made by college students across Virginia universities.
The Virginia Film Festival is a program of the University of Virginia and the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts.
The 2026 Virginia Film Festival is presented by The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation. The 2026 Virginia Film Festival is also generously supported by the following Premiere Sponsors: AV Company, Bank of America, Harvest Moon Catering, The Hollywood Reporter, Southern Environmental Law Center, UVA Arts & the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts, Violet Crown Cinema, and Virginia Film Office.
Additional highlights of 2026 VAFF program will be announced on Tuesday, September 22. The full program of films, events, and guests will be available online on Thursday, September 24. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, October 2 at virginiafilmfestival.org.
Press materials and images are available at virginiafilmfestival.org/news-press/assets.