Virginia Film Festival

Screening: Mayfair Witches

Born in Zimbabwe, Tongayi Chirisa’s first American series-regular role was Friday in NBC’s Crusoe alongside Philip Winchester and Sam Neill. He went on to land roles on the The Jim Gaffigan Show for TV Land and the Netflix sci-fi show, Another Life, opposite Katee Sackhoff. Tongayi portrayed the larger-than-life character Medgar Evers on the ABC mini-series Women of the Movement. Tongayi stars opposite Alexandra Daddario on AMC’s Anne Rice Immortal Universe series Mayfair Witches.

Tongayi appeared opposite Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, and J.K. Simmons in Palm Springs. He was also in the highly anticipated film Antebellum, opposite Janelle Monáe. Other projects include Paramount’s Transformers: Rise of The Beasts, in which Tongayi is the voice of the Cheetor. He also voices the lead protagonist, the African Samurai Yasuke in Ubisoft’s latest offering, Assassin’s Creed Shadow, to be released November 15.

Film: Day of the Fight

Jack Huston is an acclaimed actor, writer, and director known for Ben-Hur, American Hustle and HBO’s critically acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire. Huston began his on-screen career in the 2004 TV mini-series Spartacus, and gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Richard Harrow, a disfigured war veteran turned assassin, in Boardwalk Empire. His performance as Pete Musane in American Hustle earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast.

In 2023, Huston made his directorial debut with Day of the Fight, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and was nominated for the Audience Award. The film stars Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt, with Pitt playing a weathered boxer preparing for his first fight after leaving prison. With his expanding creative repertoire, Huston continues to establish himself as a dynamic talent both in front of and behind the camera.