Virginia Film Festival

Narrated by John Lithgow, the film uncovers the lost “Projections of America”—a series of 26 short documentaries about American life created by a team of filmmakers during World War II. Led by Academy Award–winning screenwriter Robert Riskin, the idealistic team hoped the power of their movies could reshape the world during the darkest hour of war. Capturing the optimism and messiness of democracy, the propaganda efforts of these brilliant filmmakers led to some of the most indelible images of America ever put on film. Director Peter Miller explores these gorgeously crafted films 70 years after they disappeared. Discussion with Victoria Riskin and Grace Hale (U.Va.)