Virginia Film Festival

Chef Flynn [Added Screening]

Often called the “Justin Bieber of Food,” budding chef Flynn McGarry quickly emerged as a culinary…

On Certainty 467

Screens before The Image Book English philosopher G.E. Moore reflects on a tree, while fellow philosopher…

A Tribute to Christoph Waltz

Christoph Waltz is best known for his work with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. Waltz wowed critics and…

If Beale Street Could Talk

In the film adaptation of the James Baldwin novel, Academy Award winning director Barry Jenkins depicts…

Virginia 12th

Virginia 12th, produced by NowThis, is the story of Chris Hurst, who became the youngest local…

The Alligator Hunter

Screens before feature film Rodents of Unusual Size  After losing his wife in a traumatic attack, an…

At Eternity’s Gate

The renowned painter, Vincent van Gogh (Willem Dafoe), spends his prolific period in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise,…

Ocean Cities: Exploring our Connection to the Sea

In this era of climate change and sea level rise, how can coastal cities innovate and…

Ingrid

Preceded by the short film The Home for Wayward Babydolls At seventy-six years old, Ingrid Gipson compares…

Orwell’s Revolution

Orwell's Revolution looks to the experiences in the Spanish Civil War that would inspire Orwell to…

Rich Kids

Matías is a bright teenager whose family struggles with harsh financial troubles. When he discovers “Los…

Ballad of a Righteous Merchant

Chronicling Werner Herzog’s making of the feature film, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done,…

Know Your Neighbor

Highlighting the essence of nine locals who proudly call Charlottesville their home, Know Your Neighbor offers insight…

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.

Drawn from a cache of personal video recordings from the past 22 years, director Steve Loveridge’s MATANGI…

Widows

In present day Chicago, Veronica finds herself newly widowed. In addition to this misfortune, she must…

The Front Runner

Gary Hart, the charming U.S Senator from Colorado, was considered the frontrunner for the 1988 Democratic…

VR Filmmaking

Mona Kasra, assistant professor of Digital Media Design in the UVA Department of Drama, will host…

Women in Film

A discussion of the opportunities and continuing challenges for women in the industry today hosted by…

Producers Forum

A panel of leading Hollywood producers and members of the Virginia Film Festival Advisory Board. Discussion with VAFF…

In Reality

Ann is an average young woman struggling with a desperate obsession to find true love. When…

Same God

In 2015, Dr. Larycia Hawkins, an African-American political science professor at Wheaton College, wanted to show…

Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin

This feature documentary explores the remarkable life and legacy of the late feminist author Ursula K.…

Gurrumul

Preceded by short films Gapu Ga Gunda and Galka Praised by audiences spanning the globe, indigenous artist…

Still Life

In 2014, a national news-worthy chemical dump threatened to reduce West Virginia’s proud capital to its…

Short Films: Food for Thought

Are You Volleyball?! 2017. Iran. 15 min. Director: Mohammad Bakhshi. Featuring: Mehdi Amiri, Esmaeil Alizadeh, Behnoud…

Short Films: There Are No Words

The Window 2018. USA. 5 min. Director: Dean Garris. Featuring: Alexander Julian III. As an old…

Short Films: People in Cars Having Problems

Supported by Underground Shorts Media   Moving Violation 2017. USA. 13 min. Director: Laura Waters Hinson.…

Short Films: Our World

The Other End of the Earth 2017. USA. 5 min. Director: Jacob W. Madness. Featuring: Diane…

Kevin Everson Short Films

From internationally renowned filmmaker Kevin Everson comes a selection of short films that combines historical observations…

The Forcing

An insistent collage of images and sound that muddles the quiet detail of flora and fauna with the chaotic noise…

The Favourite

In early 18th century Britain, Queen Anne’s (Olivia Colman) gout renders her too weak to rule,…

The Heiresses

Chela and Chiquita, together for over thirty years, find their relationship tested by financial difficulties despite…

Sunset

On the brink of World War I, Irisz Leiter arrives in Budapest desperately looking for work…

Studio 54

Studio 54 was the epicenter of 1970s extravagance and pleasure - a place that not only…

Family Day Short Films

This collection is a celebration of childhood packed with fantastic stories, breathtaking animation, and captivating characters.…

Late Night Wrap Party

21+ Event Before the credits roll on the 2018 Festival, join us at the Late Night…

Opening Night Gala

21+ Event Join us for the start of the Virginia Film Festival at the Opening Night…

Drewary J. Brown: Working for a Better Day

Drewary J. Brown was a legendary figure in the struggle for racial justice in central Virginia.…

This Changes Everything

Preceded by the short film Lamb Filmmaker Tom Donahue assembles a collection of powerful female voices…

The Third Wife

In late 19th century rural Vietnam, 14-year-old May is chosen to be the third wife of…

Sorry Angel

Arthur, an eager 22-year-old student studying in Rennes, meets 35-year-old Jacques, a writer living in Paris…

Sauvage

22-year-old Leo works in Strasbourg as a prostitute. Working mostly on a quiet road in a…

Ramen Shop

Masato, a young Ramen chef, leaves his hometown in Japan to embark on a culinary journey…

Menace II Society

18-year-old Kaydee "Caine" Lawson lives a violent and unstable life on the streets of Watts, a…

Makala

In his third feature documentary, Emmanuel Gras captures the somber perseverance of Congolese father and makala-maker,…

Let the Corpses Tan

On a beautiful island in the Medierranean, Rhino and his gang of thieves take refuge at…

Daughter of Mine

Vittoria, a ten-year-old Sardinian girl, lives with her loving but overprotective adoptive mother Tina. At a…

No Date, No Signature

While driving home one-night forensic pathologist, Dr. Kaveh Nariman is involved in a car accident that…

Little Woods

In a quaint North Dakota oil town, sisters Ollie and Deb must break the rules in…

Dogman

Private, unassuming Marcello lives a quiet life of dog grooming in the small town of Magliana,…

Border

Tina, ostracized for her unusual appearance, uses her unique sense of smell to sniff out contraband…

Combat Obscura

Combat cameraman Miles Lagoze served several years in the war in Afghanistan collecting footage for Marine…

Best of the VCU Arts Cinema Program

VCUarts Cinema showcases a collection of all female-directed films from its Summer Intensive program. In a…

The Image Book

Preceded by the short film On Certainty 467 (8 min.) Legendary New-Wave director Jean-Luc Godard emerges…

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Returning to his hometown of Kaili after over a decade has past, Luo Hongwu cannot escape…

Chef Flynn

Often called the “Justin Bieber of Food,” budding chef Flynn McGarry quickly emerged as a culinary…

3 Faces

Aspiring actress Marziyeh is distraught when her father forbids her from studying at the prestigious Tehran…

Un Traductor

In the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear crisis, Malin, a professor of Russian Literature at the…

The Third Murder

What seems like a clear guilty verdict becomes more complicated when attorney Shigemori accepts the defense…

They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead

Orson Welles, acclaimed director of Citizen Kane, struggled much of his film career to obtain the…

Styx

Rieke embarks on her one-woman solo voyage across the Atlantic, but she has no idea what…

Rafiki

Tomboy and daughter of local politician, Kena, has always been “one of the guys.” Defying Kenya’s…

Over the Limit

Elite rhythmic gymnast Margarita Mamun nears the end of her competitive career, but has one final…

Night of the Living Dead

In its 50th anniversary year, George Romero’s cult classic provides thrills and chills as an icon…

Narcissister Organ Player

Mixed-media and performance artist Narcissister serves as both director and subject of this documentary. Through her…

Iceman

In the Ötztal Alps, 5,300 years ago, Kelab serves as the leader of a Neolithic clan,…

I Am Not a Witch

After nine-year-old orphan Shula is accused of witchcraft, she is exiled to witch camp. Mr. Banda,…

The Great Buster

In the wake of the restoration of Buster Keaton’s iconic silent features, noted film director Peter…

Good Manners

At a fancy apartment in São Paulo, Ana, in search of a nanny for her unborn…

The Eyes of Orson Welles

Filmmaker Mark Cousins explores the visual world of filmmaking legend Orson Welles after gaining access to…

Coby

Suzanna, 23, disrupts the delicate ecosystem of her small Midwestern town when she comes out as…

The Charmer

Esmail seems to be a successful, charming bachelor frequenting Copenhagen’s high-end nightlife establishments. In reality, however,…

Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fashion & Disco

A native of Puerto Rico raised in the Bronx, Antonio Lopez gained international recognition as one…

The University of Virginia Bicentennial Celebration: An Evening of Performing Arts

On October 6, 2017, nearly 19,000 spectators gathered on the Lawn at the University of Virginia…

Gift

Abigail Phillips is an American farm girl who grows up to become a world-renowned pianist. Behind…

Free Solo

Free-solo climber Alex Honnold is determined to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the 3,200-foot El Capitan…

El Angel

Carlitos, a 17-year-old with a baby face and movie star swagger, discovers his true calling: to…

Birds of Passage

In 1970s Colombia, a narco-trafficking era known as “la Bonanza Marimbera” pulls an indigenous Wayuu family…

Woman at War

Halla is a 50-year-old independent woman and passionate environmental activist. Known to others only by her…

West Main Street

Preceded by short film Transit West Main Street in Charlottesville, Virginia, serves as a cultural hub…