And just like that, the Virginia Film Festival is a wrap. The five-day fest was full of memorable on- and off-screen moments, from Jon Batiste’s piano serenade, to the U.S. premiere of award-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay’s Origin. A biographical drama inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s nonfiction book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, the film follows Wilkerson’s research around the globe, and chronicles her inspirations for writing the book, including the events in Charlottesville on August 11–12, 2017. DuVernay, who spent the day in the city ahead of Origin’s evening premiere, hosted a private screening and conversation with local community members who were directly affected by the deadly weekend before heading to The Paramount Theater, where she received the VAFF Visionary Award. “It seems to me that there’s no better place in this country to bring this film,” said DuVernay.
Related stories
“The 39 Steps”
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller The 39 Steps, based on John Buchan’s 1915 novel, brought the director international recognition and launched his Hollywood career with its themes of love, death, and crime intertwining in a frenzied plot that moves at the speed of a bullet train. Heritage Theatre’s production of the hilariously suspenseful whodunit will leave […]
Shrek Rave
Grab your ogre ears, green glow sticks, and Lord Farquaad cape for the Shrek Rave. If you let out a hoot and holler for the Shrek 5 movie announcement, this party is for you and your fellow swamp-dwellers. Be the shooting star that breaks the mold in a glittering set with DJ mixes that allow […]
Deau Eyes
Richmond-based alt-indie rock and pop performer Deau Eyes has made a name for herself, winning awards like the Newlin Music Prize for best album. The foundation of her success is rooted in a Southern upbringing and an exploration of country music that’s prodded cross-genre experimentation within her discography. Emerging from the same scene as Boygenius […]