ARTS Pick: The Mowgli’s

Named after Kipling’s character in The Jungle Book, the alternative rock band The Mowgli’s achieved success quickly after the single ”San Francisco” hit the airwaves. The eight-piece collaborative is defining a new California sound while relying on standard West Coast notions of peace, love, and chasing a higher consciousness. Royal Teeth and X Ambassadors open. Tuesday 11/12. $12-15,7:45pm. […]

The Adrenaline Film Project celebrates 10 years at VFF

When writer/director Jeff Wadlow suggested adding a production component to the Virginia Film Festival in 2004, he didn’t foresee that the 72-hour filmmaking competition would become his baby. “This is the 10th year, and I’ve only missed one,” said Wadlow. “And now we do it in the spring in Eugene at the University of Oregon.” […]

ARTS Pick: Artisans Studio Tour

Craft lovers, get ready to hit the road for the 19th Annual Artisans Studio Tour, a self-guided visit to local studios exhibiting artists works and processes around Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Showcasing 38 of Virginia’s finest artisans, the tour includes demonstrations, opportunities for hands-on experience, and displays of pottery, furniture, weaving, jewelry, stained glass, […]

Film review: Robert Redford reclaims his acting cred on the open sea

Robert Redford has long been one of our greatest movie stars. He’s never been one of our greatest actors. For every compelling performance he gives—Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); All the President’s Men (1976)—he gives several bordering on narcolepsy. Just look at him in The Company You Keep (2013); this is a man […]

How the Virginia Film Fest begat “Breaking Bad” and more

Some film festivals are all about making deals. The Virginia Film Festival—not so much. And yet, Mr. Jefferson’s University’s annual fall movie-thon, now in its 26th year, has generated encounters that led to the critically acclaimed AMC hit TV series “Breaking Bad,” movies like Kick-Ass 2 and The Jane Austen Book Club, and a gang […]

Comic Will Forte takes a dramatic turn in Nebraska

The last word that most people would use to describe former “Saturday Night Live” regular Will Forte’s acting style is “restrained.” “Relentless assault” would be more accurate. As the inept special operative MacGruber, he wreaked mass destruction while trying to prevent it, one accidental explosion at a time. On “SNL,” he French-kissed actor James Franco […]

Classic films have a lot to offer at this year’s festival

In recent years the Virginia Film Festival, under the leadership of Jody Kielbasa, has increased the number of new releases, concentrating on up-and-coming filmmakers, local productions, and sneak previews of high-profile independent features destined for wider release over the holiday season. It’s a wise choice for the festival, which has broken attendance records since 2009. […]

Filmmaker and actor Brian Wimer on freedom in expression

“There’s a point in Peter Pan when Peter and Wendy are pretending to be parents to the Lost Boys. Peter says, ‘Are we playing or is this real?’ Wendy says, ‘Oh it’s a game, but it’s real.’ Eventually Peter says, ‘I’m tired of playing this game, let’s play a different one.’ But that’s the reality […]

Easy Star Records helps U.S. reggae step out of Jamaican shadow

If Lem Oppenheimer is at all worried about perpetuating the stereotypes that come with being in the reggae business, he didn’t show it when he walked into a Belmont coffee shop for an interview on October 18. Tall and lanky with close-cropped hair, Oppenheimer clutched a handful of CDs produced by his record label, Easy Star […]

The Virginia Film Festival spotlights up-and-coming filmmakers

The red carpets are rolling out as the Virginia Film Festival returns for its twenty-sixth year. While the schedule once again offers the caliber of cinematic fare, guests, and events that have made it a local institution, this year’s line-up distinguishes itself by beefing up the local and independent offerings with more slots for undiscovered […]