‘A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant’ at Violet Crown 9/12–9/18

Chronicling the extraordinary life and career of a prolific artist, A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant illustrates how, over five decades and 10 U.S. presidents, the Australian transplant became America’s most renowned and feared political cartoonist. Featuring interviews with Oliphant, his family, friends, and colleagues, plus archival footage and hundreds of […]

Maupintown Film Festival at Jefferson School African American Heritage Center 9/5–9/7

The 12th annual Maupintown Film Festival returns with a powerful lineup that includes shorts, documentaries, animated films, and discussions with filmmakers, experts, and community members. This year’s theme, Bold and Beautiful, highlights the Black community’s long tradition of resistance against injustice while holding fast to an unshakable sense of pride and cultural identity. The three-day […]

‘Rashomon’ at The Paramount Theater 8/21

Seventy-five years after its original release, Rashomon is still gaining new fans with its gripping story of murder recounted in four perspectives. Touted as the film that woke up the world to Japanese cinema, director Akira Kurosawa’s groundbreaking work gets credit for prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to permanently add a […]

‘The Price of Resistance: Sala Udin, An American Agitator’ at Vinegar Hill Theatre 8/9

Sharing the story of a civil rights activist targeted by the FBI under its counterintelligence program, The Price of Resistance: Sala Udin, An American Agitator chronicles the life of a community leader and former Pittsburgh city councilman through archival footage, intimate reflections, and interviews with a former agent that provide context to the bureau’s extensive […]

Nunga Screen at Violet Crown Cinema 8/7

Featuring a curated slate of short films by emerging and established Indigenous Australian filmmakers, Nunga Screen presents a selection of documentaries, dramas, and animations in a blend of contemporary and traditional storytelling from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The screening is presented in two parts, with the first half featuring films suitable for all […]

‘Mary Poppins’

Paramount On Screen presents the family-favorite Mary Poppins, starring the incomparable Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Set in Edwardian London in 1910, a magical and musical child-care provider swoops in to save the Banks family from boring days. A series of fantastical encounters with chalk-drawn penguins, choreographed chimney sweeps, and laughing men who float […]

“Napoleon Dynamite” LIVE revives an early 2000s indie hit

The cult classic coming-of-age movie Napoleon Dynamite turned 20 last year, but the main characters—Napoleon, Pedro, and Uncle Rico—are still kicking around their old stomping grounds. About five years ago, the film’s core ensemble of Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) hosted a Dynamite film screening and post-movie conversation with […]

Virginia Student Film Festival

A day-long celebration of creativity, talent, and dedication showcases student filmmakers at the Virginia Student Film Festival. With more than 15 films under 20 minutes long, the festival features works by current college and university students from across the country, presented in two screening blocks. In addition to the screenings, the day includes a panel […]

“Make Me Famous”

Providing a portrait of a time and place, Make Me Famous chronicles the Lower East Side contemporary art movement of 1980s New York City through dazzling archival footage and home video. Exploring the bohemian scene that produced artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Madonna, this feature-length documentary follows the story of the mostly […]

Indie Short Film Festival

Whether you’re a fan of films or a filmmaker yourself (we know there’s a lot of local talent in the cinemascape), the 2025 Indie Short Film Festival brings plenty for movie-lovers. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the festival returns with screenings, workshops, panel discussions, and an awards ceremony across five downtown venues. […]