WASHINGTON — There’s no better time and place for a film festival to celebrate diversity.
The 30th annual Virginia Film Festival returns Thursday to Sunday in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“We’re programmed at the University of Virginia, but we’re also one of the largest film festivals in the mid-Atlantic,” festival director Jody Kielbasa told WTOP. “Last year, we had nearly 32,000 people attend. It takes place over four days throughout Charlottesville in several locations, including the stunning Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall, which seats about 1,000.”
The location is extra timely after the deadly events of August, where white supremacist rallies shocked the entire nation and inspired local residents to countermarch for racial justice.
“Before the events of Aug. 11-12, we were already exploring a program with James Madison’s Montpelier to look at the enduring legacies of slavery, including incarceration, social injustice and education,” Kielbasa said. “Then when things happened in August here — the tragic events of Aug. 11-12 — we expanded that program to look more broadly at race in America.”
Leading the charge is Spike Lee, who arrives Saturday to screen his new documentary “Four Little Girls” (2017), chronicling the horrific church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.
“He saw a direct parallel to the events that happened here in Charlottesville and he wanted to come and have a conversation about it,” Kielbasa said. “Spike Lee is a treasure. He is one of our great living filmmakers today and we’re thrilled to welcome him into our community.”
Meanwhile, local filmmakers will screen an insider’s account of the Charlottesville violence.
“It is from local filmmakers and people who actually chronicled those events,” Kielbasa said. “In a sense, Charlottesville will take back its story. All of the [previous] footage — the Vice video and everything else — was essentially done by people coming from the outside. This [new film] will be an inside look from residents in Charlottesville at exactly what happened.”
Several other documentaries also explore the topic of American race relations.
“Ezra Edelman, who of course won the Academy Award last year for ‘O.J.: Made in America,’ will be on hand to discuss that film,” Kielbasa said. “We’re also screening a new film called ‘Tell Them We Are Rising,’ which chronicles the history of historic black universities and colleges. Stanley Nelson and his co-director Marco Williams will be on hand for a discussion.”
While you’re there, check out the Q&A with “Hidden Figures” author Margot Lee Shetterly, who is an alumna of the University of Virginia and currently resides in Charlottesville.
“We’re screening that, then Margot will talk about the concept of ‘hidden stories,’ particularly those in the African-American community that have contributed so mightily to culture, science and advancements,” Kielbasa said. “Often those stories are not focused upon.”
Elsewhere, Ken Burns’ co-director Lynn Novick will present PBS’ “The Vietnam War.”
“We’re going to screen ‘The Vietnam War’ and she’s in for a moderated discussion with Marc Selverstone, professor at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia, one of the top presidential think tanks.” Kielbasa said. “This should be a really fascinating discussion about the advent of the war and the impact it had, not only our veterans but on our country.”
The starpower continues with Oscar nominee William H. Macy (“Fargo”), who will screen his new fiction film “Krystal,” which he directed and co-starred alongside Rosario Dawson.
“Macy will be on hand to present his new film,” Kielbasa said. “He’ll have Nick Robinson with him, a young actor who’s one of the coleads in the film, a coming-of-age story. … Nick played the younger brother in ‘Jurassic World.’ … Of course, everybody knows William H. Macy from his defining role in ‘Fargo,’ but also as the star of the Showtime series ‘Shameless.'”
Other guests include John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side”), Mike Rich (“Finding Forrester”), Dan Mirvish (“Between Us”) and Mark Johnson (“Breaking Bad”), who will screen Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing,” starring Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig and Christoph Waltz. It’s just one of several Oscar contenders to screen, including Scott Cooper’s “Hostiles” and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound.”
“We’ve been fortunate over the years,” Kielbasa said. “Last year, we had Werner Herzog, Colin Firth, Shirley MacLaine and Liv Ullmann. … It’s been incredible.”
Classic movie fans can also get their fix with Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies.
“With the passing of Robert Osborne, Ben is the face of Turner Classic Movies,” Kielbasa said. “He’s going to introduce a couple of silent classics — Hitchcock’s ‘The Lodger’ and a couple of Charlie Chaplin reels, including ‘The Immigrant,’ which is more topical today than ever. … He’ll also be involved in a political discussion of Robert Redford’s movie ‘The Candidate.'”
In addition to the movies, get ready for the annual parties and extracurricular events.
“We have our opening night gala at the Jefferson Theater, a great event; an incredible band; we usually have about 400 to 500 people that attend to celebrate the advent of the festival [with] great food, great drink, great dancing,” Kielbasa said. “We also have a late-night wrap party at Kardinal Hall, one of the new breweries here in town. This is also a time when we will have nearly 100 filmmakers on hand to mix and mingle with our audience members.”
Even if you live in D.C. or Maryland, it’s worth making a weekend trip.
“It’s so easy to come down here,” Kielbasa said. “Amtrak comes right into the heart of Charlottesville, a five-minute walk from most of our venues. … It is peak fall color this time of year and Charlottesville — surrounded by the mountains — is a stunning place to come down. The restaurants are great. The entire town is hopping with energy and excitement.”
Click here for event details. Listen below to our full chat with festival director Jody Kielbasa:
