The Virginia Film Festival is returning for its 24th year from November 3-6, bringing with it a fascinating lineup of more than 100 films and a long list of special guests set to bring some serious star power to Charlottesville.nnThe Virginia Film Festival is presented by the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.nnComing off the most successful year in its history, the festival will feature four full days of movie magic kicked off with a special opening night screening of Alexander Payne’s The Descendants, which stars George Clooney. The film is just one of many in the festival that have been earning big time buzz at major festivals throughout the world this season, including the much talked-about silent film The Artist; the chilling psychological thriller We Need to Talk About Kevin; David Cronenberg’s latest, A Dangerous Method; the creative political satire Butter and many others.nn
nnThis year the Virginia Film Festival is delighted to welcome an outstanding array of special guests sharing their unique perspectives on some of today’s top titles and some of the most fascinating films of our time. Guests will include:nn· Legendary director Oliver Stone, who will present and discuss his Academy Award®- winning JFK in a special discussion with Dr. Larry J. Sabato, director of the U.Va. Center for Politics.nn· Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek and her husband, the acclaimed art director Jack Fisk, presenting a restored print of the classic Badlands, as part of a special series presented in collaboration with the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies.nn· Rapidly rising star Mia Wasikowska, who starred as Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and won raves for her performance in The Kids Are All Right. Wasikowska will be appearing along with director Rodrigo Garcia and the film’s producers, U.Va. graduate Julie Lynn and Bonnie Curtis, to discuss the new film Albert Nobbs, which stars Glenn Close.nn· Publishing magnate Larry Flynt, who returns to Charlottesville to present a 15th Anniversary screening of his Academy Award-nominated film The People vs. Larry Flynt, and participate in a special discussion presented by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.nn· Talented actress and comedian Rachael Harris, a veteran of L.A.’s Groundlings troupe with a long list of credits ranging from a memorable turn as the notoriously difficult girlfriend of Ed Helms’ character in The Hangover to her starring role in Natural Selection, the breakout film at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. Ms. Harris will appear with the film’s director, Robbie Pickering.nn· Noted film historian and television personality Ben Mankiewicz, host of Turner Classic Movies on TNT, will be on hand to present a collection of classics under the heading “Turner Classic Movies and The Library of Congress Celebrate the National Film Registry.”nnOther featured guests will include noted producer and U.Va. alumnus Paul Junger Witt, who will be presenting his latest film, A Better Life; celebrated family farmer, author and activist Joel Salatin (appearing with the film Farmageddon) and colorful chef and school food reformer Tony Geraci (appearing with the film Cafeteria Man).nn”This year I am particularly excited by the fact that our guests represent so many aspects of Hollywood as well as of American culture and history,” Kielbasa said. “In Mia Wasikowska, we have one of the hottest young stars working today, now following up her recent string of high profile roles with Albert Nobbs and with starring roles in the upcoming Restless as well as the title role in Jane Eyre. We are so glad to be welcoming Mia to the Virginia Film Festival.”nnThis year’s festival also has its share of Hollywood legends, Kielbasa said. “Sissy Spacek and Oliver Stone are two people who have contributed to the art of film in immeasurable ways, creating experiences for their audiences that will never be forgotten. In Sissy Spacek, you have one of the most respected actresses of her, or any, generation, with a long list of some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable performances. We so look forward to welcoming her and her remarkably talented husband, Jack Fisk, to share their experiences on the classic film Badlands, which will be hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, one of the industry’s most highly-respected and well known film experts.nnAnd in Oliver Stone, you have a true American iconoclast who has never been afraid to take on the hottest hot button issues in our society.”nnAnother man who never shied away from an ideological battle, Kielbasa said, is Larry Flynt. “Whatever anyone wants to say about the man and his colorful history, Larry Flynt is a uniquely American story. He is someone who has challenged authority at every turn and emerged victorious in the battle for the most cherished right we have in America.”nnRachael Harris, Kielbasa noted, is a great example of a mainstream actress and comedienne who splits her time and energies between high profile studio features and smaller, independent films, and does so with great success. “Rachael Harris is one of the most talented comedic actresses in the industry, with memorable roles in recent hits like The Hangover and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and she is now on top of the indie world with her incredible performance in Natural Selection.”nnComing off a record breaking 2010 year where it topped all-time attendance and box office records by some 25%, Kielbasa has once again set out to make sure VFF audiences have great options and tough choices when it comes to mapping out their festival experience. “When you are talking about more than 100 films and so many interesting panel discussions and events over the course of only four days, it is virtually impossible to see everything you want to see at the festival,” Kielbasa said. “But on the other hand, there is such a rich and diverse range of offerings that I think people really enjoy creating their own unique festival experiences, and in the process, get excited about coming back year after year.”nnOpening Night Film – “The Descendants”nAlexander Payne’s story of a rather uninvolved dad (George Clooney) forced by a tragic accident into a new level of engagement that sends him toward discoveries he never could have imagined.nnCenterpiece Film – “Albert Nobbs”nGlenn Close stars as the title character in Rodrigo Garcia’s tale of a 19th Century Irish woman who hatches a plan to dress like a man in order to make her way in the world and get a job as a butler – a role Close originated onstage in 1982.nnClosing Night Film – “Thin Ice”nAcademy Award-nominee Greg Kinnear is a slick-talking salesman determined to use his powers of persuasion to engineer an elaborate con and change his life, until he meets up with a mysterious man who more than challenges him at his own game.nnSpotlight Filmsn· The Artist – This wildly creative and ambitious new silent film from French filmmaker Michael Hazanavicius traces the fall of a prominent silent film star in 1927, just as “talkies” enter the picture and change moviemaking forever.nn· A Dangerous Method – Acclaimed writer and director David Cronenberg’s latest film, a look inside the complicated intellectual love triangle that included Karl Jung, Sigmund Freud and the woman whose role in their lives had fascinating and lasting consequences for modern psychotherapy.nn· We Need to Talk About Kevin – Tilda Swinton stars in this tale of a mother’s chilling quest to understand the reasons behind her 15- year-old son’s school killing spree, and what responsibility she bears for the events.nn· Melancholia –A bride’s best laid plans spin wildly out of control just as a far greater danger threatens existence itself in Lars von Trier’s acclaimed film that earned Kirsten Dunst top acting honors at Cannes.nn· Martha Marcy May Marlene – Elizabeth Olsen is earning raves across the board for her star-making performance as a young girl looking to reconnect with her family after escaping a cult.nn· Butter – Jennifer Garner stars as the scorned but determined wife of a retiring champion butter carver (played by Hugh Jackman), who vows to carry on the family’s championship tradition herself rather than ceding the stage to a young African American upstart in this sharp political satire from director Jim Field Smith.nnSpecial Event Screeningsnn· JFK – Featuring Oliver Stone – Presented in association with the U.Va. Center for PoliticsnnThe Virginia Film Festival is proud to welcome Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter Oliver Stone to present a 20th Anniversary screening of his famed 1991 film JFK. Stone will then join Dr. Larry J. Sabato, head of the U.Va. Center for Politics, for a special discussion of the film. nn· The People Vs. Larry Flynt – 15th Anniversary Screening with Larry FlyntnnIn 1997, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt appeared at the Virginia Film Festival for a special screening of Milos Forman’s The People vs. Larry Flynt. The self-described “pornographer, pundit and social outcast,” was in Charlottesville for a conference with his longtime legal and ideological adversary Jerry Falwell to discuss the ten year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case that would forever link their names in First Amendment history. The organizer of the conference, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, has again arranged for Flynt to visit Charlottesville for a 15th anniversary screening of The People v. Larry Flynt followed by a discussion on his many First Amendment battles. nn· Badlands – with Sissy Spacek and Jack FisknnCharlottesville’s own Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek and her husband, the renowned art director Jack Fisk, will be on hand for a special screening and discussion of the 1973 Terence Malick classic Badlands, the film on which the couple first met.nn· Cafeteria MannnChildhood obesity is one of the most important health issues in our nation today, and at the top of the priority list for school systems across the country. Cafeteria Man is the story of dynamic chef Tony Geraci, who is combining his culinary talent with his own passion for the issue by spearheading the “greening” of the Baltimore city schools’ menu, and will share in a special discussion with area school and health officials.nnTurner Classic Movies and the Library of Congress Celebrate the National Film Registry with Special Guest Ben MankiewicznnThis year the Virginia Film Festival is proud to be participating in a one-of-a-kind partnership with the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies to highlight a special series of films on the National Film Registry.nn”This is a project we have been working on for the better part of a year,” Kielbasa said. “We are thrilled and honored to partner with both the Library of Congress and Turner Classic Movies to highlight these films that have been chosen for their cultural and historical significance to be part of the National Film Registry. It also allows us to celebrate the extraordinary preservation work being done by the Library of Congress right up the road in Culpeper, Virginia (work that is showcased in the fascinating and important film These Amazing Shadows). This is a great opportunity for film lovers to see these cultural treasures as they were intended to be seen, in beautifully restored and preserved 35 mm prints.”nnThe series will include:nn· Badlands (1973) – Featuring Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisknn· The General (1926) – 85th Anniversary screening Featuring live musical accompaniment by Matt Marshall and the Reel Music Ensemblenn· National Velvet (1944) – Showcase film of VFF Family Daynn· McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) – 40th Anniversary Screeningnn· The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1944) – Preserved in-house at the National Audiovisual Conversation Center at the Library of Congress Packard CampusnnA 45th Anniversary Celebration of Kartemquin Films – Featuring A Good MannThe festival will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the founding of Kartemquin Films (www.kartemquin.com) with a series of screenings highlighted by A Good Man, which focuses on legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones’ Lincoln-inspired piece.nn”Over its remarkable history, Kartemquin has captured the heart and soul of American society in ways few others have ever done,” Kielbasa said, “addressing issues ranging from the struggles faced by inner city youth to those faced by soldiers returning from battle and others seeking workers’ rights, to name just a few. It is particularly exciting for us to share A Good Man with audiences and to welcome its subject, the legendary Bill T. Jones, back to the University, which plays a big role in the related short film 100 Migrations, which we will also be screening.”nnThe festival will also welcome Kartemquin co-founder Gordon Quinn, along with filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams), a legend in the documentary filmmaking world, for a series of six full-length documentaries and three short films. They will include James’ The Interrupters, which takes a fascinating look at the extreme interventional steps being made by some in inner city Chicago to help stem the tide of youth violence.nnThe A Good Man screening and post-film discussion will be shared in a live broadcast to Virginia Tech as part of the 4VA Program. The live broadcast was initiated and organized by the Virginia Film Festival, the U.Va. Department of Drama and the U.Va. Office of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer. The 4VA Program uses state funds and technology donated by Cisco to link the campuses of the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison University and George Mason University.nnBill T Jones’ residency is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts, U.Va. Department of Drama, U.Va. Arts Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research.nnThe Loving Storyn”Fascinating documentaries have long been at the heart of the Virginia Film Festival experience,” Kielbasa said, “and this year is no exception. Among this year’s highlights are The Loving Story, which chronicles the tale of Richard and Mildred Loving, the Virginia interracial couple who, in the 1960’s took their battle for acceptance all the way to the Supreme Court, and changed history in the process.” The film will be presented along with a panel discussion organized by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The Loving Story will also be presented in a special high school screening at the Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center.nnFood On Filmn”From the explosion of cooking-themed TV programming to the serious issues of health, nutrition and sustainability,” Kielbasa said, “it’s clear that food is now a major ingredient in our cultural consumption. We decided to explore that a little further this year with a series of films that explore food-related issues around the world, and quite literally right in our own backyard.”nnThis series will include:nn· El Bulli: Cooking in Progress – A look behind the scenes as one of the world’s most famous restaurants shuts down for its annual tasting and testing process which results in its highly anticipated menunn· Cafeteria Man – Chronicling the revolutionary efforts of New Orleans-born chef Tony Geraci to “green” the menu of Baltimore City Schoolsnn· Farmageddon – The story of how small family farms are facing significant economic and bureaucratic hurdles in their attempts to provide safe and healthy foods. The film will be accompanied by a panel discussion featuring internationally renowned family farmer, author and activist Joel Salatin.nn· Growing Up Cason – The film tells the story of one of Albemarle County’s most prominent, and colorful, farming familiesnnFocus on IsraelnThe festival has partnered with representatives from the Embassy of Israel and Congregation Beth Israel to program a special series celebrating that nation’s outstanding film scene. The films will include Human Resources Manager, a black comedy (and winner of three Israeli Academy Awards) about one man’s transcontinental search for redemption after he is blamed for the death of a co-worker; Infiltration, military drama set just after the nation’s War of Independence that follows one platoon’s struggles at training camp; Restoration, an official Toronto Film Festival selection about a man’s herculean efforts to hold onto the antique restoration shop that has been his life’s work and 2-Night, an atypical love story of a couple whose relationship is launched during the search for a parking space.nnThe series will be grouped with a quartet of films focusing on Jewish themes and culture. They include David, a cultural coming of age story of an 11-year-old Muslim boy caught between cultural and family expectations and a new group of Jewish boys he befriends. Other films in this series will include Klezmatics: On Holy Ground, La Rafle, and In Darkness (Poland’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film this year).nnOther highlight documentaries at the festival this year will include:nn· Page One: Inside the New York Times – The look behind-the-scenes into the newsroom of the New York Times, featuring one of the film’s primary subjects, Brian Stelternn· !Women Art Revolution – Lynne Hershman-Leeson’s look at how the Feminist Art Movement transformed our culture and our timesnn· El Sicario:Room 164 – the story of a double-dealing Mexican hitman employed both by a powerful cartel and by the policenn· Elevate – The story of Senegalese young men trying to achieve their college hoop dreams here in America – including U.Va. star Assane Sene, who will be on hand to discuss the film and his experiences.nn· Armadillo – This documentary highlights the growing cynicism and adrenaline addiction of a group of Danish soldiers in AfghanistannnSpotlight on Virginia FilmmakersnOnce again this year, the Virginia Film Festival is showcasing the work of filmmakers from throughout the Commonwealth in a series that will include short films and features.nn”Each year I am more and more impressed by the quality and the depth of the filmmaking talent right here in our own backyard,” Kielbasa said. “Last year’s screening of The Parking Lot Movie was one of the highlights of the entire festival, and we are excited to share the work of a number of terrific Virginia filmmakers this year, highlighted by a program of short films by Kevin Everson, whose recent installation at the Whitney in New York won a rave from the New York Times, among others.”nnWorld Visions – Foreign FilmsnIn addition to Poland’s In Darkness, this year’s crop of foreign films at the Virginia Film Festival is highlighted by Hungary’s The Turin Horse and Greece’s Attenberg, two more award-winning features submitted by their respective countries for Best Foreign Film consideration at the Oscars next year. Other foreign films include:nn· Salt of Life (Italy)nn· 3 by Tom Tykwer (Germany)nn· Curling (Canada)nn· Family Instinct (Latvia)nn· King of Devil’s Island (Norway)nn· The Monk (France)nn· The Nine Muses (Ghana/UK)nn· Tyrannosaur (UK)nnFamily DaynThe Virginia Film Festival welcomes back one of its fastest-growing new traditions on Saturday, November 5. The special series of events, which regularly draws thousands to the Downtown Mall, will once again feature an array of fun-filled and FREE activities for all ages, highlighted by a Paramount Theater screening of the family classic National Velvet.nnMeanwhile, on the mall, kids will once again be treated to their own “Red Carpet Walk”; debuts of films by members of the Young Filmmakers Academy and Light House Studio; healthy snack tastings from Whole Foods; Story Time with live readings of everyone’s favorite children’s books; live music and entertainment throughout the day on the Family Festival stage outside the Main Street Arena and much more.nnDigital Media Gallery – Coming to a Building Near You!nAfter two successful years of commandeering Downtown Mall storefront spaces to show a variety of experimental films by student filmmakers from the University of Virginia and throughout the area, the festival is taking this innovative feature to the great outdoors. This year, these films will be projected onto buildings both on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall and on the University’s Arts Grounds.nn”This has been a great opportunity for us to share the festival with the community, and we had more than 2,000 people come through our doors last year. This year, we were looking to expand upon that creatively while reaching an even larger audience, and we think these unique projections will be a great way to do that.”nnThe Digital Media Gallery projections will debut on Friday, October 28 as part of the monthly “Fourth Fridays” festivities.nnAdrenaline Film ProjectnThe Adrenaline Film Project, a Virginia Film Festival staple since 2004, will make its 8th heart-racing return this year for four days of highly caffeinated fun. AFP founder and Charlottesville native Jeff Wadlow will return alongside other mentors from the industry, offering guidance to teams of local filmmakers, who will pitch, write, shoot, edit and screen a film in just 72 hours. The event will culminate in a competitive screening, which takes place Saturday, November 5 at 10:00 p.m. in the University of Virginia’s Culbreth Theatre, followed by a reprise screening the next morning at the Regal Cinemas downtown.nnParties and EventsnOnce again this year, the festival is offering plenty of opportunities for everyone to share in celebrating throughout the weekend.nn· The Opening Night Gala – Thursday, November 3, U.Va., Alumni Hall – 9:00 p.m.nnThis year’s festival kickoff celebration, which will follow the opening night screening of The Descendants, will feature a celebration of Old Hollywood, and include beverages, light buffet refreshments and live musical entertainment, and plenty of chances to mingle with friends and festival guests. Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $75.00 per person.nn· Late Night Wrap Party – Saturday, November 5 Main Street Arena – 10 p.m.nnThe Virginia Film Festival goes to Bollywood in this special themed Late Night Wrap Party on Saturday evening at the Main Street Arena on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. The event is open to the public and a great way to celebrate the weekend with the people who made it happen. Tickets for the Late Night Wrap Party are $35.00.nnAdditional premieres and special guests will be announced in the weeks between now and the Festival.nnFor a full schedule and complete information regarding the Virginia Film Festival, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 7 via that website, in-person at the U.Va. Arts Box Office (at Culbreth Theatre) and via phone at 434-924-3376. nnPremiere sponsors for the 2011 Virginia Film Festival are Acura, The A/V Company, Regal Entertainment Group and the Virginia Film Office.
Contact:
John Kelly 434/296-5577 Contact John via email
SPW Category:Film Festivals, Screenings, Parties
ABC Fine Wine and Spirits Embraces Dry January With Cheeky New Ad Campaign
New work for ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, "Dry January 2025," out of creative shop Bacon & Eggs, Los Angeles.
Bacon & Eggs, the creative shop known for its witty, imaginative and disruptive advertising, has created an innovative campaign for ABC Fine Wine and Spirits that playfully tackles the Dry January's impact on its business head-on. Through the campaign, Florida's largest family-owned wine and spirits retailer proudly proclaims its support for Dry January even as it shares its extensive selection of wines, spirits, premixed cocktails and beers found within 127 stores across the state. In the campaign's signature spot, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits cheekily announces its enthusiastic support for Dry January, then proceeds to describe its tantalizing array of velvety cabernets, perfectly frosted IPAs, and smooth whiskeys — all while insisting, of course, that viewers "definitely shouldn't" indulge in these libations during the month. "Most alcohol retailers either push non-alcoholic alternatives or go quiet during Dry January," explains Kia Zomorrodi, founder and chief creative officer of Bacon & Eggs. "We wanted to flip the script and create something that would resonate with both those participating in Dry January and those who aren't. The campaign's reverse psychology approach lets ABC own the conversation while showcasing its impressive selection in an entertaining way." The campaign arrives as ABC Fine Wine and Spirits aims to maintain brand engagement during a traditionally quiet period for alcohol sales. "This campaign perfectly captures our brand personality while acknowledging the reality of Dry... Read More
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