Since its inception during the late 1980s, the Virginia Film Festival has proven itself year in and year out as one of the more distinguished film festivals across the country. When the festival began, the University agreed to adopt it and develop a key relationship among the University, Charlottesville and the film festival community. This conglomeration of creative interests and intellectual perspectives is what truly makes the Virginia Film Festival a worthwhile and successful event each year, and 2010 seems to be no exception.
It would appear that students often dismiss art-related events at the University, proceeding instead with their typical weekend routine of parties, sleeping and studying. Nevertheless, to forget about the importance of this particular weekend event, which runs from Nov. 4-7, would be a mistake and certainly a missed opportunity. It is important to recognize not only the proximity of this famous festival to the University but also the fact that all of the various parts of the event are completely free for students. That's right. Our tuition - that we have already paid - allows students to reserve a free ticket for any film screening online ahead of time. Be careful, though, to reserve tickets ahead of time, as they cannot be retrieved at the door. Also, some films have already sold out, so act quickly.
There are dozens of different things to do at the Virginia Film Festival, and you should definitely examine all choices carefully to see what piques your interest. Even amid all the great films, a handful of them have received more anticipation and critical discourse than others. One that keeps coming up is Black Swan, a movie directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) and starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. It tells the story of a troubled ballerina who struggles with balancing her passions and obsessions. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is another noteworthy film that will screen Saturday at the Paramount Theater. Produced by Guillermo del Torro and featuring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce, this horror film remake is sure to be a favorite. As far as documentaries at the festival, Louder Than a Bomb is one you won't want to miss. A group of young poets must find its voice in this tale about expression and coming of age. There also will be a couple of local Charlottesville films like The Parking Lot Movie, which is about the Corner parking lot, and World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements. Other events include panels on independent filmmaking, the Green Fairy Party at the Southern on Friday night and the Digital Media Gallery that will be presenting student films daily. Evidently, the Virginia Film Festival has something to offer everyone. With the majority of events being completely free for students, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to become cultured in the world of filmmaking.
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