The Virginia Film Festival

Aliens Among Us: Virginia Film Festival Announces 2008 Theme

April 2nd, 2008 —

Virginia Film Festival organizers have issued an alert to all citizens: prepare for an alien invasion. Scheduled from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, the 21st annual Virginia Film Festival will explore the theme of “Aliens!”

Black Maria Film and Video Festival

April 2nd, 2008 —

WHO: Virginia Film Society
WHAT: Black Maria Film and Video Festival with festival director John Columbus
WHEN: Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Vinegar Hill Theatre
Admission: $9; free to Film Society members.

Thursday Evening in the Universe

April 2nd, 2008 —

WHO: Virginia Film Society and The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative
WHAT: “Thursday Evening in the Universe” with acclaimed film artist Jeanne Liotta
WHEN: Thursday, April 24, 8 p.m.
WHERE: The Bridge, 205 Monticello Rd.
Admission $5 (free to Film Society members)

Aliens! Will Land on October 30

April 2nd, 2008 —

We have chosen a theme for the 21st Virginia Film Festival, taking place October 30 – November 2 and it is Aliens!, exploring “cinema’s fearful and alluring images of immigrants, outsiders, and extra-terrestrials” (you can read the full press release here). Sci-fi aliens will certainly be landing in our theaters, but the primary focus will be on the otherness of immigrants in countries, including ours, conflicted about their role as “host.”

A film like The Brother From Another Planet by last year’s VFF guest John Sayles makes the alien/immigrant connection clear and would be a perfect selection (although I’m also open to less explicit sci-fi allegories!).

I’m very interested in the kind of films our visiting Festival Fellow Hamid Naficy calls “accented” in that their filmmakers’ styles and subjects reflect a double consciousness of their native and host societies (among Naficy’s examples are Atom Egoyan, Mira Nair, and Luis Bunuel). And films about immigrants and outsiders will be welcome…including new work on the illegal immigrant debate, such as the work-in-progress by the Virginia-based filmmakers at the YouTube channel 9500 Liberty.

What other titles, guests, and events should I consider? Post your suggestions by sending a reply here, and help me program a great and timely festival.