Doors will open at 6 pm, patrons can enjoy wine, beer, and food from 6-8 pm, and the live HD broadcast starts at 8 pm.

The Charlottesville event is one of only 51 parties officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar Night.

“We are honored and thrilled to have the Virginia Film Festival and The Paramount Theater chosen as one of only 51 venues nationwide officially sanctioned to broadcast Hollywood’s biggest night!  Oscar Night generates excitement all over the world, and with the Academy’s help, our guests will feel like they are on the A-list,” says Jody Kielbasa, Virginia Film Festival Director.

The audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live in HD on large screens courtesy of ABC16, the Charlottesville affiliate of the ABC Television Network, which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation.  This is the 17th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar Night viewing parties throughout the country.  This year marks the first year that Charlottesville’s party has been sanctioned by the Academy.

“I can’t think of a grander night to be watching TV at the Paramount, live in HD, on the largest screen in Central Virginia,” says Mary Beth Aungier, General Manager of The Paramount Theater.

“Oscar Night America parties give communities across the country the opportunity to both share in the excitement of Oscar Night and support worthy causes,” said Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis.  “The Academy is very proud that our worldwide television event can benefit so many charities on a local level.”

Official Oscar Night parties last year raised more than $3 million in 52 cities.  All money raised stays in the local community.

The Academy will provide party guests in Charlottesville the same official program distributed to guests at the Oscar’s presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

Charlottesville guests can feel like stars themselves as they walk the red carpet into the Theater and sample tastes from some of Charlottesville’s top restaurants including The Melting Pot, Bonefish Grill, Maya, Escafe, and Topeka’s Steak House.  There will also be a raffle that evening with items from merchants such as Belk, Gearharts Fine Chocolates, and The Inn At Court Square.

Tickets are General Admission and $25.  Tickets include admission to the broadcast with emcees Dan Schutte and Tiffani Sargent (Newsplex News Anchors); food, beer and wine; the official program; coffee, popcorn and soda.

Tickets will be on sale to Paramount Supporters Tuesday, 2/2, and go on sale to the General Public on Friday, 2/5.

To purchase:

* click here
* call 434-979-1333
* come to the Box Office, 215 East Main Street in Charlottesville (10 am – 2 pm)

Presented by:

Thank you to our media sponsors:

Thank you to our sponsors:

Belk
The Melting Pot
Maya
Great Graphics
Sephora
Bonefish Grill
Topeka’s Steakhouse
Inn at Court Square
Oasis Day Spa & Body Shop
Ambassador Limousine
Gearharts Fine Chocolates
Bikram Yoga Charlottesville
Keller & George
Escafe
Men & Boy’s Shop

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Paramount Theater for this exciting series of films,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa.  “Both of our organizations are totally committed to bringing the arts to our entire community and this series is a great way to do that.  After all, how often do you get a chance to see these classic and favorite films in a setting that captures what the magic of the movies is all about?  We look forward to the launch of what we hope becomes a great tradition for movie lovers from throughout our area.”

Mary Beth Aungier, the General Manager of The Paramount Theater, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Film Society to bring back film to the Paramount Theater.  The Paramount opened 78 years ago this past November with a film, and to partner with Jody and the entire staff of the VFS is exciting.  Mr. Kielbasa and the staff bring with them a knowledge base that will benefit our entire community.”

January is Blockbuster movie month

January 18: Gandhi
Lord Attenborough’s magisterial study of Mahatma Gandhi’s life with a towering central performance by Ben Kingsley.

January 25: The Wizard of Oz
No introduction is needed for one of cinema’s true classics. Breathtakingly imaginative, and effortlessly iconic even after 70 years.

February is Black History movie month

Feb. 1: Locked Out: The Fall of Massive Resistance (2009) FREE COMMUNITY EVENT!
Co-produced by WHTJ-TV and the UVA Center for Politics, this powerful documentary comes to the Paramount fresh off its highly successful world premiere at the 2009 Virginia Film Festival.

Feb. 8: Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
A life-affirming tale of a young girl from South Los Angeles trying to make it to the National Spelling Bee.

Feb. 15: Lilies of the Field (1963)
Sidney Poitier in Oscar-winning form as an unemployed labourer whose life is transformed by an unlikely meeting with a group of nuns.

Feb. 22: The Wiz (1978)
An all-star cast including Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne and the late Michael Jackson in Sydney Lumet’s retelling of the Wizard of Oz.

The movies for March and beyond will be announced in February.

Congratulations to the filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals who attended and contributed to this year’s Festival.

Our heartfelt thanks to this year’s  sponsors, volunteers, interns, employees and especially Film Festival patrons.

For a selection of photographs from this year’s Festival see our 2009: Festival Round-Up album.

You can also enjoy the extraordinary Digital Media Lounge for today only.

A limited number of t-shirts and Festival tote bags are still available for sale at the Downtown Visitors’ Center.

We hope those of you who have already joined us have enjoyed the Festival and that those of you who haven’t yet will take advantage of the last few screenings.

Keep an eye out for Virginia Film Society screenings taking place during the rest of the year!

It’s A Wrap…Party!

Tickets are available by cash or check at the door!

The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming screening with director Norman Jewison – 1:00pm, Regal Downtown

Academy Award winning director Norman Jewison (Moonstruck, In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof) will Q&A a screening of his 1966 comedic classic The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.

The UVa Arts Assembly presents John Waters’ “This Filthy World,”- 4:30pm, Culbreth

John Waters’ joyously devious one-man show celebrates his film career, early negative influences and fascination with true crime, fashion lunacy, exploitation films, and contemporary art world extremes.

An Evening of Corkscrew Comedy, Corked! screening at 5:30pm, Regal Downtown

Savor a screening of Corked!, a mockumentary about the Northern California wine industry.

Second Street Gallery Wine Event from 5:30pm-8:00pm, 115 Second Street SE (on the Downtown Mall)

Continue your evening with a wine tasting of Virginia whites presented by Second Street Gallery right around the corner in the Center for Contemporary Arts (beneath Live Arts).

“Dirty Pink Polyester” Dance Party at The Southern w/ Special Guest John Waters – 10:00pm – 2:00am

The Virginia Film Festival is delighted to celebrate John Waters’ visit with a special dance party at the newly opened Southern (formerly Gravity Lounge). DJ group Luke and Zach Go Boating will set the scene with dance music “ranging from New York disco classics to Cologne Techno.” The evening will include a special performance by CLAW and an appearance by the Charlottesville Derby Dames.

Tickets $10 / $5 (UVa students – over 21 only)

Tickets available at the door only.

Tickets to Marching Band and the Opening Night Gala are still available at the Main Festival Box Office at Culbreth Theatre and at the door (cash and check only at the door)

Festival Box Office hours during the Festival:

Nov 5: 12 pm to 5 pm, 6 pm to 7 pm, 9 pm to 10 pm
Nov 6: 9 am to 5 pm, 6 pm to 7 pm, 9 pm to 10 pm
Nov 7: 9 am to 5 pm, 6 pm to 7 pm, 9 pm to 10 pm
Nov 8: 9 am to 5:30 pm

The Visitors Suite is open from 10am to 7pm through Sunday, November 8th.

Furnished by Kane Furniture and with equipment from The AV Company and Crutchfield.

Watch the Preview Show Online Here

The show airs nightly on Government Access Channel 10

This week’s schedule is as follows:

Thursday October 29th: 7pm, 9:30pm, 11:30pm, 12:30am

Friday Oct 30th: 9am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 8pm, 9pm

Saturday Oct 31st: 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 2:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm, 12:30am

Sunday Nov 1st: 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 2:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm, 12:30am

Some changes and program additions have taken place since the Festival Program was sent to press. Make sure to check out our schedule for the most up to date information.

The Festival Program, more information and stations to purchase tickets are available in the Festival Visitor’s Suite at 101 West Main St. on the Downtown Mall across from Hamilton’s and Alakazam at the intersection of West Main and 1st Street. The Visitor’s Suite’s location is indicated by the yellow box in the map below: