0 OCtObeR 29 - nOvembeR 4, 2009 | Issue 18-44
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F
come a reflection of our community,”
U
N
Kielbasa says. “In time, we hope to be
N
Y

bringing in more and more people
B
U
S
from outside, and create a destina-
I
t
u
r
N
E
tion. I would like this to become more
S
S
and more a festival of ideas, so that
filmmakers and guest artists come
to the Virginia Film Festival here in
a
On the
Charlottesville at the University of
F
e
Agenda at
2009
Virginia
Film
Festival
“Hairspray”
Virginia
because it’s
an opportu-
By Ken Wilson
after 10 years as founding executive nity for the ideas
director of the Sarasota Film Festi- behind their films to
val, has set several goals for Virginia’s be discussed, explored,
or most film festi- Adrenaline Film Project competition festival to make it a can’t-miss event and talked about.” As
vals, four days of will feature 10-12 teams of three film- for film buffs everywhere: to draw in in year’s past, many screenings will
makers writing, casting, shooting, ed-
a wider swath of the local community, be followed by panel discussions and
iting, and screening a film under the
to include more Virginia films by Vir- Q&A sessions.
supervision of Charlottesville native
ginia directors, to screen more con- A number of this year’s films are
and film director Jeff Wadlow.
temporary films, and to put more fo- homegrown. “I believe that at the heart
cus on the ideas inherent in the films. of the film festival we need to support
m
There’s a New Director in Town
tival director Jody “It’s absolutely vital for this film Virginia filmmakers and encourage
o
With its numerous lectures and
Kielbasa’s expansive festival to evolve organically and be- them,” Kielbasa says. “And what I’ve
.
c panels, Cville’s annual film feast has
vision, this year’s
r
always had a heaping side order of
a
“Funny Business”
scholarly commentary and lively de-
a
theme extends be-
bate. Director Kielbasa, new in town “American Beauty”
yond “antics” and
.
c
f
“high jinks, hanky-
panky and hokey
pokey” would be a
full bill. But in new
Virginia Film Fes-
“tomfoolery” to “subterfuge” and
w
“shenanigans,” “dirty tricks” and
w
double-dealing,” and all manner of

w
consequential misbehavior.

| From the comic to the criminal, the
y
22
nd
edition of the festival will exam-
l
k
ine human behavior November 5-8,
e with over 80 films and over 100 guests
e
at theaters across Charlottesville.

W
Award-winning actors Matthew
t
e
Broderick and Cherry Jones, celebrat-
ed directors Norman Jewison, John
t
A
s
Waters, and Alan Ball, and many oth-

e
er film professionals will be in town
l
to discuss the films, their themes, and
A their topicality today. In addition to
e
the Opening Night Gala in the San-

R
R
dridge Lounge of the John Paul Jones
A
Arena, this year’s festival will have
A
a closing night Wrap Party at the X-
C
Lounge on Water Street. The 72-hour