Opening night – October 27th --- will feature Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch, starring Benicio del Toro, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson. Festival Director Jody Kielbasa says some 60 feature films will follow over the next four days.
“Incredible films like Spencer, about Princess Diana. Our closing night film, which is C’mon, C’mon starring Joaquin Phoenix, and Power of the Dog by Jane Campion. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemmons and Kirsten Dunst.”
In addition to hosting movie lovers at theaters and on campus, the event will offer an outdoor experience at Morven Farms.
“We’re going to close on Sunday evening with a 30-year anniversary of the Adams Family – a salute to Halloween, at the drive-in movies,” Kielbasa says.
Documentaries and docudramas are also on the program, including a series based on the book Dopesick by Roanoke journalist Beth Macy. Festival Program Director Chandler Ferrebee gives it a rave review.
“I have actually been lucky enough to get like five episodes from Hulu, and every time it hits my in box I stop what I’m doing, and I go watch it. It is fantastic. It has Michael Keaton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kaitlyn Dever -- a who’s who of fantastic actors.”
The Festival also plans to honor play and screenwriter Jeremy O. Harris – a native of Danville.
"He actually was just nominated for a number of Tony’s this past weekend for his play Slave Play," Ferrebee says. "We are going to show his film Zola that he co-wrote with director Janicza Bravo, and he’s just a fashion muse, tastemaker, bon vivant, and I can’t wait to have him here in Charlottesville.”