Alexandria Film Festival Wrap-up!

For Immediate Release November 11, 2019
Contact: Gayle Converse, Media Relations, Alexandria Film Festival gcprod@bellsouth.net 404.989.0534

“Wake” Wins Top Honors at 2019 Alexandria Film Festival

Alexandria – A movie about a widowed mortician and a life-size doll named Pedro won top honors at the 2019 Alexandria (Virginia) Film Festival (AFF). “Wake” directed by Cyrus Mirakhor was awarded Best of Fest as movie lovers in the Washington, D.C. area enjoyed their selections of more than 50 films this past weekend during the Festival.

“Fruits of Peace” directed by Kevyn Settle, won the AFF Joe Cantwell Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking.

“She’s in Portland” directed by Marc Carlini, won the AFF Audience Award.

“Demand Curve” co-directed by Meredith Bragg and Austin Bragg, was honored with the Best of the Region Award.

“On the Outside” directed by Paul Gray, took Best Foreign Film honors.

The 13th annual event was held November 7-10. The AFF https://alexfilmfest.com offers new films in advance of their arrivals at commercial theaters, streaming services, or television. The 2019 festival presented independent film screenings at two popular Alexandria venues: the Beatley Library and the AMC Hoffman Center 22 Cinema Complex. More than 50 free and ticketed films from around the world were screened or premiered this year. The four-day event was open to all area motion picture enthusiasts and featured the Burke and Herbert Bank Family Showcase, a late-night package of film noir, a program of entertaining short films, and two Veterans' Showcases, offering cost-free ticketing for active duty and retired military and guests.

“The Alexandria Film Festival wrapped its 13th year with record attendance of more than 1,000 film lovers, warm homecomings for Alexandrian filmmakers Casey Wilson and Marc Carlini, two Veteran’s Showcases, a Mayoral proclamation, and a new partnership with NOVA’s film degree program. We thank the Alexandria community for its constant support to the AFF and we look forward to an exciting 2020 festival!” stated AFF Chair Margaret Wohler.

The AFF is proud to partner with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to promote Films by NOVA Students. To kick off the 2019 AFF, the works of young NOVA filmmakers were featured during the festival’s cost-free screenings Nov. 8 at the Beatley Library. Student filmm​​akers were also on hand for a Q&A session. The 2019 NOVA Student Film Festival can be viewed at blogs.nvcc.edu/nsff/.

About the Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) -- The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) brings state-of-the-art independent films to eager viewers in the Nation’s Capital region. The AFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a grant from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and numerous corporate sponsors including Brandywine Living at Alexandria, Burke and Herbert Bank, The Foundry at Carlyle, Hilton Hotels, Connection Newspapers, Alexandria Hyundai, Ted’s Montana Grill, San Antonio Grill, Glory Days Grill, Wilson Grand Communications and Booka Looka, West End Business Association, and Alexandria Living Magazine, Visit Alexandria, Alexandria Times, and Alphagraphics.

AlexFilmFest.com

It's A Wrap!

It's a wrap! The AFF 2019 was so much fun: 1,068 people attended over 3 days to see 53 films and visit with 64 filmmakers. Thank you to everyone! Congrats to our award winning films:

• Audience Award: "She's in Portland"

• Best Subtitled film: "On the Outside"

• Best of Region: "Demand Curve"

• Joe Cantwell Prize for Excellence in Documentary filmmaking: "Fruits of Peace"

• Best of Fest: "Wake"
  

Download The 2019 AFF Program

Download the 2019 Alexandria Film Festival program.

Former SNL Cast Member to Screen New Comedy at 2019 Alexandria Film Festival

For Immediate Release                                                   October 16, 2019

Contact:  Gayle Converse, Media Relations, Alexandria Film Festival  gcprod@bellsouth.net  404.989.0534

Casey Wilson’s “Daddio”

Alexandria – Native Alexandrian actress, director, and former Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Casey Wilson returns to her roots early next month to screen her new film, “Daddio” at the 13th Annual Alexandria (Virginia) Film Festival. The festival will be held November 7-10.

“Daddio” is a comedy about death. A year after the sudden passing of their beloved wife and mother, pee pills, duct-taped goggles, and a misguided selfie play roles in a father and daughter’s struggle with life after loss. Paul (played by Michael McKean “Better Call Saul,” “Spinal Tap”) gets a perm. Abby (played by Casey Wilson “SNL,” “Happy Endings”) is sleeping in her closet.  Warning: affects heartstrings and funny bones.  A Q&A with Casey Wilson follows the screening.   

More of Hollywood’s leading voices tell their story in “This Changes Everything” -- a feature-length documentary that uncovers what lies beneath one of the most confounding dilemmas in the entertainment industry -- the under-representation and misrepresentation of women. This eye-opening film features interviews with A-list actors and directors, including Meryl Streep, Taraji P. Henson, Shonda Rhimes, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Marisa Tomei, Jessica Chastain, Zoe Saladana, Tiffany Haddish, Alan Alda, and Maria Giese, among many others.   A Q&A with Maria Giese follows the screening. 

Lisa Wolfinger, who many Alexandrians will remember as the director of “Mercy Street” is back with her new documentary “The Kids We Lose” which offers an unflinching expose of how some educators approach the unique needs and problems of some of society's most vulnerable and misunderstood kids.

The AFF is proud to partner with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to promote Films by NOVA Students. To kick off the 2019 AFF, the works of young NOVA filmmakers will be featured during the festival’s cost-free screenings Friday November 8 at the Beatley Library in Alexandria. Student filmmakers will also be on hand for a Q&A session. The 2019 NOVA Student Film Festival can be previewed at https://blogs.nvcc.edu/nsff/

A highly praised film produced by NOVA will be highlighted at this year’s festival. “Gabriel’s Revolt” takes place in Richmond, Virginia in the summer of 1800. Gabriel Prosser, a literate enslaved blacksmith had planned a large slave rebellion.  What happened resulted in laws that changed the lives of free blacks for years to come. This film by NOVA is an inspiration to all Americans. 

Filmmakers, including Casey Wilson, are available for advance, day-of or post-event media ops.

The AFF https://alexfilmfest.com offers new films in advance of their arrivals at commercial theaters, streaming services, or television. Now in its 13th year, the festival will present independent film screenings at a variety of popular Alexandria venues, including the AMC Hoffman Center 22 Cinema Complex and the Beatley Library. More than 50 free and ticketed films from around the world will be screened this year, inclusive of numerous premieres. The four-day event is open to all area motion picture enthusiasts.  A selection of films will be featured for family audiences.

AFF Chair Margaret Wohler notes, “We are very excited to bring the AFF 2019 festival to historic Alexandria. Please join us November 7-10 for thought-provoking, exciting independent film screenings, dialogue with visiting filmmakers and actors from around the world, chances to meet local film artists, parties, awards, and fun! We hope to meet you, too! Our audiences truly participate in the Alexandria Film Festival – a home-grown event with a global reach! We feature a Family Showcase sponsored by Burke and Herbert Bank, a late-night package of film noir, a program of entertaining short films, and a Veterans' Showcase with cost-free ticketing for military service members. Come "Celebrate Independents" with us”!

About the Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) -- The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) brings state-of-the-art independent films to eager viewers in the Nation’s Capital region. The AFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a grant from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and numerous corporate sponsors including Brandywine Living at Alexandria, Burke and Herbert Bank, The Foundry at Carlyle, Hilton Hotels, Connection Newspapers, Alexandria Hyundai, Ted’s Montana Grill, San Antonio Grill, Glory Days Grill, Wilson Grand Communications and Booka Looka, West End Business Association, and Alexandria Living Magazine, Visit Alexandria, Alexandria Times, and Alphagraphics.  AlexFilmFest.com.

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Alexandria Film Festival to Honor Veterans

For Immediate Release                         September 17, 2019

Contact:  Gayle Converse, Media Relations, Alexandria Film Festival  gcprod@bellsouth.net - 404.989.0534

Alexandria – The story of a mysterious United States Navy helicopter crash off the coast of Virginia will be one of the featured films Veteran’s Day weekend during the 13th annual Alexandria Film Festival (AFF). "Who Killed Lt. Van Dorn? will be part of the festival’s special “Veteran’s Showcase.”  

The AFF https://alexfilmfest.com offers new films in advance of their arrivals at commercial theaters, streaming services, or television. Now in its 13th year, the festival will present independent film screenings at a variety of popular Alexandria venues, including the AMC Hoffman Center 22 Cinema Complex. More than 50 free and ticketed films from around the world will be premiered screened this year, with numerous premieres. The four-day event is open to all area motion picture enthusiasts.  A selection of films will be featured for family audiences.

Alexandria native and former Saturday Night Live (SNL) actress, filmmaker and director, (and TC Williams graduate) Casey Wilson will arrive for the Alexandria premiere of her film "Daddio.”  Filmmaker Marc Carlini will return to his hometown for the Alexandria screening of his film "She's in Portland.”  Arriving from India, filmmaker Rahul Sharma will screen his short film "The Binoculars.”  https://vimeo.com/326245689 

Filmmakers, including Casey Wilson, are available for advance, day-of or post-event media ops.

AFF Chair Margaret Wohler notes, “We are very excited to bring the AFF 2019 festival to historic Alexandria. Please join us November 7-10 for thought-provoking, exciting independent film screenings, dialogue with visiting filmmakers and actors from around the world, chances to meet local film artists, parties, awards, and fun! We hope to meet you, too! Our audiences truly participate in the Alexandria Film Festival – a home-grown event with a global reach! We feature a Family Showcase sponsored by Burke and Herbert Bank, a late-night package of film noir, a program of entertaining short films, and a Veterans' Showcase with cost-free ticketing for military service members. Come "Celebrate Independents" with us at the 13th annual Alexandria Film Festival!”

Other not-to-be-missed films include the star-studded “This Changes Everything,” an investigative look and analysis of gender disparity in Hollywood, featuring commentary by Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Zoe Saldana, Geena Davis and other stars of the big screen.

About the Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) -- The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) brings state-of-the-art independent films to eager viewers in the Nation’s Capital region. The AFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a grant from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and numerous corporate sponsors including Brandywine Living at Alexandria, Burke and Herbert Bank, Hilton Hotels, Connection Newspapers, Alexandria Hyundai, Ted’s Montana Grill, San Antonio Grill, Glory Days Grill, Wilson Grand Communications and Booka Looka, West End Business Association, and Alexandria Living Magazine, and Alphagraphics.  AlexFilmFest.com

"ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD"

Introducing Dennis McDonald, AFF’s resident film critic!

By Dennis D. McDonald

Tarantino brilliantly elevates a story about people making chintzy weekly 1960s TV series to a work of cinematic art. He does this not by taking the easy route of trivializing or satirizing those producing that era’s weekly junk TV (which my family and I thoroughly enjoyed watching) but by elevating the career concerns of those making that era’s weekly junk TV to universal recognizability.

It helps that the movie employs two of today’s most bankable and competent stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.

DiCaprio skillfully bounces back and forth between portraying a hack weekly western TV actor on a career downslope and his character’s real and painful realization about what’s happening to him. Who hasn’t experienced midlife crisis as the dreams of youth are shattered?

Brad Pitt plays DiCaprio’s “friend for hire” who, while always being introduced as DiCaprio’s stunt double, is really DiCaprio’s driver, caretaker, general factotum—and best friend. Pitt is also trying to get his own stunt career restarted but has his own demons to confront. Emotionally, though, he’s way ahead of DiCaprio in accepting the reality of his own fading career hopes.

That’s a lot to deal with in one movie but Tarantino successfully layers two more major cinematic elements.

The first is Hollywood in 1969 and its transformation by the growing television industry. Somehow Tarantino manages to objectively combine the phony glamour of the business with views of the actual grunt work that kept it going. We are treated to glimpses of real stars like Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee who do come across as real. But they are just part of the background. The real focus of Tarantino’s 1969 Hollywood is how the movie and TV business infuse the town with ubiquitous period music, movie posters, movie marquees, and occasional TV views of what else is going on in the outside world.

Having lived through the 1960s I can honestly say that sounds and images from that era do not automatically bring back fond memories and I think that’s a point the Tarantino is making despite the occasional lightness of his beautifully photographed views.

The second cinematic element is the interweaving of the story with the Manson murders. Admittedly I was initially reluctant to see the film since I had no desire to witness a tawdry recreated carnage sequence which I feared from having seen Tarantino’s last couple of films. But Tarantino’s handling of the Manson subplot is brilliant and imaginative.

DiCaprio’s TV actor owns a house in the Hollywood Hills next-door to two new rental tenants: Roman Polansky and eventually-to-be-murdered pregnant Sharon Tate. We follow Sharon (played wonderfully by Margot Robbie) as she comes to Hollywood and is entranced with her rising stardom. The scenes of her seeking out her movies playing in local theaters are honestly touching as she displays no trace of the professional angst that DiCaprio’s character is experiencing. She is enthusiastically “on the way up” and we can’t help but be touched by her innocent enthusiasm at seeing how audience members laugh at her onscreen antics.

Meanwhile, a connection is made between the Manson “family” at the Spahn Ranch and Brad Pitt’s character. This takes place via a tense and dramatic extended sequence that allows Pitt to demonstrate some of the superb acting chops that, given the right director and script, we have learned he is capable of demonstrating.

That Tarantino is able to bring all these elements together to constitute a dramatic and coherent whole is, in my opinion, a cinematic miracle. This is the work of a mature artist who has wisely selected and knows how to manage all the right resources to tell an entertaining and engrossing tale.

Will there be Academy Award nominations? I couldn’t care less about that. But I do know that as of August 1, 2019 this is the best film I’ve seen so far this year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dennis D. McDonald (ddmcd@ddmcd.com) consults from Alexandria Virginia. His services include writing & research, proposal development, and project management. He manages a website: www.ddmcd.com, where he writes about managing data, projects, and technology. He also reviews films, tv, and media.

2018 Winners

Awards: Each film receives a cash prize and etched, hand-made, fused glass award by Patti North:

• Best of Fest: “Hunting Lands” by Edwin Stevens ($300)

• Joe Cantwell Prize for Best Documentary: “American Relapse” by Pat McGee ($250)

• Special Jury Prize: “I Wrote This For You” by Jason Zavaleta, Matt Stoner, Brennan Keel Cook ($200)

• Regional Award: “Warpath: The Road To States” by Clark Vandergrift ($100)

• Audience Award: “The Makeover” by Sarah Park and Jane Pittman ($100)

It's A Wrap! 2018 Alexandria Film Festival Closes on Record Year

With more than 70 films screened, and 60 filmmakers in attendance, the Alexandria Film Festival finished a record-setting year.

Cinema lovers from around the DMV enjoyed four days of movie magic starting Thursday, Nov. 8 with an opening night program of shorts at Waterfront Park (in perfect weather!). The festival concluded Sunday, Nov. 11 with awards ceremony and lavish reception featuring short ribs and crab cakes sponsored by Ted’s Montana Grill.

Film fans were treated to a huge variety of features and shorts from around the world in every genre. The opportunity to learn about film and filmmaking from the artists themselves made the annual event a not-to-be-missed experience.

In the final winner’s circle were:

• Best of Fest ($300 prize): “Hunting Lands,” Edwin Stevens

• Joe Cantwell Award for Documentary Achievement ($250 prize): “American Relapse,” Pat McGee

• Special Jury Prize ($200 prize): “I Wrote This For You,” Jason Zavaleta, Matt Stoner, Brennan Keel Cook

• Audience Award ($100 prize): “The Makeover,” Sarah Park and Jane Pittman

• Best of Region ($100 prize): “Warpath: The Road to States,” Clark Vandergrift

Mayor Allison Silberberg and festival chair Margaret Wohler presented the awards. In addition to cash prize, all winning filmmakers receive a fused art glass plaque custom made by a local artist.

Alexandria Film Festival Announces 2018 Schedule

Alexandria Film Festival Announces 2018 Schedule

Four-Day Festival Features Sixty Filmmakers and Seventy Films 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patti North

Email: pattinorth@gmail.com

703-549-5250

AlexFilmFest.com

Alexandria -- The 12th Annual Alexandria Film Festival brings more than 70 films to delight, entertain, and inform area film enthusiasts November 8-11. 

The celebration begins Thursday, Nov. 8 with a free program of six short films, screening outdoors at Waterfront Park in Old Town.  The Free Flowing Musical Experience will kick things off at 6:30 p.m., with the shorts beginning at 7 p.m. There will be free popcorn for the first 100 guests.

AMC Hoffman 22 Theater and Beatley Central Library again serve as the principal venues with more than 60 filmmakers presenting films over the festival weekend.  See full program details at AlexFilmFest.com. Ticketed shows can be found at AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com for $12 or $15 at the door.  An All-Fest pass is also available for $50 at AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com or $70 at the door.

With more than 50 premieres of short and feature-length films, the festival features films from around the world including Canada, France, India, Lebanon, Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.  Local filmmakers will screen new work and several directors, producers, actors and crew will take questions from the audience.

Free screenings at Beatley Central Library are on Friday, Nov. 10 from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria.

Ticketed screenings at AMC Hoffman Theater 22 are on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11 at 206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria.  Tickets are available at AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com.

Highlights include:

● Burke and Herbert Bank Family Showcase -- Features five premieres for, by, or about younger viewers and their families, presented by nine filmmakers including the grand prizewinner in the national video contest “Lights, Camera, Save.”

● Salute to Service Members Showcase” -- Features four films, including three premieres on Veterans Day Weekend.  We honor our veterans and active service members, who will be admitted free of charge with one guest to this showcase, first come, first served. We can only guaranteed seating through advance purchase online.

● Two “Film Noir” Showcases -- Extend the Halloween chills with these thrillers!

● “Meant to be Broken” -- clever “dramedy” about a mild-mannered guy who has never broken a rule, while he tries to cope with some very bad news by breaking them all.  Q&A following with D.C. filmmaker Jonathan Zuck.

● “The Makeover” -- a conservative policy wonk learns to embrace his feminine, alter ego, Giselle.  Q&A with Alexandria Filmmaker Jane Pittman and Giselle Donnelly.  World premiere.

● “Hunting Lands” -- A veteran-turned-recluse witnesses the aftermath of a heinous crime and takes justice into his own hands.  Virginia premiere that will keep you guessing!

● “Trickster” -- A man’s life is forever changed when he meets a beautiful young woman who needs help.  A ‘Twilight Zone’ meets ‘Inception’ thriller.  East coast premiere.  Q&A with filmmaker Jamie Paolinetti

● “American Exploitation: The Slaves Among Us” – Investigates sex trafficking in suburban America.  Q&A with filmmakers Benjamin Brothers and John Carter.  World premiere.

● “American Relapse” – An inside look at the heroin epidemic in Southern Florida and the corrupt underground “rehabilitation” industry that sprung up, not to combat but to profit.  Q&A with filmmaker Pat McGee.

● “Iron Orchard” -- Virginia Premiere of an epic rise and fall of a Texas oilman torn between love and ambition.  Q&A with filmmaker Camille Chambers.

The festival concludes with an awards ceremony and closing reception on Sunday.

The Alexandria Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and many generous corporate sponsors including:

• Burke and Herbert Bank

• Hilton Hotels of Alexandria

• Alexandria Gazette/Connection Newspapers

• Alexandria Hyundai

• Ted’s Montana Grill

• Alexandria Living Magazine

• Wilson Grand Communications

• AMC Theaters

• San Antonio Bar and Grill

• Visit Alexandria

• Glory Days Grill

• Booka Looka

The Alexandria Film Festival 2018 will be “Celebrating Independents” November 8-11, 2018!

Come join us for three days of both ticketed and cost-free screenings of the best in independent filmmaking from around the world and our own Alexandria neighborhoods. The 12th annual Alexandria Film Festival hosts more than 50 screenings at AMC Hoffman Theater and Beatley Library. Join us for fascinating post-screening discussions with filmmakers, artists, actors and industry experts where YOU ask the questions. Tickets will be available in October. See you there!

Film review: Documenting the streets of Charlottesville

Full article available at the Alexandria Times HERE.

Alexandria Film Festival Returns This Week

Read the full article on Patch HERE.

Alexandria Film Festival announces schedule

Read the full article from the Alexandria Times HERE.

Alexandria Film Festival Announces 10th Anniversary Festival Films, Schedule & Special Events

Alexandria, VA – For 10 years, the Alexandria Film Festival has showcased some of the best documentaries, shorts and feature films from the D.C.-metro area, nationally, and around the world. From November 10th to 13th, the festival returns with more than 40 films, free screenings, discussions, special events, live musical performances, and the Alexandria premiere of season two of PBS series, Mercy Street. Films will be screened at AMC Hoffman Center 22, Market Square and Beatley Central Library. Special events to celebrate independent film will take place throughout Alexandria…

Read the full press release HERE.

10th Anniversary Alexandria Film Festival Announces 2016 Festival Dates And Call For Entries

ALEXANDRIA, VA, MARCH 7, 2016 – The Alexandria Film Festival today announced the 10th anniversary festival will occur November 10-13, 2016 in Alexandria, VA. Submissions to the festival will be open on WithoutABox.com April 4 – July 15.

Read the full press release HERE.

2015 Film Schedule Announced

Alexandria Film Festival To Welcome PBS’ MERCY STREET Cast Members, International and Local Filmmakers, And Wide Variety of Short and Feature Length Films on November 5-8, 2015 ALEXANDRIA, VA,

OCTOBER 22, 2015 – The Alexandria Film Festival today announced its 62 featured films for the ninth annual festival, to be held November 5-8, 2015 at AMC Hoffman 22 Theatre and Beatley Central Library in Alexandria, Virginia. The festival opens Thursday, November 5, 2015 with the Alexandria premiere of MERCY STREET, PBS’s new civil war drama historically based in Alexandria, Virginia. The festival will host a Q&A with MERCY STREET stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Mary Phinney), Hannah James (Emma Green), Tara Summers (Anne Hastings), and executive producers David W. Zucker and Lisa Wolfinger. Local Alexandria producer and Alexandria Film Festival award winning filmmaker Joe Cantwell will moderate a Q&A following the screening.

Read the full press release HERE.

Alexandria Film Festival To Host Alexandria Premiere of PBS’s New Civil War Drama MERCY STREET

ALEXANDRIA, VA, OCTOBER 5, 2015 – The Alexandria Film Festival and Visit Alexandria will host the Alexandria premiere of PBS’s new civil war drama, MERCY STREET to kick off the ninth annual film festival in Alexandria, Virginia. The private screening will happen the opening night of the festival on November 5. The Alexandria Film Festival runs November 5-8, 2015 at AMC Hoffman 22 Theatre and Beatley Central Library.

Read the full press release HERE.

Alexandria Film Festival Announces 2015 Call For Entries

ALEXANDRIA, VA, JUNE 4, 2015 -- Known for bringing enriching short and feature length films of all genres, filmmaker panels and arts presentations to this historic and unique city, the Alexandria Film Festival is a yearly celebration of film. AFF presents emerging and established, local and international filmmakers to engaged audiences from Alexandria and the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Last year, the festival brought more than 60 films and 50 filmmakers to Alexandria to personally interact with audiences. Visiting filmmakers came from as far away as Sri Lanka and Uruguay and as near as Alexandria. Submissions are now open with the following deadlines:

• Early Bird Deadline: July 13, 2015

• Regular Deadline: August 3, 2015

• Late Deadline: September 9, 2015

Read the full press release HERE.