2015 Virginia Film Festival Announces Lineup, Including ‘Son of Saul,’ ‘Carol’ and More

This year’s guest list will be highlighted by actress Meg Ryan, who will be screening her directorial debut, “Ithaca,” which was filmed in Virginia. Other guests include “Snowden” director Oliver Stone; “The Normal Heart” writer and activist Larry Kramer; celebrated film critic and historian Leonard Maltin; Emmy Award-winning actor Cherry Jones; Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Moll; actors Scott Haze and Maddie Hasson and cast members from the upcoming filmed-in-Virginia PBS Civil War dramatic series, “Mercy Street.”

“We have, as always, focused on creating a program that is as deep and broad as the interests and passions of our unique VFF audiences,” said Jody Kielbasa, Festival Director, “and have further expanded our efforts to share new voices and talents with our audiences by bringing in a wide array of emerging filmmakers working across a vast landscape of genres, styles, and topics.”

The full lineup for the 28th Virginia Film Festival includes:

Opening Night:
“I Saw the Light”

Centerpiece Film:
“The Lady in the Van”

Closing Night:
“Son of Saul”

Spotlight Screenings:
“Carol”
“Entertainment”
“In Transit”
“Lamb”
“Last Days in the Desert”
“A Light Beneath Their Feet”
“Louder Than Bombs”
“Mully”
“Project Greenlight Film”

Documentary Films:
“Anothoe” 
“Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA”
“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution”
“Bound: Africans Versus African Americans”
“Generation A: Portraits of Autism in the Art”
“Harry & Snowman”
“Imba Means Sing”
“Rosenwald”
“Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot”
“Sol LeWitt: Wall Drawings”
“Until 20.”

Spotlight on Virginia Filmmaking: 
“Coming Through the Rye”
“H8RZ”
“Monroe Hill”
“Paradise”
“Polyfaces”
“Night of the Living Deb”

Library of Congress Series:
“The Maltese Falcon”
“Employee’s Entrance”
“Birth of a Nation”

International Films:
“Cemetery of Splendour” (Thailand)
“Dough” (UK/Hungary)
“Eisenstein In Guanajuato” (Netherlands/Mexico)
“In the Basement” (Austria)
“The Kindergarten Teacher” (Israel/France)
“The Pearl Button” (Chile)
“Mountains May Depart” (China)
“My Friend Victoria” (France)
“Sembene!” (Senegal)
“Summer of Sangaile” (Lithuania/France/Netherlands)
“Taxi” (Iran)
“Victoria” (Germany)

READ MORE: Cannes Review: Todd Haynes’ ‘Carol’ is a Masterful Lesbian Romance Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara