Under the theme “Rooted RVA” the 13th Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), takes place September 24th – 29th, 2024 featuring over 170 film premieres from 25 countries.
Kicking off the 2024 festival is the narrative drama film, Saturn directed by Eric Esau starring Dominic Bogart (Just Mercy, The Glass Castle, Arrow) Piercey Dalton (The Open House), Marc Rissman (1883, Game of Thrones), and Elijah Maximus (Barkskins)
Coupled with Saturn is the world premiere of A Mother’s Promise, directed by RIFF’S founder, Heather Waters. It’s a narrative short period piece on the life of Vivian Gordon in the 1920’s written by David Woll and produced by Heather Waters and David Woll. The film stars Samantha Bruce and Ada Manie and features many Virginia talent and crew.
The Late opening night films include HIM, a narrative feature directed by Rebbecca Wahls starring Troy Baker (The Last of Us Part 1 & 2, Bioshock Infinite), Kira Omans (CSI: Vegas, The Gods II) and the narrative short, Seeking Stepdad directed by Keenan O’Reilly starring Gunner Willis, Dixon Prewitt, and Khrystyne Haje.
Closing out the festival is the award-winning Irish film “That They Might Face the Rising Sun” directed by Ireland’s beloved Pat Collins, with special guests Barry Ward (Dating Amber, Extra Ordinary, Jimmy’s Hall) and Éamon Little. The film is an adaptation of the novel written by John McGahern, which is published in America under the title By the Lake. “That They Might Face the Rising Sun” was nominated for 11 awards, winning Best Film at the 2024 Irish Film & Television Awards plus Best Film and Best Director at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema. Pat Collins’ previous documentary work includes many films including, John McGahern: A Private World (2005). The screenplay was co-written by Éamon Little and stars Barry Ward, Anna Bederke, Lalor Roddy, Sean McGinley, Ruth McCabe and Phillip Dolan.
The festival explain the meaning behind the theme, “In the spirit of honoring the festival’s objective to create a welcoming and impactful space for Richmonders to interact with creatives and thought leaders around the world, RIFF selected Rooted for this year’s theme as we expand upon building bridges in our community and being a welcoming platform for guests from around the world. Throughout the week many events reflect our approach to being rooted in inclusiveness, community and the arts, providing opportunities for engagement, discussion, cultural exchanges, and entertainment. The annual festival is a catalyst for conversations and a collective celebration of rich, diverse perspectives and ideas.”
Official festival highlights include:
Wednesday, Sep 25, a variety of spotlights screen at BTM Movieland and the Byrd Theatre including for Animation, Local Connections, Native American Women Spotlight, and Environmental Spotlights. That evening at the Byrd is the premiere of Between the Lights with special guests directed by Michael Groom starring Ines De Clercq and Samuel Edward-Cook (Peaky Blinders). Live music and VIP mixer is also featured at Vagabond.
On Thursday, Sep 26, RIFF kicks off the morning with its annual Youth Outreach Day where many Richmond area public schools are bussed in for a morning of films, workshops and Q & As with visiting guests. In the evening, RIFF has a special premiere of It’s Basic (Narrative Documentary) with special guests Mayor Levar Stoney and director Marc Levin with an extended panel following. Other guests to be announced. Multiple highlight films showing at BTM Cinemas on Thursday including the Military Spotlight film, I Wanted to Be a Man With a Gun and in the environmental category, Impossible Town followed by one of this year’s exciting features spotlighting disabilities, Pulling Threads (a narrative feature).
On Friday, Sep 27 at 7pm, a red carpet premiere of the Virginia shot film, Tapawingo will take place at the Byrd Theatre with special guests (Narrative Feature): directed by Dylan K. Narang, starring, Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory) Billy Zane, supporting (Titanic, Back to the Future), Gina Gershon (Showgirls, Bound) and at 9:30pm If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing directed by Sadie Bones (The Vanishing Point) with special guests from the cast, which stars Aitana Doyle (Aitana Needs a Gun, How to Make a Baby), Nadia Dajani (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ned and Stacey), David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer, Numb3rs), and Catherine Curtin (Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things). The director and many of the cast will be present.
On Friday afternoon The Cigarette Surfboard screens at BTM with director Ben Judkins and a surfboard display followed by an evening of international narratives from Spain and Italy and the U.S. thriller, Charlie Tango.
RIFF’s newest venue this year is the first ever collaboration with Petersburg via the Petersburg Area Art League and Culture Works with a special screening of Interview With a King with special guest Major General Barrye Price followed by live music under the stars with a performance by Rodney the Soul Singer Stith.
Other notable feature films include:
BREAKUP SEASON (Narrative Feature Film): directed by H. Nelson Tracey, starring Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead), and Samantha Isles (Captain Fantastic, Molly’s Game).
A TIME TO YELL: MORE THAN A STATUE from Charlottesville, THE BEST OF THE BEST JAZZ FROM DETROIT and another top award-winning narrative, BRANDO WITH A GLASS EYE.
Screening on Sunday is AS WE SPEAK: RAP MUSIC ON TRIAL: (Documentary Feature) Directed by J.M. Harper with special guests and an extended panel will show at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture alongside INTERVIEW WITH A KING with special guests and A BRIDGE TO LIFE directed by Chris Farina with special guests and an extended panel to follow.
A few notable award-winning shorts include:
CATHERINE & MICHAEL directed by Kathy Fusco, starring Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club), Peter Grosz (Writer for Late Night with Seth Myers). HOTELING directed by Ryan Buffa, starring Khary Payton (The Walking Dead, Teen Titans) and Kevin L Johnson (Ozark, Stranger Things, The Resident,). LEAVING YELLOWSTONE directed by Kayla Arend with executive producer Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, She’s All That).
STOP WHINING AND START WINNING directed by Emma Raimi, starring Sam Raimi (director of Doctor Strange 2, Spiderman, Evil Dead), Carter Jenkins (Mad Men, Famous In Love, Surface) Kika Magalhães (The Eyes of My Mother).