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August 25, 2006 — The Virginia Film Society has
announced its 2006 Fall Season, which will kick off with
the drama “Hollywoodland,” inspired
by the mysterious death of “Superman” star
George Reeves. Other highlights include the return of the “Manhattan
Short Film Festival,” a special nationwide event
that will cast local cinema-goers in the role of judges
to determine the best short films in the world; “The
Guguletu Seven,” which portrays the unraveling truth
revealed by an investigation of the shooting of seven men
during the apartheid regime in South Africa; “Hollywood,
Teach Us to Pray,” featuring an array of film clips
depicting how Hollywood has shaped American prayer rituals;
and the unreleased mystery “The Hole Story.”
“One of the highlights of this year's series will be the local premiere
of “Don’t Tell,” an Italian film nominated for Best Foreign
Language Film that includes key scenes filmed in Charlottesville,” said
Richard Herskowitz, director of the Virginia Film Festival. “Enrico
Cesaretti, who teaches Italian at the University of Virginia, was close
to the filmmakers and will talk about their experiences here.”
“Hollywoodland” opens the season on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at
Vinegar Hill Theatre. This compelling drama, inspired by one of Hollywood’s
most infamous real-life mysteries, follows a 1950s private detective (Adrien
Brody) who, investigating the mysterious death of “Superman” star
George Reeves (Ben Affleck), uncovers unexpected connections to his own
life as the case turns more personal. The torrid affair Reeves had with
the wife (Diane Lane) of a studio executive (Bob Hoskins) might hold the
key to the truth.
The film is the feature directorial debut for Allen Coulter (Emmy and
DGA Award nominee for his work on “The Sopranos” and “Sex
and the City”) and was produced by U.Va. alumnus Glenn Williamson,
a Virginia Film Festival board member who facilitated this event.
Leslie McDonald, the production designer for the film, will lead a discussion
about creating a film set in the 1950s. McDonald, who has more than 20
years experience in the film industry and is currently a graduate student
in U.Va.'s School of Architecture, said, “The challenge was that
the movie is set in Hollywood but was shot in Toronto. We needed to find
both early and late 1950s architecture that converged both the glamorous
side of Hollywood and the design shift that happened with Elvis, McCarthyism
and the “beat” poets in the post war designs of the late 1950s.
We did a lot of research to reflect this and capture the historic significance
of Hollywood at those times.”
All Virginia Film Society events are co-sponsored by the Virginia Film
Festival and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Most screenings
feature special guest speakers. Screenings are held at Vinegar Hill Theatre
at 7 p.m. with the exception of “Hollywood, Teach Us to Pray,” which
will be shown at the Regal Downtown on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10:30 a.m.
Admission to individual screenings is $8 and free to Film Society members.
Membership for the Virginia Film Society is just $50 ($40 for students
and seniors). Membership benefits include admission to 12 screenings
(through the spring season), a free pass to Regal Cinemas, $2 off rentals
on Mondays
at Sneak Reviews (non-new releases only) and $6 Tuesday movies at Vinegar
Hill. Individual admission tickets may also be purchased 30 minutes before
the screening at the venue box office, when seats are available.
For more information on membership in the Virginia Film Society, or to
view the full fall season schedule, visit www.vafilm.com.
FALL 2006 VIRGINIA FILM SOCIETY SCHEDULE
“HOLLYWOODLAND” with production designer Leslie McDonald
Tuesday, Sept. 5 @ Vinegar Hill Theatre, 7 p.m.
This compelling drama, inspired by one of Hollywood’s most infamous
real-life mysteries, follows a 1950s private detective (Adrien Brody) who,
investigating the mysterious death of “Superman” star George
Reeves (Ben Affleck), uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as
the case turns more personal.
“MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL”
Tuesday, Sept. 19 @ Vinegar Hill Theatre, 7 p.m.
The most creative short films in the world will be judged by the cinema-going
public around the world. Audience members, here and in 50 other cities
within a 10-day period, will be handed a voting card upon entry and asked
to vote for the one film they feel should win the festival. Last year’s
program delighted the audience, and the quality of the films is certain
to be exceptionally strong.
“THE GUGULETU SEVEN” with guest director Lindy Wilson
Tuesday, Oct. 3 @ Vinegar Hill Theatre, 7 p.m.
During the old apartheid regime in South Africa, seven young men, deemed
to be “terrorists” are shot dead in the suburb of Guguletu,
Cape Town, on March 3,1986. A witness, however, says he saw one of the
men being shot with his hands up in the act of surrendering. The unraveling
of the truth of this event ten years later, by investigators of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission, is the gripping and chilling journey of
this film.
“HOLLYWOOD, TEACH US TO PRAY” with speaker Terry
Lindvall
Saturday, Oct. 28 @ Regal Downtown, 10:30 a.m.
Terry Lindvall, a scholar of silent comedies, animated films, and religious
cinema, is one of the VFF’s most popular speakers. Viewers will be
treated to more than 40 film clips (from the silent films of Chaplin, Keaton
and Fairbanks to “Bride of Frankenstein,” “Nightmare
on Elm Street” and “Million Dollar Baby”), as Lindvall
talks about how Hollywood has shaped American rituals of prayer.
“DON’T TELL” with guest speaker Enrico Cesaretti
Tuesday, Nov. 7 @ Vinegar Hill Theatre, 7 p.m.
Nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Foreign Language Film, “Don’t
Tell” was directed by Cristina Comencini and was partially filmed
in Charlottesville! “Don’t Tell” is the mesmerizing story
of a woman’s journey into her past and the aftermath of confronting
personal demons long hidden beneath the surface of her psyche. Sabrina
is a beautiful young woman who seemingly has it all – a supportive
and loving boyfriend, a comfortable lifestyle and a promising future. Screening
before the feature will be the short film “Rotten,” by Charlottesville-based
director Eric Hurt.
“THE HOLE STORY” with guest director Alex Karpovsky
Tuesday, Nov. 21 @ Vinegar Hill Theatre, 7 p.m.
A massive stretch of water opens up on the surface of icy North Long
Lake in Brainerd, Minn. Convinced this would be perfect for the mystery
show
he’s been fervently pitching to cable executives, Alex decides to
cash in his savings and make a pilot episode himself. However, the “black
hole” mystery reveals itself to be much more disturbing and personal
than expected. “It was one of my favorite unreleased films of last
year and one of the saddest and funniest debuts I’ve ever seen,” wrote
Matt Zoller Seitz of the New York Press.
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