JAMES RIVER FILM FESTIVAL
Virginia’s Festival for the Independent-Minded

2006 Festival Schedule in Brief

MONDAY, MARCH 20

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2005 ASIFA EAST 36th Animation Festival Winners
7:30 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Free Admission
Award-winning animation from the U.S.-East chapter of the Association Internationale du Film d’ Animation.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

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I Am Curious (Yellow) - (1967, 121 min.)
7:30 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
The notorious Swedish import that rocked Hollywood’s boat! Directed by Vilgot Sjoman, an Ingmar Bergman associate.
Introduced by Robert Ellis, VCU Department of English.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

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2 X SNOW – One Second in Montreal and Wavelength
7:30 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
Canadian filmmaker Michael Snow emerged in the 60s avant-garde with fellow structuralists Hollis Frampton and Andy Warhol.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

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The Whole Wide World (1996, 104 min.)
2 pm, Richmond Public Library, Main Branch
Free Admission
Fantasy writer Robert E. Howard meets aspiring schoolteacher Novalyne Price in Texas in the mid-thirties, in this “small” independent production by Dan Ireland. Vincent D’Onofrio and Renee Zellweger are cast in the leads and turn in fine performances.

Naked Testimonials: The Films of Martha Colburn
(2 hour program)
7:30 pm, Plant Zero Art Center
Admission $5
Experimental animator Martha Colburn makes things move and morph using a variety of techniques to create colorful, layered patchworks of bizarre and striking imagery combined with her hypnotic soundtracks. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

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John Huston’s  Let There Be Light
(1946, B&W, 50 min.)
with Jim Collier’s Tears of Joy
(2002, color, 13 min.)
11 am, Richmond Public Library, Main Branch
Free Admission
Commissioned by the U.S. Department of War, the film deals with traumatized GIs in WWII and the miracles worked by psychoanalysis and hypnosis.
Richmonder Jim Collier’s Tears of Joy (color, 13 mins.) combines multiple stories of Virginians’ rehabilitation and recovery. Mr. Collier will answer questions about his film following the screening.

Experimental Animation Workshop with Martha Colburn
2pm, Plant Zero Art Center
Admission $25 (Registration limited to 10 people - CLASS IS FULL)
This workshop will examine a number of handmade techniques and conceptual approaches utilized by experimental animator and festival guest, Martha Colburn. Participants are requested to bring personal photos, images or collages to animate. MORE

Reception: Meet the Guests
6-7:30 pm, Plant Zero Art Center
Free Admission; Cash Bar
Sponsored by the Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance

Short Film Juried Competition Finalists
8 pm, Plant Zero Art Center
Admission $5
Sponsored by the Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance
Screenings of the finalists and announcement of cash award winners. Plus this year audience members get to vote for a People’s Choice Award.

The finalists are:

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

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Jason and the Argonauts
with Ray Harryhausen
10 am, The Byrd Theatre
Admission $7
Animator/producer Ray Harryhausen will introduce one of his personal favorites—the 1963 fantasy classic of Jason’s search for the Golden Fleece. DVD and book signing following the program.

The Art of Motion
with Ray Harryhausen
2 pm, The Byrd Theatre
Admission $7
Animator/producer Ray Harryhausen will conduct a Q& A session while screening a retrospective of highlights from his long and esteemed career. A privileged look from inside the industry by one of the standard bearers of his craft. DVD and book signing following the program.

Sounds of the Surreal by Gary Lucas
with opening film+music performance by Hotel X
9 pm, The Canal Club
Admission: $12/advance (Plan 9 Music, www.thecanalclub.com); $15/door
Captain Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas returns to the James River Film Festival by performing original scores to three avant-garde shorts: Rene Clair’s Entr’acte, Fernand Leger’s Ballet Mecanique and Ladislas Starewicz’s The Cameraman’s Revenge.
Local ensemble Hotel X will open the show performing live to a silent comedy short and will also perform with Mr. Lucas at the conclusion of his film program.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

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Let’s Rock Again! (2005, 50 min.)
1 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
Actor Dick Rude (Repo Man, Sid and Nancy) turned director for this moving and intimate portrait of mentor-friend-punk icon, the late Joe Strummer - heart and soul of British punk.

Say Amen, Somebody (1983, 100 min.)
2:30 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
Director George Nierenberg’s rousing documentary focuses on two of black gospel’s biggest names—“Mother” Willie Mae Ford Smith and “Professor” Thomas Dorsey—tracing their careers from unknowns to legends.

The Last Home Movie with David Williams
5 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
Hometown director David Williams (Lillian, Thirteen, Long Art) presents the Richmond premiere of his latest work. A film more personal perhaps than any of his previous, it focuses on his parents’ last years as they combat old age and Alzheimer’s with duty, love and patience.

My Architect (2003, 116 min.)
7 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $7
Director Nathaniel Kahn’s architect in this case is his very famous father, Louis Kahn. The filmmaker explores the multiple private lives and acclaimed public art of his father. Son Nathaniel travels worldwide in an attempt to understand the father, the man, and the work.

Let’s Rock Again! (2005, 50 min.)
9 pm, The Firehouse Theatre
Admission $5
See description above.

CALL FOR ENTRIES - enter the 2006 juried competition of short film and animation. $2000 in Prize Money
DEADLINE: January 20, 2006
Thanks to all who submitted films to the competition. The jury will contact all finalists to discuss the screening to be held Friday, March 24. Finalists are posted above. After the festival we will return screening copies to those of you who gave us postage paid return mailers.

FESTIVAL GUESTS 1994 - 2005
A complete listing of guests of the festival along with
special guests at other RMIC events.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

PAST FESTIVAL PROGRAMS
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
For program details on festivals held from 1994 – 1999, contact RMIC.