With the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF) just around the corner and boasting more than 120 films we thought we’d share the five we’re most looking
With the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF) just around the corner and boasting more than 120 films we thought we’d share the five we’re most looking forward to.
Featuring films from over 25 countries, there’s no shortage of variety, and while it was hard to narrow them down, the five films below definitely caught our eye.
Wish You Well
Debuting on Thursday, February 26th at 7:15 in The Byrd Theatre, this film is based on the best-selling David Baldacci novel of the same name.
The Darnell Martin directed film stars some familiar faces, such as Josh Lucas, Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn, and relative newcomer Mackenzie Foy who blew us all away as young Murph in Interstellar.
The film follows Foy and her brother as they visit their grandmother’s home in Virginia during the 1940’s after a tragic death within their family. The film has thus far received strong praise, with one IMDb user saying it brought tears to their eyes. As an added bonus, after the film debuts Baldacci and the film’s producer will be participating in a Q&A session as well as signing copies of the novel.
Force Majeure
Already an international hit, this black-as-death Swedish comedy comes to the festival thanks to a partnership between RIFF and the Swedish tobacco company, Swedish Match. The film, which was recently snubbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, follows a family as they vacation in the French Alps.
When a surprising but benign avalanche strikes the family’s patriarch flees, leaving his family to die.
The avalanche is revealed to be perfectly safe and the family’s dynamic is shaken up, as they begin to distrust their father. This is probably the biggest film of the festival and one that we’re lucky to get here in Richmond. The film opens on Thursday, February 26th at 7:00pm in Movieland’s Criterion Cinema.
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Another import courtesy of Swedish Match, this comedy follows a dynamite expert as he escapes from him retirement home on his 100th birthday. The Guardian’s review compared it to Forrest Gump, with the lead pin-balling his way through history seemingly without knowledge.
Already a huge hit in Scandinavia, some of the humor may be lost in translation but this one is worth checking out if just for the experience alone. Opening Sunday, March 1st at 1:30pm in The Byrd Theatre, this is the perfect film to ease into your Sunday with.
The Japanese Dog
Romania’s official entry follows an older man as he refuses to sell his land following a tragic flood. This leads to him coming back into contact with his estranged son and his Japanese wife.
When tragedy and unresolved conflict meet with cultural tensions drama is sure to follow.
Premiering Saturday, February 28th at 2:00pm in The Byrd Theatre, this film is sure to be a tense drama for those craving something a little darker.
Love Thy Nature
If documentaries are more your speed then the RIFF has more than enough to cater to your palate.
One that stands out is Love Thy Nature, which will examine the human relationship to nature. Featuring stunning visuals, the Liam Neeson narrated doc bears a strong resemblance to Baraka and Samsara.
The Richmond International Film Festival begins on Thursday, February 26th and runs through March 1st at The Bowtie Criterion Cinema and The Byrd Theatre.
Tickets and showtimes can be found here, as well as more information on the films being shown.
We’re also giving away a pair of one-day passes to the Richmond International Film Festival to a lucky RVA Magazine reader! Just enter your info into the giveaway widget below for a chance to win. Giveaway ends Thursday at noon–winners will be chosen at that time.
Richmond Int'l Ticket giveaway
PLEASE NOTE: All prizes are non-transferable. Winners will be announced on RVA Magazine’s twitter and facebook pages. Winners will receive confirmation emails.
