6 Reasons to Attend the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville

As fall colors sweep across Charlottesville and Albemarle County, the area transforms into a hub for filmmakers, movie lovers, and curious newcomers alike! Before you catch a screening at the iconic Paramount Theater or choose from a full slate of films at the Violet Crown Cinema, stroll through Charlottesville's historic Downtown Mall. Discover local shops, soak up the festival's buzz, and choose from a range of fun and fine dining options for a bite to eat. Need to grab dinner after a screening? 👉The Best Late-Night Eats in Charlottesville

Every year, the VAFF offers attendees a first look at some of the hottest titles on the current festival circuit, and 2026 is no exception. This year you'll find buzzworthy indie films and top international selections such as:

• The Debut: Jesse Eisenberg’s highly acclaimed tale stars Julianne Moore as a shy woman unexpectedly cast in a local musical, and, under the spell of its enigmatic director (Paul Giamatti), loses herself in the role.
• The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd: Writer, director, producer, and actor Tim Blake Nelson comes to town to discuss his new film starring Amanda Seyfried as a teacher in a maximum-security prison who forms a connection with a charismatic death-row inmate (Scoot McNairy), risking everything.
• La Bola Negra: The winner of the coveted People’s Choice Award at this year’s Toronto Film Festival is a beautiful queer time traveling Spanish love story inspired by an unfinished work of the same name by Federico Garcia Lorca.
• Wild Horse Nine: Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi) on a mysterious mission.

Take a look at the full 2026 program to start planning your festival experience!

The 2026 VAFF will welcome more than 100 guests who will take audiences beyond the screen and behind the scenes through fascinating discussions, presentations, and special events. This year’s star-studded lineup includes stage, screen, and television standout Nathan Lane, who will present a 30th Anniversary screening of The Birdcage, Oscar and Emmy-winning writer, director, and producer Aaron Sorkin (The Social Reckoning) who will sit down for an audience discussion following the film's screening, award-winning actor Jessica Lange (A Long Day’s Journey Into Night), who will sit down for a live recording of the industry leading 'Awards Chatter' podcast, and Academy Award-nominated director, screenwriter, and producer David O. Russell, who will present a special “clip talk” featuring scenes from his upcoming film Madden.

One of the VAFF’s most exciting traditions is its celebration of global cinema, and this year's VAFF will feature 11 films from around the globe that have been nominated by their country for consideration in the Best International Film category for the Academy Awards. Among them are La Bola Negra (Spain), All of a Sudden (Japan), Fatherland (Poland), and Coward (Belgium). With stories spanning continents and cultures, these films remind us why movies remain one of the most powerful ways to connect across borders.

Each year, the VFF proudly champions the Commonwealth’s creative voices, and Virginia filmmakers get a well-deserved turn in the spotlight. This year’s lineup includes:

• Virginia Film Office Director and long-time VAFF Advisory Board Member Andy Edmunds will screen his debut feature The Cashier, starring Virginia’s own Daphne Maxwell Reid, who will receive VAFF’s 2026 Governor Gerald L. Baliles Founder’s Award.
• 1 15 41 Triumph to Tragedy is an inspirational story produced in cooperation with NFL Films following the UVA football program from the 2022 tragic shootings of UVA football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis, Jr., and D’Shaun Perry, through its historic 2025 season.
• Death Becomes Us: And Hands are with Us is noted Charlottesville filmmaker, Chris Farina’s final film. A deeply personal exploration of life’s end that invites us all to choose acceptance over fear.

At the VAFF, the films are just the beginning. The discussions have become a hallmark of the experience, combining filmmakers with thought leaders around the many themes that are explored – including many from the University of Virginia. And the series of free events at the CODE building will offer audiences a unique and intimate look inside the film industry. And don’t forget to bookend your VAFF experience with a pair of parties to remember. Join fellow film lovers at the annual Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, October 21st at The Bradbury and then at the Late Night Wrap Party on Saturday, September 24th at Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery. Eat, drink, dance, and chat the night away with film festival fans and participants alike. But save some energy…Sunday is another FULL day of film fun!

For more information, head to www.virginiafilmfestival.org. Don't forget to find the perfect place to stay while you're here enjoying the VAFF! Click below to learn more about Charlottesville and Albemarle County's resorts, hotels, inns, B&Bs, and more. We look forward to welcoming you soon!