A Look Back at the 2016 Virginia Film Festival, in Pictures

Addressing the sold-out crowd amassed to see the 29th annual Virginia Film Festival’s closing film, “La La Land,” festival director and University of Virginia Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa called this year’s festival the best he has ever been a part of.

“It has been an incredible festival,” Kielbasa said. “I have been doing this 18 years, eight years here and 10 in Sarasota, Florida. To date, from my perspective, this is the strongest program and the most incredible list of guest artists.”

Lines to see “La La Land” – an upbeat musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone – wrapped around Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall on Sunday, the last of many record crowds that turned out in support of the festival. More than 300 community volunteers also lent their support, along with 10 UVA student interns who helped with planning, marketing, event coordination and many other tasks.

This year’s four-day festival included guest appearances from actress Shirley MacLaine, filmmaker Werner Herzog, actor-director Liv Ullman, actor and producer Colin Firth and actor and comedian Danny McBride.

Below, UVA Today takes a look back at some of the highlights.