March 15, 2011 — The Virginia Film Festival, coming off a record-setting year in sales and attendance, has announced its dates for 2011. The festival, presented by the University of Virginia's College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, will return to Charlottesville for its 24th year Nov. 3-6.

The 2010 festival attracted more than 23,750 people and earned more than $90,158 in ticket sales. Both figures represent a 25 percent increase over the prior year. The festival featured 27 sold-out events, ranging from sneak peeks at first-run features like the Academy Award-nominated "Black Swan" and "127 Hours," to documentaries including the powerful Civil Rights era tale "Freedom Riders" and Charlottesville filmmaker Meghan Eckman's acclaimed "The Parking Lot Movie."

The festival also screened a host of the year's hottest independent films, including the Virginia Film Festival Audience Award-winner, "happythyankyoumoreplease," by Josh Radnor, and the Spirit Award-winning "Tiny Furniture."

Festival director Jody Kielbasa said the festival will continue its contemporary focus, commitment to community engagement and its inclusive outreach to new films and filmmakers from Virginia and beyond.

"I said from the time I arrived here that I wanted to make sure this festival would always remain contemporary," he said. "I continue to hear from people who, as the awards season unfolded, were thrilled to have had the chance to preview films like 'Black Swan' and '127 Hours.'

"Meanwhile, I continue to be thrilled at the way in which this community has embraced all aspects of the festival. I look forward to further expanding our efforts in the community and working with more individuals and groups who want to be part of the festival. And finally, we are very excited about the way the local, regional, national and international filmmaking community is embracing what we do – as we tripled our submissions in last year's call for entries."

Festival fans should also expect even deeper connections with the University, the festival's presenting organization.

"We are so fortunate to have this incredible amount of intellectual firepower at our disposal each year," Kielbasa said. It "helps cement our reputation for hosting some of the most dynamic and interesting film discussions on the festival circuit."
 
For information on the Virginia Film Festival, and to learn about its year-round programming – including a variety of special events and an ongoing film series presented in partnership with the Paramount Theater – visit here.

Premiere sponsors for the 2010 Virginia Film Festival were the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Acura, AV Company, Regal Entertainment Group and the Virginia Film Office.