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Five Alumni Films at the 2009 Virginia Film Festival

Funny Business: The 2009 Virginia Film Festival from UVA Magazine on Vimeo.

The Virginia Film Festival runs Nov. 5 to 8, 2009. This year, several alumni will bring their films to Charlottesville.

Alumni whose films will appear in the festival are as follows, listed in order of graduation date:

1. Glenn Williamson (Col ’85), produced Wonderful World

What’s it about? Matthew Broderick plays a misanthropic divorcée—failed children’s folk singer, compulsive marijuana smoker and less-than-extraordinary weekend dad—who finds love despite all his efforts against it.

Screening: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 pm at Culbreth. Closing night gala screening. Matthew Broderick will be attending the festival.

2. Julie Lynn (Col ’88), produced Mother and Child

What’s it about? This drama, starring Naomi Watts, Annette Bening and Kerry Washington, centers on three women: A 50-year-old woman, the daughter she gave up for adoption 35 years ago and an African American woman who wants to adopt a child of her own.

Screening: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 pm at Paramount. Centerpiece screening. See producer Julie Lynn, actress Cherry Jones and director Rodrigo Garcia present and discuss the film.

3. Mike Million (Col ’93), directed Tenure

What’s it about?Luke Wilson plays a beleaguered college professor who competes for tenure against an impressive new hire from Yale played by Gretchen Mol. David Koechner plays a professor in the anthropology department who tries to convince him to sabotage her.

Screenings: Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10:00 pm at Culbreth & Friday, Nov. 6 at 5:00 pm at Newcomb. Director Mike Million and producer Brendan McDonald will present the film and hold a Q&A.

4. Terence Berry (Col ’94), produced That Evening Sun

What’s it about?Adapted from a William Gay short story, an aging Tennessee farmer returns to his homestead and must confront a family betrayal, the reappearance of an old enemy and the loss of his farm.

Screening: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 pm at Regal 3 Downtown Mall.

5. Gregg Helvey (Col ’01), directed Kavi

What’s it about?This dramatic short is about a young boy who wants to escape from the brick kiln where he is forced to work as a modern-day slave. This lushly visual film, shot in India, won acclaim at the Student Academy Awards.

Screening: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4:00 pm at Newcomb.