Author Archive for jparrish

Free Screenings of “Vanishing of the Bees” on March 31

James River Film Society member, photographer, musician and beekeeper David Stover is bringing Vanishing of the Bees to the Science Museum of Richmond on Thursday, March 31 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Both screenings are free.

For more information contact David Stover at 804 782 0988 david {at} davidstover {dot}com.

Film synopsis:

Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables. Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees. Filming across the US, in Europe, Australia and Asia, this documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and mother earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for this tragic loss. Conflicting options abound and after years of research, a definitive answer has not been found to this harrowing mystery.

Richmond, VA – 03/06/11 – Balliceaux – James River Film Society Membership Drive and Party

Richmond, VA – 03/06/11 – Balliceaux – James River Filmmakers Forum

James River Film Society Launches Membership Campaign

The line for Kurosawa's "Hidden Fortress" during the 17th James River Film Festival, 2010.

Join us on Sunday, March 6 from 4-6 p.m. at Balliceaux, 203 Lombardy Street, for a James River Film Society Membership Campaign Kickoff Party. In addition to enjoying great food, a cash bar, a few short films and fellowship, we invite you to become a member of the James River Film Society by making a gift of $25 or more. Now, more than ever, we need support from our community to keep sharp our focus on the art of film and film as art. Help us reach our goal of 175 JRFS members and $7,500 by the launch of our 18th James River Film Festival on April 7. To reach our goal we need 100 people at $25-49, 50 at $50-99, and 25 at $100 or more. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go a long way. The James River Film Society is an all volunteer run organization with a very low overhead so you can rest assured that you hard-earned money will go right to the heart of what we do — bringing films and filmmakers to Richmond that otherwise wouldn’t come. To become a member of the James River Film Society make your online gift of $25 or more through Network for Good (still in our Richmond Moving Image Co-op name). Put JRFS Membership under Designation.

James River Filmmakers Forum on March 6

18th James River Film Festival Call for Entries!

The James River Film Festival is pleased to announce it’s Call for Entries for the 18th James River Film Festival’s juried competition for short films. The early deadline is January 15, 2011 with an entry fee of $20; and the regular deadline is February 15, 2011 with an entry fee of $25. We’ve decided this year to go back to an old school entry process; sorry filmmakers, no Withoutabox. However, if you prefer to pay online vs. by check, use our Network for Good online giving site (we’re listed under our old nonprofit name, Richmond Moving Image Co-op), and put “JRFF entry fee” in the designation box. You’ll pay a modest 5% admin fee to use this service; only $1 for the $20 early entry fee and $1.25 for the $25 regular entry fee.

We love the offbeat, the experimental, the avant-garde, narrative and non-narrative, animation and documentary — we love all kinds of films but to win at the James River Film Festival one thing you need to know … no calling card films, no knockoffs, no ripoffs. We want fresh, original work. Look at the kinds of guests we feature during the James River Film Festival (at the bottom of the main 17th JRFF page you’ll find a link to a list of past guests from 1994-2009), and you’ll get a feel for what we look for in our short films competition.

For all the details: Click here to download and print our entry form.

One more thing … if you’ve ever been a finalist in our short films competition (you don’t have to have been selected for one of the prizes), we’ve decided that from now on you should get to enter the competition for free.

18th James River Film Festival!

From Peggy Ahwesh's film, "Tears of Eros".

Guests this year include Peggy Ahwesh, Gary Lucas, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jeff Krulik, Tammy Kinsey, Meghan Eckman, Peter Schilling, Jr., Rick Alverson, Mark Strandquist and Walker Allen; writers from Richmond Noir; and film students from VCUarts departments of Photography and Film, Kinetic Imaging and Cinema. Look for special 35mm screenings of Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter and Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, plus a program of short films by former VCUarts Photography and Film professor, Joan Strommer. Guitar-wiz Gary Lucas will perform live at the Byrd his score to a 1931 Spanish Dracula — a rare film performance, not to be missed! Several writers from the Richmond Noir collection will read as a companion to screening of Edgar Ulmer’s gritty noir classic, Detour. Peter Schilling, Jr. will introduce Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter and read from the Davis Grubb novel on which the film was based. Schilling will also present a program featuring baseball shorts, hot dogs and a reading from his novel The End of Baseball. Check back soon for a complete schedule or Like Us on Facebook to get the word on the final schedule, ticket sales, venues and more!

For a quick overview of the 18th JRFF, click here for an At-A-Glance look at the entire festival schedule.. For detailed information about individual JRFF events click View All under Upcoming Events on the right-hand sidebar of our website.

18th James River Film Festival tickets are now on sale through Eventbrite:

Richmond, VA – 12/03/10 – The Byrd Theatre – An Evening with Crispin Hellion Glover

Richmond, VA – 12/02/10 – Richmond Public Library, Main Branch – Film for Lunch 4: Jean Vigo and Jean Renoir

Richmond, VA – 11/21/10 – Gallery 5 – An Impossibly Funky Evening with Mike White

Richmond, VA – 11/20/10 – The Byrd Theatre – The return of DEGENERATES INK.

Richmond, VA – 11/18/10 – Richmond Public Library, Main Branch – Film for Lunch 3: Jean Vigo

The Return of “DEGENERATES INK.”

Writer/director Jim Stramel brings his newest film (which premiered at the Byrd on October 23) back to the Byrd for one night only!

DEGENERATES INK. – a rolling slaughterhouse of blood and ink, starring George Archer, Jr., Amber Bell and Wes Freed.

November 20, 2010, midnight

The Byrd Theatre, Admission is $6

If you missed it the first time around this is your second chance! And if you dare, you can Like DEGENERATES INK. on Facebook. WARNING: Liking DEGENERATES INK. on Facebook may lead to being unfriended.

NOT RATED: Contains foul language and tattoo violence. No one under 17 admitted.

Richmond, VA Р11/11/10 РRichmond Public Library, Main Branch РFilm for Lunch 2: Luis Bu̱uel and Germaine Dulac

Richmond, VA – 11/07/10 – Balliceaux – James River Filmmakers Forum