6th Alexander Valley Film Festival goes virtual this September
My very local film festival, The Alexander Valley Film Festival (AVFF), is moving up a month and going completely virtual, it was announced today.
AVFF regularly showcases and hosts new and emerging talents from all over the world. This year will be no different; it will simply take place entirely online. Leveraging the virtual programming since the dawn of COVID, AVFF will create opportunities for the community, students and adults alike, to meet, interact with, and learn from visiting artists. The fest will also offer deeply discounted tickets to students and neighbors in need so that no one will be turned away.
AVFF features cutting-edge indie films – like 2018’s Oscar-winning FREE SOLO – and selections of diverse works from and about underrepresented artists and communities. We actively seek:
Socially conscious films that depict characters in the richness of their culture and identities; works from directors of color; Latinx-, LGBTQ+-, and female-driven narratives; youth-oriented stories; classics; and indie hits or soon-to-be hits/arthouse films.
The 2020 Festival will take place September 23-27, 2020 (Wed-Sun). This event is designed to bring films and experiences to Northern Sonoma County to which the community would otherwise not have access.
2020 STRUCTURE:
AVFF encourages patrons to purchase passes for ease of use. All screenings, Q&As, panels and networking events will be conducted online. AVFF will partner with local restaurants, wineries, and distillers to provide unique pick-up events curated to amplify our films, community, and enjoyment of the weekend.
The Alexander Valley Film Festival, since its inception, has been a home for youth filmmaking and student learning, offering summer film programs, a youth award during the festival as well as the Adam Burke Fund, which ensures that all local students have full access to the Alexander Valley Film Festival and the year-round educational opportunities. The fund has been named in honor of Adam Burke, a founding Board member of the Alexander Valley Film Society, who passed away in October 2018. He led the organization’s first student-focused workshops and served as the defining voice in the creation of the Film Society’s comprehensive educational services. A devoted father and animator at Pixar Animation Studios, Adam was an engaging and inspiring presence for kids of all ages.
As always, the the Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFS) continues to play a critical role in the community as the host, conduit, and gatekeeper for the dynamic influence of movies. With your support, AVFS will continue to inspire, educate, and connect our community through the transformative power of film. Please consider donating if you can.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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