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Drama, documentaries, comedy, horror and music videos will take over LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at The Boro in Tysons during the 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival.
The free screenings are scheduled for Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, running approximately 5 to 11 p.m. each night. Registration is required.
Festival director Fernando Mico said organizers seek high-quality films that deliver an “ah ha” moment, describing the event’s brand as “glamour, elegance and excellence.”
The mix changes annually. The festival received numerous horror submissions in its first year, while this year brings its first short-film submission from France and an increase in documentaries.
Several selections have Northern Virginia ties. The music video “909” was filmed partly in Arlington. “The Floaters,” created by an Arlington resident, follows a struggling musician who reluctantly takes a job supervising a group of misfits at the Jewish summer camp she attended as a child.
Michael J. Volpe, a Fairfax County resident and retired federal employee, has also earned multiple screenwriting awards for a recently completed romantic drama.
Although entries arrived from across the United States and Europe, Mico said many participating filmmakers have connections to the Washington metropolitan area through relatives, friends or personal experience.
Mico has his own deep local roots. A lifelong Alexandria resident, he briefly moved to Los Angeles and worked as a colorist on major Marvel Comics titles, including Spider-Man. He returned to Alexandria three years later, went back to school and began learning the filmmaking business.
One of his school projects unexpectedly won action film of the year. His subsequent experiences—including learning that festival success does not always translate to streaming—led him to mentor other filmmakers.
The program includes “No Other Gods,” a music video filmed in Athens; “The Donut Dollies,” a documentary about 627 young women who entertained troops near the front lines during the Vietnam War; and “Free Syria,” which examines a rare period of possibility alongside the country’s continuing hardships.
The festival concludes with its Black Tie Festival Awards and Red Carpet Show at The Boro on Saturday, April 11, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Winners in each category will receive their awards during the event.
Unlike the festival’s previous Oscar-style format, winners will be notified in advance this year. Mico said the change gives recipients more time to prepare remarks and invite relatives and friends to celebrate with them.