Richmond International Film Fesitval

Byrd Theatre; credit: Wikimedia

One of the more popular cultural events during the winter that draws crowds to Central Virginia is the Richmond International Film Festival.

The event is accompanied by more than 50 international cutting edge films. It also brings industry panels, live performances by bands, mixers and more events that bring a bit of Hollywood to the historic Byrd Theater.

USA Today has declared Byrd Theater is “one of the top 10 places to still see a movie in splendor in the United States.” This festival is unique, and is a one of a kind annual event that brings the international film scene to Virginia.

The four-day event features movie entries from all around the globe. During the upcoming 2014 event, more than 20 countries will be represented in the submissions. The entries include produced films, music videos and all genres of screenplays.

Details About Tickets

The event takes place at the end of February each year. Advance tickets are available by calling the ticket line at (804) 219-0675 or through Brown Paper Tickets.

General admission for individual screening are $10 each while individual screening tickets for seniors and students are $7 each. Tickets for the individual screening and panel event are $12 each.

A daily pass for all general admission screenings for any one day of the event is $35. A VIP pass, which is a full four-day festival pass that includes every screening (more than 65) during the four days plus panels, question and answer sessions, mixers, music showcases, Red Carpet Awards and more are $225 each.

Accommodations and More Information

For visitors planning to stay more than a day, there are several options for accommodations near the Richmond International Film Festival. The festival has partnered with Holiday Inn Express for the event. Guests who mention the special rate can get a standard room for $99 and a suite for $109.

Also located nearby is the Berkeley Hotel, which is an upscale, four-star facility. Its rates vary from $165 to $265 nightly.

Those attending the film festival may be interested in taking in the other sites, sounds and tastes of the area. Nearby attractions include the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Carpenter Center, Children’s Museum, Virginia Capitol Building and Landmark Theatre. Virgnia Commonwealth University is also located in the vicinity.

Event Schedule

The Richmond International Film Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Thursday with the viewing of seven films. At 12:45 p.m., four more films will be exhibited. Then in the afternoon, at 2:45 p.m., five more films will be shown. Later in the day, at 4:45 p.m., two more movies are set.

The evening gets under way at 6:45 p.m. with three more films. The evening concludes with eight more films at 8:45 p.m. Activities resume at 11 a.m. Friday and continue until 6:30 p.m. with film presentations.

The opening day is packed with viewings. On Saturday, activities start at 9:30 a.m. and continue until after 11 p.m.

On Sunday, events get under way at 1 p.m. and continue until 6:30 p.m. when the festival concludes.

The festival consists of four activity packed days that have something for folks of all ages. The Richmond International Film Festival continues to be a favorite of tourists and locals alike.