The French Film Festival

frenchfilmfestival.us

Second Place: The Richmond International Film Festival

Third Place: James River Film Festival

There’s just something about hearing all that French spoken in Carytown that gets Richmonders pumped. The French Film Festival is a perennial favorite and truly a testament to the dedication of organizers Françoise and Peter Kirkpatrick. This year’s 23rd staging even had a special treat, a French television documentary about the Byrd Theatre itself, putting it in the company of the world’s greatest cinema palaces. The relative newcomer Richmond International Film Festival brings more than 120 films as well as panels to the city, making more noise this year at showings in the Byrd, the Virginia Historical Society and Movieland. A veteran favorite, the independent-minded James River Film Festival, seemed to have a focus on animation this past festival, in its 22nd year, bringing works by the likes of Ralph Bakshi and R. Crumb.