The 18th annual James River Film Festival will be stacked with rare movies, new prints of old classics, local luminaries and lots and lots of cinematic conversation fodder. Highlights will include two separate screenings of short films by legendary experimental filmmaker Peggy Ahwesh (VMFA’s Cheek Theater, April 8, 6:30 p.m. and the Grace Street Theater, April 9, 12:30 p.m.), special showings of Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” (Grace Street Theater, April 7, 7:30 p.m.), Alain Resnais’ “Hiroshima Mon Amour”(Grace Street Theater, April 8, 4 p.m.), Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times” (Byrd Theatre, April 10, 1 p.m.) and Charles Laughton’s “Night of the Hunter,” (Sunday, April 10, 9 p.m.). There will also be a program of films by VCU professor Joan Strommer (Grace Street Theater, April 8, 2 p.m.), and filmmaker-attended April 10 screenings of “The Parking Lot Movie” (7 p.m.) and “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” (9 p.m.) at the Visual Arts Center. The festival also will feature a Gallery5 showing of Edgar Ulmer’s noir classic, “Detour,” with added readings from “Richmond Noir” co-authors Tom DeHaven and Dennis Danvers (April 11, 7:30 p.m.). For additional events, show times and ticket information (some events are free), go to jamesriverfilm.com.
