THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310071
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: 43 lines
THE NAME has changed, the budget has been slashed and there won't be as many films screened, but organizers of the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville are predicting success.
The four-day festival, known as the Virginia Festival of American Film for its first eight years, opens today under the direction of the drama department at the University of Virginia. Last year, with the school's Division of Continuing Education in charge, the festival lost about $200,000.
``We're going from a big-budget production to a low-budget production,'' festival director Richard Herskowitz said. ``We're definitely going to break even and we may even have a small surplus this year.''
U.Va. officials hope the changes, which include a reduction in the number of films and programs screened from 60 to about 40, and a reduction in staff from six to two, will not hurt the festival's quality.
``We still feel we can put on just as exciting a festival as we did in the past,'' said Robert Chapel, chairman of U.Va's drama department.
This year, with the theme ``Wild Species, Endangered Places,'' also will mark the festival's move toward self-sufficiency. The university has put up half of the event's $185,000 budget, and outside support also is being sought.
Actress Kathleen Turner was scheduled to kick off the festival Wednesday at Culbreth Theater with the screening of her 1994 film, ``Serial Mom.''
Others expected include actress Eva Marie Saint and her husband, producer and director Jeffrey Hayden; screenwriter Ernest Lehman; and film critic Roger Ebert, who will teach a workshop on the 1967 film, ``Bonnie and Clyde.''
Chapel said the festival's move to the drama department will solidify its academic aspects and allow students to become more involved. For instance, they will be able to take a seminar to help choose films for next year.
``We're really working hard to make it as intellectual as possible, a discussion of film-makers and films,'' he said. ``Eventually, we would hope to move toward a very solidified film studies program.'' MEMO: For information on the festival, call (800) UVA-FEST.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL by CNB