James River Film Festival (active)

The annual James River Film Festival (JRFF) was established by JRFS co-founder Michael Jones, along with other Richmond area university faculty members, media professionals, and volunteers, in April 1994. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate and examine the history and continuing contributions of independently produced film and video. Each April the festival brings nationally and internationally known independent filmmakers to Richmond to screen and discuss their work. In 2011, the festival spun off its annual juried competition for short films (30 minutes or less) into its own festival, James River Shorts (Now the James River Short Film Showcase). We welcome submissions from around the globe! JRFF awards up to $2,000 in cash and prizes — another way the James River Film Society supports and stimulates independent filmmaking.

Silent Music Revival (active)

During a Silent Music Revival event, a classic silent short film is projected while local musicians act as the live soundtrack. As an added twist the band does not see the film prior to the event and therefore creates a new spontaneous score.

James River Short Film Showcase (active)

James River Short Film Showcase, an annual event awarding $2000 is VA's oldest juried competition and was founded in 1994 as part of the first James River Festival of the Moving Image. In co-operation with Virginia Film Office, it has awarded over $50,000 to independent filmmakers.


James River Filmmakers' Forum (inactive)

From 2009-2018, a quarterly informal screening of regional filmmakers and works curated and hosted by Jeff Roll. The series often incorporated local musicians into the mix and over the years screened films from over 120 filmmakers.

Home Movie Day Participant (inactive)

Home Movie Day is a celebration of amateur films and filmmaking held annually at many local venues worldwide. Home Movie Day events provide the opportunity for individuals and families to see and share their own home movies with an audience of their community, and to see their neighbors in turn. It’s a chance to discover why to care about these films and to learn how best to care for them.

Flicker (inactive)

Flicker, established by RMIC co-founder James Parrish, was a bi-monthly series of short Super 8 and 16mm films, primarily featuring new works produced by Central Virginia area filmmakers, that ran from 1998-2008. The purpose of Flicker was to develop Richmond’s film community by providing a regular venue for local, independent filmmakers to screen new works.

Italian Film and Food Festival (inactive)

From 2004-2010, an annual day-long festival that screened classic Italian movies with classic Italian food courtesy of Mamma' Zu, 8 1/2, Edo's Squid.

Other Past Festivals:

  • Surrealist Film Festival (1999)

  • Documentary Film Festival (2005)

  • Border(less) Film Festival (2018)