Now in its 3rd year, Experimental Film Virginia gathers artists from all over the world to convene on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay with a mission to create new films inspired by the people and spaces of Cape Charles, helping forge a new identity for the town as a cultural tourism destination for audiences and hotspot for exchange and experimentation for artists. This year’s festival includes the Art in a Barn site specific event on July 5th, the production and premiere of 10 new short films on July 11th followed by the Bayamo Party on July 11th as well as special guest lectures and guests of honor throughout the festival. Additional screenings of the films are scheduled for New York City, Pisa, Torino, and Hong Kong.

 

“Few mediums are as powerful, accessible and sharable as film,” says EFV Artistic Director, Renata Sheppard. “Designed with a functional purpose—that is— increased tourism, developed sense of local community and identity, revitalization and usage of old spaces— and the expressive purpose of making films and live performance, we believe this project is sustainable and can become part of the economic fabric of a small town like Cape Charles. It serves at multiple levels: locally, nationally and internationally. Everyone who participates in EFV gives something and gets something. Arts and business DO go hand-in-hand and we are trying to demonstrate that with EFV. Cape Charles is the first town, but not the last, who could welcome the Experimental Film Virginia project.”