The all volunteer run Richmond Moving Image Co-op presents the 15th James River Film Festival this week, March 31-April 6, 2008.

Writer/director Richard Kelly, father-son filmmakers Ken and Azazel Jacobs, filmmaker and community media advocate DeeDee Halleck, the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, assistant editor/producer Emily Doe from McSweeney’s DVD magazine Wholphin, and David Williams will headline the 15th edition of the James River Film Festival at the Firehouse Theatre, the Byrd Theatre, the Richmond Public Library Main Branch and the Camel.

For a detailed schedule of what happens when, where and how much, click here.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

2 x MARKER: La Jetée (1962, 28 min.) & The Case Of The Grinning Cat (2004, 58 min., English and French w/subtitles)

7:30 p.m., The Firehouse Theatre , Admission $5

The elusive French director Chris Marker is lauded in film circles for his offbeat documentaries – Letter from Siberia, Sans Soleil – employing a wry voiceover with ironic counterpoint. Yet it’s La Jetée – a post-apocalyptic journey where past meets present composed almost entirely of stills – that lingers. La Jetée was the premise behind Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys. In 2001, Marker became intrigued by the proliferation of cat graffiti on Paris buildings and metros.  His investigation becomes a commentary Marker-style on a variety of subjects and ends with the ultimate revelation of the source of the mysterious grinning cats. Marker concludes with thoughts on the importance of such public expressions – “Poetry is in the street!” J. Hoberman called it “Lively, engaged, and provocative!” A don’t miss double feature!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

REMEMBERING HELEN HILL (Approx. 2 hrs.)

7:30 p.m., The Firehouse Theatre, Admission $5
Tonight we remember the late filmmaker Helen Hill with a screening of ten newly-preserved short animated and experimental films she made between 1990 and 2006. Because she never used a distributor and because much of her creative work was damaged or lost in the post-Katrina floods of 2005, it’s a small miracle that so much of her output is suddenly available, and in vivid new 16mm prints. When her tragic death made headlines at the beginning of 2007, it quickly became clear how many people Helen Hill’s work and life had affected. (Note: In 2001, Richmond Flicker founder James Parrish got in touch with Helen and screened her “Madame Winger Makes a Film” at Flicker. By way of emails, phone calls and her film, James got a good sense of how special Helen was and he was deeply affected by the news of her death.) Among the outpourings of affection and tribute was the collective effort of many who came together to make this preservation and restoration work happen: Colorlab, Harvard Film Archive, BB Optics, New York University, the University of South Carolina, and the Center for Home Movies. Helen Hill’s films are hand-drawn, figurative pieces infused with humor and a loving spirit. Many blend live-action with pixilation, cut-out, and cell animation. Collectively they are a batch of utopian love letters, addressed to particular people, communities, and the world. Films in the program: Rain Dance (1990), Vessel (1992), The World’s Smallest Fair (1995), Scratch and Crow (1995), Tunnel of Love (1996), Your New Pig Is Down the Road (1999), Film for Rosie (2000), Moseholes (1999), Madame Winger Makes a Film: A Survival Guide for the 21st Century (2001), Bohemian Town (2004).

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

FLICKER’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY: ATTACK OF 50 FT. REELS! (Approx. 2 hrs.)

7:30 p.m., The Firehouse Theatre, Admission $5
During the first year of the Richmond Flicker (1997-1998), founder James Parrish heard about the Bentleys, a festival where all the films were made using a Bentley (probably the cheapest Super 8 cameras ever made) and edited in the camera on one cartridge (50 feet) of Super 8 film. Using that innovative idea as inspiration James launched Flicker’s Attack of the 50-Ft. Reels in 1999 and it’s become an annual event and a community/crowd pleaser. Since then many of the other Flicker fests, notably the L.A. and Chapel Hill chapters, have held their own annual Attack of the 50-Ft. Reels shows in their communities. Tonight’s show celebrates the Richmond Flicker’s 10th anniversary the best way possible – by showing a bunch of new 50-ft. reels from Richmond, L.A., Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Join us for films, food (popcorn and cake!) and fellowship. Happy anniversary Flicker!

The Richmond Moving Image Co-op, home of Flicker and the James River Film Festival, is a nonprofit organization that supports independent media arts in Virginia. Shipping: RMIC, 0 E. 4th St. #54, Richmond, VA 23224. Postal: RMIC, P.O. Box 7469, Richmond, VA 23221, PH: (804) 232-RMIC(7642).