In its second year, the Fredericksburg Film Festival (FFF) has upped both the quantity and (local) quality of the films being screened.
The 2025 FFF, which runs April 16-20, will showcase more than 40 independent films along with panels, mixers and socials held at locations throughout the city.
“I always say, we get like films from all over the world, from the US, from other places in Europe, but we also make the effort to have local films,” said FFF producer Antonella Membreno.
This year’s films, which were screened and rated by a panel of 60 judges prior to selection, project a special focus on Virginia shorts and LGBTQ films, said Membreno. Another block showcases the work of student filmmakers.
One notable entry is “Memory Project,” Virginia filmmaker Timothy Parson’s thrilling narrative short about a 1962 Yale University experiment.
“One of the reasons why I love it is because it just kind of keeps you on your toes the way he was able to keep you interested, even though you did not know exactly what was going on,” Membreno said.
Another film that the producer highlighted is “Border Hopper,” which was previously screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film includes elements of animation, said Membreno, and deals with “navigating how excruciatingly annoying the immigration system can be,” she said.
Panels offered include The Business of Filmmaking and The Final Cut: Sound, Color, and Storytelling in Post-Production, while aspiring screenwriters can sign up for workshops like The Art of Short-Film Screenwriting.
“We’re trying to get filmmakers who just come talk to other filmmakers, to the attendees, just trying to like up that local filmmaker vibe,” Membreno said.
This year’s festival kicks off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, with an opening reception at the downtown Courtyard Marriott. Tickets and VIP passes are both available online.
