The MIX (Moving Image Xchange) International Short Film Festival will take place Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Byrd Theatre in Carytown. This event will feature 39 different short films from 16 different countries, including the U.S. (New York, Los Angeles, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee), Canada, Turkey, Israel, Singapore, Serbia/Montenegro, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Taiwan, Portugal, Belgium, India, France, UK, Germany, and Japan.
Two of the films appearing during the festival were produced in Richmond using VA and DC cast and crew, both of which will have their premiere screening during the event. The first, Strive, made by writer Jeffrey Kraynak and director Jonathan Schwartz in partnership with the Strive Tennis Academy, won the in-house festival corporate competition. The second, Trading Ages, is a documentary focusing on interactions between youth and senior citizens in Richmond.
Other highlights of the festival include Thugs, The Musical!, a musical mockumentary starring Kevin Avery, David Alan Grier, and Margaret Cho, which makes its premiere at the festival; The Gadfly, a narrative short starring Xander Berkeley (Terminator 2, Kick Ass, Taken); Carbon For Water, a documentary filmed in Kenya that captures the problems finding clean water that most families in the region face, and one company's innovative solution; and Red Sheep, a thriller written and filmed in Richmond by local resident A. David McKay. For the full schedule of screenings, click HERE.
The festival weekend will conclude with a Red Carpet Award Ceremony, Sunday, February 19th at 3:45 PM, which features Bob Gulledge & the Mighty Wurlitzer, and musical performances by the American Youth Harp Ensemble, Scott Burton of Glows in the Dark, Reggie Pace of Bon Iver/No BS! Brass Band, and more. All ticket holders are invited to walk the red carpet upon entry to the awards at 3:15 PM. Other festival-related events will include the festival Mixer & Wrap Parties, which will be held at Balliceaux Restaurant; the Filmmaker’s Breakfast at the New York Deli; and the Filmmaker’s Lounge held at the Can Can Brasserie.
Advance tickets for the MIX International Short Film Festival can be purchased HERE; tickets for individual screenings are $7, and a pass that grants the ticket holder admission to all six screening events can be purchased for $20. Tickets for the awards ceremony, which are $15, are sold separately.