The 21st James River Film Festival kicks off today

Movies for all.

April 10, 2014; 10:57 AM • by Richard Hayes

The 21st James River Film Festival starts today April 10th at 5:30 PM with an Opening Reception and then a tribute to Les Blank at 8:00 PM at the Visual Arts Center. Richmonders will have a chance to see independent films and Midnight Frights for a macabre Friday night at the Byrd.

Movies will be shown at both the Visual Arts Center and the Byrd Theater. Full schedule and links to buy tickets are available online.

One film that is sure to be popular is As the Palaces Burn! on Sunday, April 13th, 8:00 at the Visual Arts Center.

As the Palaces Burn! (dir: Argott, 2014, 120 min) What begins as a 2012 concert tour document of RVA-based metal-menLamb of God takes a weird turn when singer Randy Blythe is arrested for manslaughter in the Czech Republic. The charge dates from a 2010 gig when a fan fell from the stage, and the outcome of the case can determine the band’s future. Suddenly Argott’s film finds its heart and essential story-line as it follows Blythe’s subsequent legal difficulties and his courageous decision to return to Czech for trial.