The Alexandria Film Festival kicks off on Nov. 6 with the debut of “Homegrown: American Stories in Music and Film,” its historic partnership with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. For one night only, the orchestra will perform works by American composers, screened “live to picture” with six new films commissioned specifically for those works. The orchestra will also perform “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky.
"There is indeed magic in the air when Alexandria's great arts institutions join forces to create a new way of bringing movies and live music into the same space,” Wilson said. All six filmmakers will be present and will take questions from the audience with Maestro James Ross.
Following the Homegrown concert the film festival will stream more than 40 films, beginning Nov. 11 through Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day.
“The range and diversity of film opportunities that beckon this month exemplify the creative energy, and yes, magic, the arts bring to the city,” said AFF chair Dara Sanders.
The symphony and the festival are joined by Del Ray Artisans, who will host “Groovy Movies: Artwork Inspired by Motion Pictures,” Nov. 5-28, 2021, an exhibit spotlighting the art of film and film in art.