CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — The Virginia Film Festival announced its 2025 lineup with a launch party Tuesday night at the Paramount Theater. The festival, which is in its 38th year, will run from Oct. 22-26 in Charlottesville and is a program of the University of Virginia.

“For years, this has really brought our community together to celebrate film,” UVA’s Vice Provost for the Arts and festival Executive Director Jody Kielbasa told WINA Morning News on Wednesday. “To listen to some great stories told by some important artists, and to engage in a lot of discussions about the topics.”

The festival will feature more than 125 films over five days, including 14 international Oscar contenders. The festival’s opening night film is “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” which will be screened at the festival two days before its theatrical release and is directed by Virginia native Scott Cooper, who is on the festival’s board as an Advisor member.

The centerpiece film is “Train Dreams,” an adaptation of Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella of the same name, which will be released in select theaters and on Netflix in November. Finally, the closing night film is “Rental Family” from Japanese director Hikari, who will be at the screening to receive the festival’s Breakthrough Director Award.

Other films in the festival include “Jay Kelly” starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein, Hamnet” from former festival honoree Chloé Zhao and a special screening of the hit movie “Sinners” with a conversation and musical performance from star and R&B artist Miles Canton, who will receive the Festival’s Achievement in Film Music Award.

The festival will also feature six films listed under the category of “Virginia Filmmaking,” which will be presented by the Virginia Film Office. Those films are “Andy Kaufman is Me,” “Been Here Stay Here,” “Bird in Hand, Multiple Choice,” “Pep Banned” and “Shenandoah.” Each film comes from a Virginia director or showcases the state as its subject matter.

The festival will also feature panels about various aspects of the film industry, a live recording of an episode of the industry podcast “Awards Chatter,” which is produced by The Hollywood Reporter, and multiple galas for attendees to enjoy.

The website with the entire program schedule will go live on Thursday at 9 a.m., with ticket sales going live at noon on Friday, Oct. 3. They can be purchased on the festival’s website, at the UVA Arts Box Office and by phone at 434-924-337. Starting on Monday, Oct. 20, they will also be available to purchase at the festival’s downtown box office in the lobby of Violet Crown. Kielbasa encouraged any and all interested in attending to come out, with ticket prices comparable to seeing a movie in theaters.

“There is a lot of buzz around these films,” Kielbasa said of the entire lineup, “and each year they participate in just a select few film festivals, and we are one of those.”