The Inaugural Look Closer Film Festival, presented by Sly Dog Creative, will take place 7:30-10:00 pm on February 16, 2022 at Richmond’s historic Byrd Theater. 

 

The festival will feature an assembly of short films from aspiring filmmakers and a discussion panel with acclaimed directors Kevin Jerome Everson, Rick Alverson and Yossera Bouchtia. 

 

Everson is arguably one of the most important and prolific experimental filmmakers currently working. His diverse portrayals of the lives and experiences of working-class African Americans has led him from his hometown in Ohio to South America and beyond. He has received fellowships from the Guggenheim, NEA, National Endowment for the Humanities, the VMFA, and many more. 

 

Alverson, who resides in Richmond, is know for the confrontational nature and atypical structure of his features. His films, which include Entertainment, The Comedy, and The Mountain, have screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Locarno. 

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Bouchtia is a Moroccan-American Film director and screenwriter who currently teaches in the VCU cinema program. Her work is committed to challenging stereotypes, dispelling misconceptions, and shedding light on hidden truths while bridging the gap between the eastern and western worlds. Her films have screened at Salento International Film Festival, LA Shorts Fest, Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, FilmShop Breakthrough Series, and Women’s International Film Festival in Salé, Morocco.

 

“Richmond has a surprisingly vibrant film scene,” says Phineas Alexander, co-founder of Sly Dog Creative, a local video-production company that is hosting the festival. “The goal is to connect and empower young filmmakers and continue to build Richmond’s film community.” Proceeds from the event will be distributed among all accepted filmmakers, so they may continue to create and inspire others through their art. 

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For questions about tickets or submissions please contact lookcloserfestival@gmail.com