Carnival of Soul

RICHMOND, Va. — It’s back– The Richmond International Film and Music Festival will take place Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 13.

This year you can enjoy RIFF at the Byrd theater, in your own home, and over at the Diamond at the Richmond Flying Squirrels Stadium.

If COVID-19 restrictions continue to allow, the festival is set to premiere 25 films at the Byrd theater– which has been updated with sanitizing and social distancing precautions.

Another 70 films will premiere on-demand — so you can buy a ticket and watch movies, concerts, or creative panels from your own home.

Fifteen bands will also play this week at In Your Ear’s Shockoe Sessions (Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.), the Squirrels Stadium (Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. and at Tang & Biscuit for a full day of outdoor music performances (Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2-8 p.m.).

This is the first year RIFF is teaming up with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and they are pleased to announce a concert and feature film on Friday, Sept. 11. The evening will also include live art and music. They’ll offer a variety of seating options in the stands and on the field in small groups, so bring your blankets.

Go to RVAFilmFestival.com for ticketing options.

Local movie highlights:

’16 Bars’

“16 Bars” is a feature length music documentary following three inmates at the city jail in Richmond, Virginia and a former inmate who was recently released and is struggling to adapt to life on the outside. All are a part of a unique rehabilitation effort that involves writing and recording original music. In the jail’s makeshift recording studio, they collaborate on an album with Grammy-winning recording artist, Todd “Speech” Thomas, from the iconic activist hip-hop group Arrested Development. As the creative process unfurls, each of these men must unearth painful elements of their pasts, which hold the key to a new chapter in their lives.

‘The Magic Shed’

Directed by Richmond’s Andrew Carnwath. Welcome to a place that bends time and space…where fact is fiction and color has taste. Meet Carl and Ricky– adult children who still dream of slaying a monster with a hideous guitar solo. Jobs, responsibility, life… Get lost in their minds as past, present, and future all meet in the Magic Shed!

‘Brewer’s Sessions’

Directed by Richmond’s Ajay Brewer, Brewer’s Sessions explores the Richmond, VA music scene with intimate performances by local artists recorded live at Brewer’s Café.

Local Band highlights:

Tuesday, Sept. 8th — In Your Ear Studio’s Shockoe Sessions

Jouwala Collective, from Richmond, VA decided to take a unique path of merging a deeply rooted traditional sound with their generation’s groove. “JoCo” blends World Music, traditional African and spiritual songs, with modern influences of Funk, Jam, Jazz, Rock, Soul, Reggae, Dub, Blues, Latin, Chaabi and Electronic.

Friday , Sept. 11 — Squirrels Stadium

Rodney Stith (also known as “Rodney the Soul Singer”) with a special release of his latest song, Who Am I.
See Rodney’s 4th of July performance on CBS 6 here.

Saturday, Sept. 12 — Tang & Biscuit

Rodney Stith and the Soul Collective (Soul, Petersburg, VA)
Mike Thomas Band (Americana, Franklin TN)
Rachel Messer (Country, Fort Gay WV)
Pariah Wilderness (Alternative Soul, Gaithersburg, MD)
Plastic Nancy (Psychedelic Rock n Roll, Richmond VA)
Cleophus James (Funk, Garage Rock, Richmond VA)
Zoom performances:

Richmond Flying Squirrels + RIFF:

Friday, Sept. 11 — For the first time, RIFF and the Richmond Flying Squirrels are teaming up for a socially distanced, outdoor fun film event that all the family can enjoy. Patrons will need to reserve their space on the field or in the stands ahead of time in order to stay within safety protocol.