The Virginia Film Office

10/08/2026

LOCATION SEARCH: Help us find a needle in a haystack!

The VFO is on the hunt for quite a specific filming location, and we're hoping the wider film community can help us track it down.

Here's what we're looking for:

- Ranch-style, single-story home
- Street-facing garage, preferably attached
- Relatively isolated / any neighboring houses are decent distance away
- The tricky part: A driveway that slopes DOWN from the road toward the house. In other words, the house and garage sit below street level, rather than above it.

See the reference image below!

Ideally, we'd love to find something within an hour of Richmond, but we're open to locations outside this range if they fit the bill.

Have a place in mind? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], leave a comment, or send us a direct message. 🔎🏡

10/06/2026

The Washington West Film Festival is back this week!

Running October 8–12 in Reston, Virginia, Washington West brings together filmmakers and audiences for five days of great films, conversations and community support.

This festival is unique in that 100% of net box office proceeds are donated to organizations working to combat community challenges including childhood hunger, illness, and education inequality in locations near and far.

Check out this year’s lineup and grab your tickets: wwfilmfest.com

Named as one of MovieMaker Magazine's "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee", Washington West is worth placing at the top of your list when considering film festivals to submit to.

09/29/2026

American Pickers is coming back to Virginia!

The History Channel’s American Pickers is planning to return to Virginia in November 2026, and the team is looking for unique private collections — and the interesting people and stories behind them.

Think you have something they should know about? Reach out to the American Pickers team to be considered:

📞 (646) 493-2184
📧 [email protected]

Be sure to include your full name, city and state, contact information, and a brief description of your collection.

Please note: American Pickers only visits private collections. They are not seeking stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses, or collections that are open to the public.

09/09/2026

Quick local casting opportunity for a Virginia-based university video series. Details below!

IMMEDIATE BACKGROUND CASTING – PAID
SHOOT LOCATION: Richmond, Virginia/local university
ROLES: Patients in a social work environment.
SHOOT DATES:
Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 2

BACKGROUND/NON-FEATURED
Non-Speaking
All Diversities
Male/Female
Adults age 18 - 70

COMPENSATION:
Non-Union $175pp/3 hours for one of the dates indicated. (no commission taken)
Self-Report
No reimbursement for travel/lodging

INSTRUCTIONS:
Email Carolyn Cocca
[email protected]
Subject line “UNIVERSITY” including the following:

REQUIRED
- Full legal name
- Phone number **
- Confirm you are non-union
- Photos waist up and full length/only you in the photo
- Only clear, recent photos accepted with simple background (selfies okay)
- No sunglasses/no hats
- Where you reside (distance from shoot location in Richmond, Virginia)
- MUST INDICATE YOUR AVAILABILITY 9/23 and/or 9/24

www.coccacasting.com

09/08/2026

Submissions are open for the 33rd Annual James River Short Film Showcase!

Virginia's longest-running juried short film competition is accepting entries for its upcoming showcase. Films of 20 minutes or less are eligible, in any genre.

Awards include $3,000 in total cash prizes, the Kathryn Stephens Virginia Filmmaker Award for the best film by a Virginia filmmaker, and a People's Choice Award selected by the audience.

Deadline to submit: November 20th
Submissions are made via FilmFreeway. More info: https://www.jamesriverfilm.org/

09/04/2026

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/09/03/regal-theaters-hampton-roads-dolly-partons-imagination-library/

The cinema chain is screening two of Dolly Parton’s iconic movies: “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Wh******se in Texas.”

09/02/2026

One of Virginia's most popular film festivals, the Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival (PRS Film Festival) in Richmond, is celebrating it's 10th year this November 18-22!

The 2026 festival schedule is now live, and has expanded to five days for the special 10 year celebration. The festival has all sorts of wonderful events for the whole family, including:

- Screenings & Filmmaker panels
- Live music performances
- Tsenacommacah Eastern Indian Marketplace
- Family Pow Wow

The festival is truly a gem that we're honored to have here in Virginia. If you haven't been yet, this is the year to check it out. Take a peek at the schedule, below!

https://pocahontasreframed.com/2026-festival/

08/24/2026

The 2026 Richmond International Film Festival is right around the corner, coming to Richmond September 22 through September 27 this year. Check out the wonderful six-day line-up of premieres, screenings, live shows, panels, Q&As and more, below, and start planning your festival. ❤️

MORE: https://www.richmondfilmfestival.com/

08/18/2026

Virginia filmmaker Rob Tregenza’s new film FAST premiered at MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, and has since garnered high praise from critics at The New Yorker, The New York Times, and more.

FAST was filmed across Virginia, with locations in Lexington, Richmond, Hopewell, Northern Virginia, and more.

A story about racing, memory, ambition and escape, FAST is a thoroughly Virginia-made project, showcasing both our unparalleled locations and deep well of experienced crew and talent.

Congratulations to all involved! Read more below.

Film series. Aug 12–18, 2026. “[Rob] Tregenza is a sort of counter-Ophüls: a rhapsodist of the unworldly.... Tregenza is after lyricism without cynicism, bitterness and sweetness without bittersweetness, emotions unmixed and irony-free.” —Richard Brody, The New Yorker Rob Tregenza has worke...