Film Festival to host Oscar party

The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to Charlottesville on Oscar Night.  Residents of Charlottesville can experience the thrills and surprises of the 84th Academy Awards® on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at Charlottesville’s own Oscar Night America party.

The Charlottesville event is one of 49 parties officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar Night.

Benefiting the 25th Anniversary of the Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville’s Oscar Night is presented by Virginia National Bank and will be held at The Paramount Theater beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $45.00 and go on sale Tuesday, January 24 at www.virginiafilmfestival.org.   Tickets will also be available by phone at 434-924-3376 or in person in the lobby of the U.Va. Drama Building, Monday through Friday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

The Charlottesville audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live on Virginia’s largest high definition screen courtesy of WVAW, the Charlottesville affiliate of the ABC Television Network, which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation.  This is the 19th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar Night viewing parties throughout the country.  This year marks the third year that Charlottesville’s party has been sanctioned by the Academy.

“Oscar night is an event meant to be a shared with others.  This network of fundraising parties across the nation is a natural extension of that experience, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.  “This February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country.”

Oscar Night parties last year raised more than $3.5 million in 51 cities.  All money raised stays in the local community.

The Academy will provide party guests in Charlottesville the same official program distributed to guests at the Oscarâ presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

Charlottesville guests may feel like stars themselves as they walk down the red carpet, dine on fine foods provided by some of the area’s leading restaurants, sample the best of the thriving Virginia wine scene and sit back and enjoy the festivities, which will be hosted by the Newsplex’s own Dan Schutte and Tara Wheeler.

“Oscar Night generates excitement all over the world,” said Virginia Film Festival Director Jody Kielbasa. “Each year, with the Academy’s help, this event has grown bigger and bigger, and we look forward to another memorable evening, and to raising even more money for the Virginia Film Festival – money which will support the continued growth of the festival itself and our outstanding Outreach and Education program, which brings the magic of the movies to thousands of local community members each year. I think this year’s Academy Award broadcast will be of particular interest to local audiences because it is very likely that several films featured in our 2011 program will be nominated. I continue to be proud of the fact that we are able to give our community members a chance to preview the very best films each Fall.”

The Virginia Film Festival, presented by the University of Virginia and its College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary this year. Over that quarter century, the Festival has grown into one of Virginia’s premier cultural landmarks and earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading regional festivals. Each year the VFF presents a unique collection of films and events including some of the hottest titles on the festival circuit, cutting-edge documentaries, beloved classics, acclaimed foreign films and more –accompanied by fascinating discussions with a wide range of special guests and cultural experts. In addition, the Festival, through its acclaimed Outreach and Education program, presents a year-round schedule of film and cultural offerings for students, educators and families from throughout the region.

Charlottesville’s Oscar Night America is presented by Virginia National Bank and supported by presenting media partner Charlottesville Newsplex and supporting media partners Charlottesville Radio Group and Cville Weekly.

For more information on Charlottesville’s Oscar Night America, visit www.virginiafilmfestival.org.