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Read Allan Maurer's review of "The Honeydripper"

The Virginia Film Festival

Nov. 1-4, 2007 Charlottesville, VA.

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The Virginia Film Festival focused on the dynamics of family life for its 20th anniversary. Guests included Independent film director John Sayles (in photo above). Sayles appeared at the 1989 festival and returned this year with his partner, producer Maggie Renzi, for a showing of Sayles' new release, "The Honeydripper." Starring Danny Glover, Charles Dutton, singer-songwriter Keb' Mo' and University of Virginia alumnus Sean Patrick Thomas, the film looks at the origins of rock and roll in the deep South. We think it's among his best and will post a review and a substantial look at Sayles work here soon.

Sayles almost single-handedly created the modern independent film back before anyone ever heard much about such a thing. "Return of the Secaucus Seven" is a landmark in the history of indie filmmaking and still one of our personal favorites. Both "Secaucus" and "Brother From Another Planet" are currently running on Encore cable channels periodically in sharp prints better than the ones I saw in art theatres way back when.

Also at the Virginia Film Festival:

A Silent Surprise: Peter Pan introduced by "Rebel Without A Cause" screenwriter Stewart Stern