West Virginia International Film Festival announces film lineup for 41st annual festival

PRESS RELEASE

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – At a press conference held on October 7^th, the West Virginia International Film Festival’s Board of Directors announced the official film selections to be played during the Festival on November 12-15. The 8 films come from 6 continents and cover a wide array of genres and themes. 

The selected feature films are: 

• CHRONOVISOR [United States] – A French academic is seduced into a world of untold histories in her scholarly quest to uncover the mystery of a history-capturing camera-like machine created by clandestine Benedictine monks. An academic-noir, armchair mystery in the lineage of Jorge Luis Borges and Umberto Eco. Directed by Kevin Walker & Jack Auen. Run time: 99 minutes.

• ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG [Nepal] – In a small Nepalese village nestled in the heart of a forest populated by wild elephants, Pirati is the matriarch of a Kinnar community. She dreams of escaping to a “normal” life with the man she is in love with. But when one of her daughters disappears, she must investigate and choose between love and responsibility to her community. Directed by Abinash Shah. Run time: 108 minutes.

• GUESS WHO’S CALLING! [France] – Baptiste, a talented imitator, is unable to make a living from his art. One day, he is approached by Pierre Chozène, a famous but discreet novelist, constantly disturbed by incessant phone calls. Pierre, who needs peace and quiet to write his most ambitious text, then suggests that Baptiste become his ‘answering machine’ by pretending to be him on the phone. Little by little, Baptiste doesn’t just imitate the writer: he develops his character! Directed by Fabienne Godet. Run time: 102 minutes.

• GUGU’S WORLD [Brazil] – Gugu (11) is an effeminate boy who dreams of becoming a great soccer player. Raised by his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, he will do anything to hide her illness so he won’t have to live with his father, who doesn’t accept him at all. Directed by Allan Deberton. Run time: 93 minutes.

• THE FISHERMAN [Ghana] – Retired fisherman Atta Oko sets his sights on finally having his own boat and becoming the envy of his village, he’ll just need help from a dead talking fish. Directed by Zoey Martinson. Run time: 105 minutes.

• WELCOME SPACE BROTHERS [United States] – The true story of The Unarius Academy of Science, a long-running extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual school in El Cajon, California that in the late 1970s became a wildly prolific filmmaking and art collective under the direction of outlandish spiritual leader and visionary filmmaker Ruth E. Norman, AKA “Archangel Uriel.” Directed by Jodi Wille. Run time: 101 minutes.

• YELLOW LETTERS [Turkey] – The marriage of Derya and Aziz is under pressure after losing their jobs because of state arbitrariness and moving to Istanbul to live with Aziz’s parents. They and their 13-year-old daughter Ezgi have to redefine their way of life. Directed by İlker Çatak. Run time: 128 minutes.

• YESTERDAY ISLAND [Australia] – When failed novelist Amos agrees to mind his friend’s research station on a remote island for just one day, he expects solitude and a chance to break his writer’s block. But when his friend fails to return, Amos discovers he has been deliberately trapped in a bizarre time loop. Directed by Sam Voutas. Run time: 91 minutes.

In addition to the eight feature films, the following short films were selected and will also be screened during the festival:

• AHYOKA – A portrait of Ahyoka Youngdeer, Cherokee culture bearer, teacher, and two-spirit activist. Weaving her own life with a traditional Cherokee story about a crooked-face boy, Ahyoka traces how exclusion was never a Cherokee value and reminds us what it truly means to be a Keetoowah person. A selection from the Appalachian Queer Film Festival. Directed by Schon Duncan. Run time: 14 minutes. 

• THE DOUGLAS IMBROGNO SHORTS COLLECTION – Douglas John Imbrogno will showcase three short films: WHEN EARL WENT TO WAR tells the story of a West Virginia man who found himself on the frontlines in the Korean War and looks at the aftermath of that “forgotten war.” LOOKING FOR MAJOR & THE KILLER SKILLET INCIDENT tells an Appalachian tale of skillet self-defense, scary hogs, and missing horses. He will also show a trailer from his science fiction animation and companion book project ‘SAINT STEPHEN’S DREAM: A Space Opera,’ where all—both planet-side and in orbit—is not what it seems.
• HELLO MAGGIE – A short film from legendary animator Willie Ito (Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, Yogi Bear) tells the story of a young boy who befriends a talking magpie while incarcerated at the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming during World War II. Directed by Willie Ito & Tony Tarantini. Run time: 20 minutes.

• THE LADY WIDOW – A meal between a young widow and potential suitor becomes a game of cat and mouse about combining their fortunes. A selection from MTN Craft Film Festival. Directed by Lonnie Martin. Run time: 20 minutes.

• MAPLE LEAVES – A story about two best friends navigating through a complicated friendship while dealing with addiction and mounting pressures from the world around them. A selection from the West Virginia Youth Film Festival. Directed by Elena Alves. Run time: 14 minutes.

• MARRA – Set in the moody, hand-drawn landscape of Marra’s own psyche, a young woman navigates the complex world of trauma and healing. Featuring original music from Hello June and Jess Weary, Marra is a visual meditation on resilience in the face of darkness and how we carry ourselves into the light. Directed by Scott Baucan. Run time: 34 minutes.
• THE STATIC ROOM – A psychological dive into the inner workings of a young man as he experiences the horrors of grief, following the worst possible tragedy. Directed by Will Lucas Michael. Run time: 38 minutes.

The West Virginia International Film Festival will feature speaker presentations and workshops, held at Folklore Music Exchange on Summers Street. These presentations are:

• AN AFTERNOON WITH CHET PANCAKE – Chet Pancake is an award-winning director, writer, and artist. He has exhibited nationally and internationally at venues such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA,) Mexican Film Institute, Frameline Film Festival, & Shanghai Conservatory, Shanghai, PRC. He is an Associate Professor teaching film, video, and new media courses at Temple University.

• THE PRODUCTION CHECKLIST with Jen Davis – Jen Davis is a writer, Producer, and Production Designer with years of experience across multiple departments and disciplines on the East Coast. She’s an avid supporter of in-state filmmaking and independent production, having helped produce several movies and TV shows in West Virginia. Jen will lead a seminar about the needs of production that independent filmmakers often overlook. From tax incentives and the use of Pass-through companies to insurance, contingency, and other important production considerations, Jen will walk you through a checklist you can use to ensure your project is ready for production.

The opening reception of the West Virginia International Film Festival will take place at Capitol Market on November 12^th, featuring a performance from the St. Marks Steel Drum Ensemble.

The films will be shown at Park Place Cinemas (600 Washington Street E) and the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema (230 Capitol Street). We are incredibly thankful to Park Place for sharing their space with us following their successful reopening in 2026.

The West Virginia International Film Festival is brought in part by our generous sponsors:

Forbes Law Offices, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Appalachian Queer Film Festival, Matthew Ballard, Chris Rasmussen, Nina Shinagel, Barbara Steinke, and Tim Tormoen. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, visit this link: https://wviff.org/festival/2026-festival/2026-festival-sponsorship-opportunities/

The screening schedule for our selected films will be released in mid-October. Early Bird passes are available for purchase until October 12^th and can be purchased at this link: https://wviff.org/purchase/62299/

The West Virginia International Film Festival is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to inspire a love of cinema through diverse and inclusive films.