The VFF at Violet Crown Series is a collaboration with Violet Crown Charlottesville to present a year-round, co-curated selection of films. The series will kick off on February 21 with the Oscar-nominated documentary Fire at Sea, which was an audience favorite at the 2016 VFF.

Fire at Sea tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of African immigrants who travel each year to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa in search of a better life. The film presents the stark contrast between the daily life of a young local boy, Samuele, and the tragic fate of the refugees who make the crossing in boats that are far too small or decrepit. Director Gianfranco Rosi’s (El Sicario, Room 164) observations of everyday life bring us closer to this fraught island, and to the emotional world of the inhabitants who live their lives in a permanent state of emergency.

Up next is a screening of the 18th Annual Animation Show of Shows, a collection of 17 international animated short films, on March 21. All screenings will start at 7:30 PM, and tickets will be available one month prior to the screening date at www.violetcrown.com. For more information about the full series, visit here.