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Richmond – RFN Indie Fest: Negative Space – November 15th – Tickets

Join RFN Indie Fest for Negative Space, the opening screening block of the RFN Indie Fest, on Saturday, November 15 at 12:00 PM at The Park RVA.

In art, negative space refers to what’s left unseen or unsaid—the quiet between shapes, the silence that defines the sound. In this collection of poetic, introspective films, that same stillness speaks volumes. Each work occupies the space between presence and absence, myth and memory—inviting us to listen, to look closer, and to feel what lingers in the quiet.

NEGATIVE SPACE PROGRAM LINEUP

  • ELSBETH — D.K. Lawhorn, Lynchburg — Surreal Drama (14:20)
    After escaping from an abusive relationship, Elsbeth retreats to the forest to cut firewood and find a way to heal with help from her new coven. Richmond Premiere. D.K. Lawhorn scheduled to appear.
  • FLY AWAY — Julian Hershman, Richmond — Student Drama (4:21)
    After folding an origami crane, a young boy begins to question whether it’s only his imagination—or if the delicate creation has truly come to life. Julian Hershman scheduled to appear.
  • TO WHOM I LET GO — Kenneth Nguyễn, Charlottesville — Student Drama (12:46)
    In the quiet streets of Siena, a young man confronts the weight of his past and the silence he’s built around himself, forcing him to face a truth he’s long avoided. World Premiere. Kenneth Nguyễn scheduled to appear.
  • FILKOOL — Maral Forouzesh & Naser Rezaeiyan, Iran — Animation (7:28)
    When a gentle, oversized creature named Filkool struggles to fit into a world that insists he change, the arrival of a child with Down syndrome reveals—in quiet, tender ways—that being different is what makes him whole. U.S. Premiere.
  • BLEEDING — Dany Horiuchi, Scotland — Drama (5:00)
    Mollie pours her unspoken anguish into a diary, her words exposing the depth of her isolation and the silent ache of unseen suffering. U.S. Premiere.
  • THE AXE FORGETS — John Christopher, Ireland — Period Drama (18:35)
    Inspired by a true story. In 1888, James S. Jameson, heir to the Jameson Whiskey dynasty, returns to Ireland after a year-long expedition to the Congo, and things begin to unravel as he attempts to return to normal life. Virginia Premiere.

Engage with the filmmakers shaping independent cinema and hear the stories behind the films in an intimate post-screening Q&A, moderated by filmmaker Vivian Owen.

Audience members will also have the chance to cast their vote for the Audience Choice Award in each screening block, helping to elevate the films that move and inspire you most.

🎟️ Reserve your seat: Get Tickets to Negative Space, $15 advance, $18 day of fest.

Also on the marquee:

Or get an ALL DAY PASS to see all 18 short films, meet all the filmmakers, and stick around to see which films are recognized for excellence in various categories during the season finale awards ceremony.

For more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Spotify.

 

***The Virginia Film Office is not affiliated with this project and it is up to the participants interested in this opportunity to vet the project and get more details directly from the filmmaker.***

11.10.25

Lori Russell

Events