Richmond International Film Festival: Free Opening Night Screening

Join us in kicking off RIFF 2025 at the Byrd Theatre at 7:00pm on September 23 for FREE with the film Omaha, starring John Magaro!

Film Synopsis: After a family tragedy, siblings Ella and Charlie are unexpectedly woken up by their dad and taken on a journey across the country, experiencing a world they’ve never seen before. As their adventure unfolds, Ella begins to understand that things might not be what they seem. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 economic crisis, Omaha follows a struggling father (John Magaro) who embarks on a road trip across the American West with his two children, Ella and Charlie, in search of hope and a better life. What begins as a seemingly spontaneous family journey gradually reveals deeper layers of both grief and resilience, as Ella starts to sense that her father’s intentions may be masking a more profound truth. At its heart, Omaha is a story about fatherhood. Director Cole Webley, in his feature directorial debut, captures the universal journey of a father who deeply loves his children but is uncertain about the best way to navigate the challenges they face. Through the family’s road trip across the American West, the film explores the complexities of love, responsibility, and the search for meaning in the face of hardship. With its quiet, stripped-down storytelling, Omaha resonates emotionally, capturing the deep, unspoken bond between a father and his children while reflecting on the resilience required to keep a family intact during uncertain times.

Film Trailer: Omaha - Official Trailer

Director Biography: Cole Webley

Cole Webley weaves together intimate narratives that dive into the depths of the human experience. His distinctive directorial style transcends genre boundaries and sets him apart as a storyteller.

Raised on a farm in rural Washington, his family's love for cinema helped Cole not only discover his passion for filmmaking, but a desire to explore the world. After film school, Cole began working with brands such as American Express, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Renault, Johnson & Johnson, RE/MAX and Oreo to create award-winning content campaigns.

In 2021, Cole won the AICP Show’s Advertising Excellence Award for “The Epidemic”, an Anti-Bullying PSA created in partnership with Monica Lewinsky and BBDO NY. Additionally, his now iconic work with 84 Lumber premiered during the Super Bowl and drew so many viewers to watch the longer version online that it collapsed their website. Cole's career has garnered him every major industry accolade, including the Cannes Lion, Clio, AICP, One Show, and D&AD, while also earning him Shoot Magazine's New Director Award.

About RIFF:

In its 14th year, RIFF is now one of the largest international competitive festivals on the east coast and recognized by more than 30 countries. There is something for all ages every year over the six day festival.

RIFF offers a rich, collaborative environment with more than 160 local, national and international films selected for their Richmond, Virginia premiere, plus community engagement events, industry panels, filmmaker and music Q & As, more than 25 live music performances, educational workshops, mixers and red-carpet awards all of which usher the spirit of Hollywood and hospitality into more than 5 venues across the city. If looking for a weekend get-away, or simply want to come out and enjoy great entertainment with friends and colleagues, the festival has a range of options to enjoy.

Festival attendees also benefit from the FLOW Collective Creative Conference during festival week, which includes panel discussions on topics such as content development, cinematography, screenwriting, branding, distribution, financing, audience engagement, pitch sessions and music + film labs.

The festival expanded its annual music showcase ten years ago to include a model similar to SXSW where local, national, and international bands visit Richmond to perform at various venues around RVA and compete for top awards with the Grand Jury. RIFF invites the musicians, filmmakers, and artists back to Richmond to encourage production in the state for future projects. On top of providing great entertainment for the public from some of the film and music industry’s top talent, RIFF has a unique focus of connecting filmmakers and musicians and creates platforms that assist the artists in forging new working relationships.

2025 Festival Dates:

Six day festival: Tuesday, Sep 23 – Sunday, Sep 28 (film premieres, live music, community events, mixers, creative conference and more)

Tickets: Range from free up to $375 for a VIP All Access Pass

To view the online film guide and a full schedule of events & ticketing options, visit https://riff.eventive.org

For further info on special guests and programming, visit the festival website at https://www.rvafilmfestival.com

Main Venues: Byrd Theatre, Bowtie Cinemas, Révéler, New York Deli, Vagabond, Quirk Hotel

2025 RIFF:

• Voted Best of Richmond by the public, Style Weekly in 2025 & multiple years
• 165+ film premieres selected, all types including narrative features and shorts, documentaries, music videos and episodic tv series across all genres
• Returning this year is also a virtual edition of the festival with an additional 50+ films
• Over 8,000 expected in attendance with more than 300 VIP filmmakers traveling to Richmond from 20 countries
• More than 25 live music acts selected to perform festival week for filmmakers and guests. RIFF has a secondary focus on helping filmmakers and musicians forge new working relationships. Festival week also includes several industry mixers that we host including pitch sessions and panels

2025 RIFF Festival Theme: “Bare Naked”

Capturing the pure essence of human experience, which thrives through artistic expression and authentic connection.

Theme:

"No pretense, authentic in expression—'Bare Naked' invites artists and audiences to explore the raw essence of the human experience. This year’s theme celebrates authentic vulnerability as a force of connection, truth as an act of courage, and storytelling as a reflection of our deepest selves. Through immersive film and music experiences, thought-provoking discussion panels, and powerful artistic expressions, we embrace the beauty of being seen, heard, and understood—just as we are."

For the RIFF music fest, each of the music performances, panels, jam session events, etc. will be under a subset, "The Bare Naked Music Revival" — a week of raw, soul-stirring performances that bring Richmond together in a deep, communal way through connection, music, spoken word, live storytelling, and visuals.

Host or Publisher Richmond International Film Festival