Riverlore On Film

Richmond—Today, Virginia Humanities, Virginia's state humanities council, announced a film screening and launch party leading up to the Richmond Folk Festival taking place October 10-12.

The theme for the Virginia Folklife Area at this year's Richmond Folk Festival is "Riverlore." The area will explore life on, under, and along the James River and Virginia’s other mighty waterways and features guests ranging from expert fly fishers to indigenous potters to a decoy carver and James Eskridge, the Mayor of Tangier. "Riverlore" is presented by the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities and the James River Association, with additional curatorial support from local filmmaker Justin Black of Headwaters Down.  

"We are thrilled to partner with Virginia Humanities on the Riverlore exhibit," said Linnea Bennett, Director of Marketing and Communications for the James River Association (JRA). "The James River and other Virginia rivers connect our communities and fill our lives with recreation, wildlife, art, music, and conservation. We hope festival visitors will leave with an even stronger personal connection to the river and a deeper understanding of how we can protect this natural resource for generations to come." As a “Riverlore” partner, JRA is presenting environmental education displays and conversation panels, including “The Great Return: Atlantic Sturgeon & Migratory Fish” with Albert Spells, Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (Retired); Lisa Moss, Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services; Matt Balazik, Research Faculty, VCU Rice Rivers Center; Carrie Fox, Fisheries Technician for the Upper Mattaponi Tribe and member of the Pamunkey Tribe; Moderated by: Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper, James River Association. 

It all starts with a film screening and launch party at Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop on Thursday Oct. 9 from 6-8pm. The program includes three short films followed by a discussion with five "Riverlore" artists.  

Reclaiming the River: African American Life on Historic Rivers by Horace Scruggs III

A journey, by paddle, into the history of the James River led by musician, educator, and filmmaker Horace Scruggs, III who is descended from people enslaved on the Bremo Plantation, located on the banks of the James.

This is the Virginia premiere of Ancient New, a multi-media presentation that tells the story of human interaction of the New River through song, story, and dance by three artists based in Boone, NC. 

ALL FORWARD! takes you on the river, and into the rafts as you follow a cohort of prospective raft guides through training.  

The film screening and discussion is free and open to the public. It takes place on Thursday Oct. 9 from 6-8PM at Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop which is located at 3406 W Leigh St in Richmond. For details visit VirginiaFolklife.org/rff-launch-party. To learn more about the Virginia Folklife area and "Riverlore" theme visit VirginiaFolklife.org/riverlore-2025.

Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We aim to tell the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to tell their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we will all get to know each other a little better. Virginia Humanities is headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but our work covers the Commonwealth. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more visit VirginiaHumanities.org.