The Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is an independent theater in Charleston, West Virginia, operated by the West Virginia International Film Festival.

Schedule of Events

January 6, 2023

7:30pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

January 7, 2023

5:00pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

January 8, 2023

5:00 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 13, 2023

7:30pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

January 14, 2023

5:00pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

7:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 15, 2023

2:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 16, 2023

7:00 PM - Abortion: Add to Cart

Abortion: Add to Cart is a documentary exploring self-managed abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol and the emergence of telehealth.

This short documentary explores the marketplace circumventing regulations to provide abortion pills over the internet. We will follow two storytellers, Alice and Ari through their self-managed abortion experiences. Alice self-managed her abortion through Aid Access, a Dutch organization. Conversely, Ari, a trans-masculine non-binary storyteller, recalls a self-managed abortion experience before these resources were available. We speak with various organizations such as Plan C and If/When/How who support those looking to self-manage. Doctors weigh in on the abortion pill and FDA regulations that prevent it from becoming widely available. Lastly, we investigate the emergence of telehealth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the future of abortion looks like.

January 20, 2023

7:30pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

January 21, 2023

5:00pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

7:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 22, 2023

2:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 27, 2023

7:30pm - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle

For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)

Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

January 28, 2023

2:00 PM - Victim

Irina is an immigrant single mother from Ukraine living in a small Czech town. One day, her son is assaulted and severely injured. While the police investigate the crime, the whole town stands up in solidarity with the mother and son and condemns their Roma neighbors, who are allegedly responsible for the assault. After Irina’s son wakes up in hospital, the truth about his incident begins to emerge. At the same time, a political campaign is gaining momentum in town, and different actors from media, politics and civil society strategically manipulate reality to their own ends. Truth and lies become difficult to tell apart. As a caring mother trying to make a new life for herself in a foreign country, Irina has to contend with the xenophobia, discrimination, and prejudice around her. Torn between protecting her family and searching for the truth, she is ultimately forced to make a fateful decision.

In furtherance of the Sister City relationship between Charleston and Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is screening the official Slovak submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We plan to continue this tradition each year, going forward.

The Sister City relationship has included cultural exchanges over the years, including several exchanges that have centered around social justice issues similar to the ones raised in this film.

What the critics are saying:

It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut.
Wilson Kwong
Film Inquiry

Blaško, working from an efficient, singleminded script by Jakub Medvecky, keeps the focus trained on Irina, and on Smachelyuk’s superbly controlled yet conflicted performance...
Jessica Kiang
Variety

This film wants us to know that [Irina] isn't sleeping at night both because of the abuse thrown her way and the guilt for the pain innocents are suffering from because of her silence.
Jared Mobarak
The Film Stage

5:00 PM - Aftersun

At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't, in Charlotte Wells' superb and searingly emotional debut film.

What the critics are saying:

Wells' ability to capture the innocence of her past self, from a more mature and grown-up point of view is what makes her film into such an unusual piece of filmmaking.

Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
For all that Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it's also the kind of film that feels as if it's teetering on the edge of a cliff.

Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
Paul Mescal's film is a micro-masterclass in poignancy and heartbreak...

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)

7:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 29, 2023

2:30 PM: The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya's extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

The Return of Tanya Tucker follows Tanya's richly creative, utterly captivating, bumpy ride back to the top as Brandi encourages her to push past her fears to create a new sound and reach a new audience. The writing, the experimenting, and refining of this new music mixes with all that came before – using rare archival footage and photographs to delve into Tanya's history, beginning in a single wide trailer in Seminole, Texas.

Taking stock of the past while remaining vitally alive in the present and keeping an eye on the future, The Return of Tanya Tucker is a rousing exploration of an unexpected friendship built on the joy of a perfectly timed creative collaboration.

What the critics are saying:

The documentary's skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker's extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer.
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com

This profoundly moving movie covers a different kind of success, as a great musician takes pains to make sure her idol receives some proper respect — the only currency that always matters.
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times

It documents sessions where everything that could go right does. But the doc doesn't get dull just because things get so darn agreeable.
Chris Willman
Variety

January 30, 2023

7:00 PM - Abortion: Add to Cart

Abortion: Add to Cart is a documentary exploring self-managed abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol and the emergence of telehealth.

This short documentary explores the marketplace circumventing regulations to provide abortion pills over the internet. We will follow two storytellers, Alice and Ari through their self-managed abortion experiences. Alice self-managed her abortion through Aid Access, a Dutch organization. Conversely, Ari, a trans-masculine non-binary storyteller, recalls a self-managed abortion experience before these resources were available. We speak with various organizations such as Plan C and If/When/How who support those looking to self-manage. Doctors weigh in on the abortion pill and FDA regulations that prevent it from becoming widely available. Lastly, we investigate the emergence of telehealth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the future of abortion looks like.

February 3, 2023

7:30 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

February 4, 2023

5:00 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

7:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 5, 2023

2:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 6, 2023

7:00 PM - Victim

Irina is an immigrant single mother from Ukraine living in a small Czech town. One day, her son is assaulted and severely injured. While the police investigate the crime, the whole town stands up in solidarity with the mother and son and condemns their Roma neighbors, who are allegedly responsible for the assault. After Irina’s son wakes up in hospital, the truth about his incident begins to emerge. At the same time, a political campaign is gaining momentum in town, and different actors from media, politics and civil society strategically manipulate reality to their own ends. Truth and lies become difficult to tell apart. As a caring mother trying to make a new life for herself in a foreign country, Irina has to contend with the xenophobia, discrimination, and prejudice around her. Torn between protecting her family and searching for the truth, she is ultimately forced to make a fateful decision.

In furtherance of the Sister City relationship between Charleston and Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is screening the official Slovak submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We plan to continue this tradition each year, going forward.

The Sister City relationship has included cultural exchanges over the years, including several exchanges that have centered around social justice issues similar to the ones raised in this film.

What the critics are saying:

It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut.
Wilson Kwong
Film Inquiry

Blaško, working from an efficient, singleminded script by Jakub Medvecky, keeps the focus trained on Irina, and on Smachelyuk’s superbly controlled yet conflicted performance...
Jessica Kiang
Variety

This film wants us to know that [Irina] isn't sleeping at night both because of the abuse thrown her way and the guilt for the pain innocents are suffering from because of her silence.
Jared Mobarak
The Film Stage

February 10, 2023

7:30 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

February 11, 2023

5:00 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

7:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 12, 2023

2:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 13, 2023

7:00 PM - Victim

Irina is an immigrant single mother from Ukraine living in a small Czech town. One day, her son is assaulted and severely injured. While the police investigate the crime, the whole town stands up in solidarity with the mother and son and condemns their Roma neighbors, who are allegedly responsible for the assault. After Irina’s son wakes up in hospital, the truth about his incident begins to emerge. At the same time, a political campaign is gaining momentum in town, and different actors from media, politics and civil society strategically manipulate reality to their own ends. Truth and lies become difficult to tell apart. As a caring mother trying to make a new life for herself in a foreign country, Irina has to contend with the xenophobia, discrimination, and prejudice around her. Torn between protecting her family and searching for the truth, she is ultimately forced to make a fateful decision.

In furtherance of the Sister City relationship between Charleston and Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is screening the official Slovak submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We plan to continue this tradition each year, going forward.

The Sister City relationship has included cultural exchanges over the years, including several exchanges that have centered around social justice issues similar to the ones raised in this film.

What the critics are saying:

It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut.
Wilson Kwong
Film Inquiry

Blaško, working from an efficient, singleminded script by Jakub Medvecky, keeps the focus trained on Irina, and on Smachelyuk’s superbly controlled yet conflicted performance...
Jessica Kiang
Variety

This film wants us to know that [Irina] isn't sleeping at night both because of the abuse thrown her way and the guilt for the pain innocents are suffering from because of her silence.
Jared Mobarak
The Film Stage

February 15, 2023

7:00 PM - WVW: Those Who Came Before

BECKLEY singer/songwriter, Doris Fields aka Lady D is pleased to announce the second installment of her newest work; a video entitled "Those Who Came Before."

This is a documentary style look into the musical history and heritage of Blacks in WV. The video features interviews with well-known local artists such as jazz musician and historian, Hubert "Rabbit" Jones talking about Charleston’s music scene from the late forties into the early seventies. Dubois high school graduate and museum curator, Jean Evansmore speaks about attending one of West Virginia’s "all black" high schools and preserving the memory of Dubois High School in Fayette County. Also featured is Charleston’s Leeshia Lee. Lee is a well known radio personality, author, playwright and now a photo journalist for Black By God W.Va.

The first installment of Those Who Came Before features, jazz musician, Bob Thompson and poet, Crystal Good along with gospel artist, Rodney Boyden and storyteller, William "Bill" Hairston. Videography and direction by Bobby Lee Messer. Script and concept by Doris Fields (Lady D)

February 17, 2023

7:30 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

February 18, 2023

5:00 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

7:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 19, 2023

2:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 20, 2023

7:00 PM - Victim

Irina is an immigrant single mother from Ukraine living in a small Czech town. One day, her son is assaulted and severely injured. While the police investigate the crime, the whole town stands up in solidarity with the mother and son and condemns their Roma neighbors, who are allegedly responsible for the assault. After Irina’s son wakes up in hospital, the truth about his incident begins to emerge. At the same time, a political campaign is gaining momentum in town, and different actors from media, politics and civil society strategically manipulate reality to their own ends. Truth and lies become difficult to tell apart. As a caring mother trying to make a new life for herself in a foreign country, Irina has to contend with the xenophobia, discrimination, and prejudice around her. Torn between protecting her family and searching for the truth, she is ultimately forced to make a fateful decision.

In furtherance of the Sister City relationship between Charleston and Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is screening the official Slovak submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We plan to continue this tradition each year, going forward.

The Sister City relationship has included cultural exchanges over the years, including several exchanges that have centered around social justice issues similar to the ones raised in this film.

What the critics are saying:

It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut.
Wilson Kwong
Film Inquiry

Blaško, working from an efficient, singleminded script by Jakub Medvecky, keeps the focus trained on Irina, and on Smachelyuk’s superbly controlled yet conflicted performance...
Jessica Kiang
Variety

This film wants us to know that [Irina] isn't sleeping at night both because of the abuse thrown her way and the guilt for the pain innocents are suffering from because of her silence.
Jared Mobarak
The Film Stage

February 22, 2023

7:00 PM - WVW: Those Who Came Before

BECKLEY singer/songwriter, Doris Fields aka Lady D is pleased to announce the second installment of her newest work; a video entitled "Those Who Came Before."

This is a documentary style look into the musical history and heritage of Blacks in WV. The video features interviews with well-known local artists such as jazz musician and historian, Hubert "Rabbit" Jones talking about Charleston’s music scene from the late forties into the early seventies. Dubois high school graduate and museum curator, Jean Evansmore speaks about attending one of West Virginia’s "all black" high schools and preserving the memory of Dubois High School in Fayette County. Also featured is Charleston’s Leeshia Lee. Lee is a well known radio personality, author, playwright and now a photo journalist for Black By God W.Va.

The first installment of Those Who Came Before features, jazz musician, Bob Thompson and poet, Crystal Good along with gospel artist, Rodney Boyden and storyteller, William "Bill" Hairston. Videography and direction by Bobby Lee Messer. Script and concept by Doris Fields (Lady D)

February 24, 2023

7:30 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

February 25, 2023

5:00 PM - Broker

Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend ****-soo (Gang ****-won) works. The two run an illegal business together: Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box with ****-soo, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, and selling to affluent couples who can't have children of their own. After an infant's mother (Lee Ji-eun) surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own. From acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) with award winning actor Song Kang-ho (Parasite)

What the critics are saying:

The charm of Kore-eda’s films is the layering of complex characters, and he puts a lot of heart and time into each of them, sculpting intricate emotions and relationships that connect with the viewer.
Jenny Nulf
Austin Chronicle

The magic of Kore-eda's film is that viewers will experience considerable affection for his film's characters and Woo-sung's well-being. This is a highly satisfying drama about love, families and forgiveness, starting over and creating a better life.
Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com

Bittersweet and beautiful, Broker sits easily amongst Kore-eda’s finest films, and as one of the best filmmakers working today that is surely saying something.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
AWFJ Women on Film

7:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 26, 2023

2:30 PM - The Inspection

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

What the critics are saying:

It is the type of film — brave, raw and poetic — that will rightly put Bratton on the map as someone to watch, not to mention the standout performances of Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press

Bratton brings a surreal, rubbed-raw realness to "The Inspection" — reflected in the performances, the film’s gritty look and unconventional style.
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News

The Inspection isn’t a perfect movie, but there are times when it feels like it’s tantalizingly close.
Phil Pirrello
AV Club

February 27, 2023

7:00 PM - Victim

Irina is an immigrant single mother from Ukraine living in a small Czech town. One day, her son is assaulted and severely injured. While the police investigate the crime, the whole town stands up in solidarity with the mother and son and condemns their Roma neighbors, who are allegedly responsible for the assault. After Irina’s son wakes up in hospital, the truth about his incident begins to emerge. At the same time, a political campaign is gaining momentum in town, and different actors from media, politics and civil society strategically manipulate reality to their own ends. Truth and lies become difficult to tell apart. As a caring mother trying to make a new life for herself in a foreign country, Irina has to contend with the xenophobia, discrimination, and prejudice around her. Torn between protecting her family and searching for the truth, she is ultimately forced to make a fateful decision.

In furtherance of the Sister City relationship between Charleston and Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema is screening the official Slovak submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We plan to continue this tradition each year, going forward.

The Sister City relationship has included cultural exchanges over the years, including several exchanges that have centered around social justice issues similar to the ones raised in this film.

What the critics are saying:

It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut.
Wilson Kwong
Film Inquiry

Blaško, working from an efficient, singleminded script by Jakub Medvecky, keeps the focus trained on Irina, and on Smachelyuk’s superbly controlled yet conflicted performance...
Jessica Kiang
Variety

This film wants us to know that [Irina] isn't sleeping at night both because of the abuse thrown her way and the guilt for the pain innocents are suffering from because of her silence.
Jared Mobarak
The Film Stage

March 12, 2023

7:00 PM - WVIFF Annual Oscar Party at Taylor Books

Join us on the red carpet for a live viewing of the 95th Academy Awards at our annual Oscar Party! Enjoy food, live music and more!

This year we will host this night of film at Taylor Books, located above our Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema by WVIFF.

We will open the doors and welcome you to walk the red carpet. We'll stream the 2023 Oscars' Red Carpet, followed by a large screen viewing of the 95th Academy Awards ceremony (presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) kicking off at 8pm.

Plus enjoy door prizes, a cash bar, popcorn, delicious food from one of our favorite local restaurants, and more!

Cost:
$35 Early-bird (until Feb. 28th)
$45 General (starting March 1st)

Our game of the night is the always favorite Oscar Predictions -- The person who guesses the most winners correctly by the end of the night will win a special WVIFF prize.

Dress in your best Red Carpet attire OR whatever you are most comfortable in. Best evening attire or extravagant accessories are encouraged, but casual dress is still sure to impress.

Date: January 6-February 27, 2023

Cost:
Friday/Saturday 7:30pm screenings - Adults $10 Students $5
All Other Screenings: Adults: $9 Students $5

Location:
Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema,
230 Capitol Street,
Charleston, WV 25301.

Click Here for more information