Our Next Screening
A monthly film series at the Byrd Theatre where Virginia’s films and filmmakers meet the hearts of our community.
FINDING EDNA LEWIS
Documentary
AUGUST 10, 2026 · 6:30 PM · BYRD THEATRE, RICHMOND VA
Join Deb Freeman to discover the life and legacy of Edna Lewis, the Virginia-born Black chef who introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking, one dish at a time.
Typical Evening Experience:
- 6:00 PM — Reception & Networking
- 7:00 PM — Film Screening
- 8:15 PM — Live hosted Q&A with Filmmakers
Each screening is moderated by Craig Martin, co-host of PBS’s The Good Road.
More about the Film
Overview
From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking, Southern cooking—the cooking of the Black community in rural Virginia that raised her. Yet even though her life included fame and acclaim, she is not a household name.
In FINDING EDNA LEWIS, Deb Freeman travels to the places where Miss Lewis made her mark, and where her legacy endures. Deb interviews—and cooks!—with chefs, farmers, cookbook writers, and family members whose approach to food was profoundly shaped by Miss Lewis.
Decades before culture celebrated chefs as celebrities, and often behind-the-scenes as a Black woman working in food, Miss Lewis appears in little archival footage. But Deb discovers Miss Lewis again and again, cooking dishes from her repertoire and talking to those who knew her and her food best. She finds not only an enigmatic chef, but also an essential American personality—a champion of seasonal, local, farm-to-table cooking whose life reveals deep truths about the tables we set.
Production & Creative Team
Producers:
Deb Freeman (Executive Producer)
Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren
Directors: Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren
Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren are Emmy-winning, married documentary filmmakers working at the intersection of history and social justice. Their company, Field Studio, has been based in Richmond, Virginia, since 2014. They have since produced three feature-length films, two seasons of a public television series, and several short films. Their documentary How the Monuments Came Down was named the best historical documentary of 2021 by the American Historical Association. Their film Finding Edna Lewis was nominated for a 2026 James Beard Award.
Presented by Belltower Pictures at the historic Byrd Theatre | Second Monday of Every Month
More than a Movie
Scene in VA
In a world where most films are watched alone on phones, laptops, and streaming platforms, Scene in Virginia creates something different. This monthly curated film series brings audiences and filmmakers together for a shared theatrical experience centered around storytelling, conversation, and community.
Virginia is filled with extraordinary filmmakers and powerful stories — yet many independent films never receive the theatrical experience they deserve. Scene in Virginia was created to change that.
This isn’t just about watching a film.
It’s about engaging with it—and with each other.
Hosted monthly at the Byrd Theatre, we:
- Showcase Virginia filmmakers and regional film culture
- Spark meaningful dialogue around storytelling
- Bring audiences together through shared experience
Each Scene in Virginia event includes:
- A curated Virginia-made or Virginia-focused film screening
- Live filmmaker Q&A and audience discussion
- Opportunities to connect with Richmond’s creative community
Past Screenings
By the Grace of Bob
Comedy
By the Grace of Bob is a 2016 independent feature film produced by Belltower Pictures. The movie blends comedy, faith, and community storytelling in a light-hearted but sincere exploration of acceptance, collaboration, and grace.
More about the Film
Overview
The story follows a young Jewish filmmaker from New York who ends up helping an enthusiastic Baptist preacher in rural Alabama make a film about the Prodigal Son. What starts as a chaotic church movie project becomes a broader story about unlikely friendships, cultural misunderstandings, and learning to love people outside your comfort zone.
The film leans into:
- Small-town church dynamics
- Humor rooted in personality clashes
- Interfaith and cross-cultural understanding
- Redemption and forgiveness themes
- Grassroots filmmaking itself as part of the story
Production & Creative Team
The film was directed by David E. Powers and written by David Powers, Deborah Hocutt, and Greg Womble.
Notable cast members include:
- Paul Wilson as Brother Bob Cross
- Sterling Hurst
- Christie Osterhus
- Tim Reid
- Daphne Reid
Tone & Audience
The film is a family-friendly, faith-oriented comedy. Dove.org described it as a “witty movie with a message” focused on “love, acceptance, and trust in God.”
Are you a Filmmaker?
Scene in Virginia accepts submissions from Virginia filmmakers and films connected to Virginia stories, people, and places.