09/24/2025
STATEMENT ON RIFF 2025
When Révéler and Orbital Music Park signed on as venue for RIFF 2025, we felt aligned with RIFF’s mission as a Richmond-based cultural institution fostering a platform for diverse filmmakers, artists, and musicians to share their creative work with a global audience.
Now that we have a better understanding of RIFF’s curation controversies and RIFF leadership’s views on the genocide in the Gaza Strip (see Style Weekly, September 23, 2025: The Naked Eye, by Don Harrison; and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, September 2025), here’s where we stand and what we’re doing:
1. Révéler is a refuge and safe space for the whole rainbow of the Richmond community. We showcase music from around the world for diverse audiences. We will continue to support musicians and guests who are served by the space.
2. Révéler is a place for peace, love, kindness and respect. We will leverage the maximum possible amount – 100% of festival-related profits – to support organizations working directly and bravely to protect and sustain Palestinians; and LGBTQ+ communities. We’ll share an update after the festival that shows where the proceeds went.
3. We listen. We’re giving our full attention to all the communities we serve, and we welcome conversations that build mutual understanding.
4. Courage. We’re doing our best to support the bravery of musicians, artists, and film makers - including activists who advocate for peace, equality, and social justice in RVA and around the world.
