Menu
Log in
Forgot password



Search
Log in
Forgot password

Northern Virginia District

The Northern Virginia District is the newest region of the state to hold official district designation, however it's quickly become a strong outpost for VPA members. 

Northern Virginia is often considered to be part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, but it has a long and rich history in the production of film, television, news, cable series, and educational videos in its own right. Anyone filming in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) will find that Northern Virginia is well-supplied with crew, production companies, studios, equipment suppliers, and talent and casting companies.

The proximity of Discovery Communications (The Discovery and Learning Channels), PBS and the National Geographic Television has helped to elevate the local production industry.

Located in Fairfax, George Mason University is home to an exceptional film & video studies program with many filmmakers and production professionals that contribute to the region’s creative community.

Upcoming events

  • NOVA District: Networking & Trivia

    • 16 Jul 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Wild Hare Cider - 106 A South St. SE Leesburg, VA
    Register


    Join the NOVA District for an upcoming Networking & Trivia night at Wild Hare Cider.

    VPA members get 10% off of admission at the venue, so join us for this fun casual networking event hosted by VPA board member, Owen Palmiotti.

    Show details

  • 2025 NOVA "Show Us Your Work" Film Festival

    • 26 Jul 2025
    • 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • 9425 Mathy Drive Suite B Fairfax, VA 22031
    • 90
    Register

    The Virginia Production Alliance is excited to sponsor another Show Us Your Work Film Festival!  Video producers, actors, and content creators in Northern Virginia are making productions that are pushing the boundaries of techniques, messaging, and storytelling.  Now is the perfect opportunity to share some of that work with the rest of the production community. Registration is required, we will not be able to accept walk-ins at the door.

    If you have a demo reel, an actor reel, commercials, a trailer, or excerpt from a long format production that runs four minutes or less—and you can be present at the screening—upload your clip in an H.264 file format using the link below.  This is an in-person event.  If you are not on site, we will not be able to play your sample.  The file should be less than 500 MB and playable on any standard computer.  We can’t help you create or edit your file, so that will simply be one of the skill challenges to submitting your work.  Your work must also be received before midnight on July 20 so that we can screen the clips to make sure they are appropriate for a TV-PG audience. 

    We’ll spend the first two hours watching as many samples as time allows.  Each creator will introduce their clip before it is played.  After the screening, there will be an hour to enjoy food and beverages and chat with everyone about their projects.  No judges.  No panel of experts.  No formal questions.  Just some face-to-face human interaction and conversation with potential new creative partners.

    Please submit all entries to us via WeTransfer - you can send large files without an account. Go to https://wetransfer.com/ and send them to virginiaproductionalliance@gmail.com.

    SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS (WE CAN’T HELP WITH FILE CONVERSIONS, EDITING, OR UPLOADS):

    • Upload Deadline: 11:59 PM on Sunday July 20, 2025
    • Maximum duration:  4 Minutes (pre-edited)
    • Maximum file size:  500 MB
    • File should be saved and uploaded in H.264 codec/format
    • Maximum Resolution:  1080 HD
    • You must be IN THE ROOM to introduce your work for it to be played.
    • One sample allowed per guest.

    Selections will be pre-screened and selected to run within the time allowed for the event. We cannot guarantee that any submission will be shown

     
    Show details


DISTRICT CHAIR

LARS SANDVIK

Lars is President and co-owner of ThunderShot Studios. Starting out in the industry on national automotive advertising projects, Lars learned the value of working for different types of directors and experimented with a broad range of visual techniques. He is now a multiple Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and his expertise as a director of photography, lighting designer and jib operator keep him in demand with producers from HBO, Discovery Communications, Bravo, PBS, and the History Channel. Lars is a founding member of the Northern Virginia District where he serves as Chair and has served on the VPA's Executive Board of Trustees since 2017.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software