Virginia Film Festival to Premiere UVA Football Documentary
The 75-minute film chronicles the team's path following the 2022 tragedy and their 2025 season.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Documentary
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching films in a theater over watching them at home?
The Virginia Film Festival will host the world premiere of the documentary 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. The film explores the journey of the UVA football program following the 2022 killing of three players.
Why it matters
The documentary highlights the football program's emotional efforts to move forward as a team after the 2022 tragedy. It captures the program's evolution, culminating in a successful 11-win season in 2025.
The documentary 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph runs for 75 minutes. The Virginia Film Festival is currently in its 39th year of programming.
The players
Greg Frith
He is the director of the documentary 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph.
Jody Kielbasa
He is a leader at the Virginia Film Festival who emphasizes the importance of shared theater experiences.
Daphne Maxwell Reid
She is an actress who stars in the film The Cashier, which is also featured at the festival.
The details
Directed by Greg Frith, the project was produced by NFL Films in collaboration with BD4 Studios and UVA Athletics. The film integrates interviews with families and players with behind-the-scenes and game footage to tell its story.
Timeline
November 13, 2022: Three UVA football players killed in a shooting.
2025: UVA football team achieves 11-win season.
October 24, 2026: Screening of the film The Cashier.
October 25, 2026: Premiere of 1 15 41 Tragedy to Triumph.
Industry Dynamics
The festival programs screenings at local venues like the Paramount Theater, Violet Crown, and Culbreth Theatre to foster community. This reflects a broader shift toward regional film festivals prioritizing local, non-fiction storytelling over purely commercial projects.
Attendees can view the film at the Virginia Film Festival, which utilizes the Paramount Theater, Violet Crown, and Culbreth Theatre as venues. These screenings offer the public a chance to engage with the team's story in a shared theater environment.
The takeaway
This film serves as a testament to the resilience of the University of Virginia's athletic community following a traumatic event. Audiences gain insight into how professional production teams translate real-world recovery into cinematic narratives.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest projects in the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 29news.
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching films in a theater over watching them at home?
