Charlottesville, Va.—Barbara Kingsolver, who will speak at the Paramount Theater on April 22 to benefit Virginia Organizing, has announced that a special guest will join her for a portion of the program to discuss their collaboration in bringing one of Kingsolver’s novels to film. Charlottesville is a particularly appropriate location for their conversation, as filming is planned to be in the Charlottesville area.

Special guest Nicole Kassell is an award-winning television and film director whose first feature film “The Woodsman” premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and received numerous accolades. She was named by Variety as one of ten “directors to watch.” She also directs episodic television, including “The Killing,” “The Americans,” “The Following” and “Rectify.” She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Long-time friends, Kingsolver and Kassell will talk about their work together on the adaptation of Prodigal Summer, which was selected for the 2013 Sundance Writers and Producers Lab. The movie is currently in development with producer Big Beach Films.

“We are thrilled to have both Barbara Kingsolver and Nicole Kassell for an Earth Day conversation to benefit Virginia Organizing,” said Virginia Organizing Chairperson Ladelle McWhorter.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit Virginia Organizing. Limited seating is still available. Please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org to interview a spokesperson with Virginia Organizing.

Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia. 

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