Experiencing Interruptions?

Leaving Virginville

When 11 year old Faith's suicide attempt fails after the death of her father, she is convinced there is no God. By 18 she's rebelling against everything in her universe. After she gets expelled from Catholic school, her mother Christina decides to create a change of environment. Faith is sent to go live with her cousin Phoebe in Philadelphia. While Faith enjoys her new freedoms she learns that every game has its rules. She is left questioning who she truly is and what she actually believes in.When 11 year old Faith's suicide attempt fails after the death of her father, she is convinced there is no God. By 18 she's rebelling against everything in her universe. After she gets expelled from Catholic school, her mother Christina decides to create a change of environment. Faith is sent to go live with her cousin Phoebe in Philadelphia. While Faith enjoys her new freedoms she learns that every game has its rules. She is left questioning who she truly is and what she actually believes in.

  • Melissa Whitely
    Director
    Bazaar of All Nations, Scenes Missing, Kidnapped
  • Melissa Whitely
    Writer
    Scenes Missing, Kidnapped
  • Melissa Whitely
    Producer
    Bazaar of All Nations, Scenes Missing, Kidnapped
  • Casey Hayes-Deats
    Key Cast
    "Faith"
  • Leigh Anne Johnson
    Key Cast
    "Phoebe"
  • Anthony Porter
    Key Cast
    "Byron"
  • Heather Lee Rogers
    Key Cast
    "Christina"
  • Corey Borchers
    Key Cast
    "Rich"
  • Paul Sheehan
    Key Cast
    "Father Bezanson"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, coming of age
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 22, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    9,750 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • NewFilmmakers NY
    New York, New York
    United States
    August 23, 2017
    North American Premiere
  • New York State Film Festival
    Albany, NY
    United States
  • Women Behind Television & Film
    Cincinnati, OH
    United States
    August 31, 2018
    Official Selection
  • World Film Fair
    New York, NY
    United States
    October 28, 2018
  • WRPN Women's International Film Festival
    Nassau, Delaware
    United States
    December 3, 2019
    Exceptional Merit
  • So You Think You Can Act Competition
    Nassau, Delaware
    United States
    Casey Hayes-Deats - Silver Exceptional Merit
  • Eastern Europe Film Festival

    December 1, 2020
    Official Selection
  • 4th Dimension Film Festival

    January 2, 2021
    Certificate of Recognition for Best Narrative Feature
  • Goldstar Movie Awards

    May 2, 2021
    Best Women's Feature
  • After Hour Film Festival

    April 23, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Silver Mask Live Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    May 1, 2021
    Best Drama Feature
  • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    May 1, 2021
    Best Women's Film
  • New York Tri-State International Film Festival
    New York, NY
    United States
    June 21, 2021
    Female Empowerment
  • Believe Psychology Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 21, 2022
    Best Grief
  • Sweet Democracy Film Awards
    Cannes
    France
    July 8, 2023
    Best Narrative Feature Film, Best American Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting Director
  • Venus Community Awards
    Balat
    Turkey
    August 20, 2022
    Best Drama
  • Milky Way International Film Awards

    March 1, 2024
    Best International Feature Film
  • The Dark Side of the Cinema film fest
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    July 3, 2024
    Best Drama, Best International Narrative Feature, Best Directo
Director Biography - Melissa Whitely

Melissa Whitely founded the New Jersey based production company White Lyte Productions in 2008. A graduate of the New York Film Academy, she is an accomplished director, cinematographer, and editor.

Completed in 2008, Whitely's short film "Scene Missing" had a sustained festival run including the New Filmmakers Film Series, Wildwood By the Sea Film Fest and New Jersey International Film Festival.

Whitely next directed a successful documentary titled "Bazaar of All Nations" about a seminal American shopping center.

She's happy to have completed her first full-length narrative feature film "Leaving Virginville" in early 2017.

She began producing the variety show "The Fish Bowl" in 2018. This program continues to air in the New Jersey Comcast markets.

In 2020 Whitely created her first short in the Covid Quick Clip series.

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