Cucalorus is excited to announce the ten filmmakers awarded “Filmed in NC” grants for 2018. This program is an initiative of the Cucalorus Film Foundation and the NC Film Office to support indie filmmakers in North Carolina. The grants are funded by the NC Film Office and Artless Media in conjunction with The Magnifying Glass, and awarded through the Cucalorus Film Foundation. Together, these organizations support original and singular films by diverse artists working in North Carolina. The grants drive economic development and cultivate enhanced conditions for the film industry, a vital traded-sector industry.
The ten projects awarded range from narrative features to short docs and were chosen from 70 submissions. The panel of judges for the 3rd annual round of grants included a combination of grant recipients from 2017, members of the Filmed in NC office, and members of Artless Media. In an effort to embrace the diversity of the film industry, the “Filmed in NC” grants are supporting eight female directors, four projects from African American filmmakers, and one project from a Hispanic filmmaker. Filmmakers will present a portion of their ongoing work at the 24th annual Cucalorus Festival, November 7-11, 2018.
Grant recipients are:
- Cherie Kelly for Chitlings, a short documentary demonstrating how chitlings are a triumph of the unconquerable spirit of African Americans
- Christopher Everett for Grandmaster, a documentary chronicling the life of a former karate world champion as he struggles through poverty and poor health
- Jennifer Trudrung for Indolence, where young girl’s 13th birthday wish for a day of uninterrupted laziness has the adverse affect of attracting the female demon of sloth
- Joe Day and Cheyenne Puga for Fragment, a dark drama following two estranged sisters who try to reconnect years after the deaths of their parents
- Justin Robinson for Curious Ragoo (working title), reinterpreting the past and imagining the future of Southern food by centering on its creators and the questions America would rather not discuss at the table
- Megan Daniels for Proper Pronouns, which tells the story of a transgender minister fighting intolerance in Southern churches
- Megan Petersen and Hannah Black for Drought, a coming of age story about a young woman searching for a better life for herself and her older brother who has Autism
- Patricia A. Murray for Taking a Quick Peek at…, a series of microdocumentaries presenting issues in Durham, NC as a way to dispel myths and spur conversation
- Sally Jacobs for At A Stranger’s Table, an in-depth introduction to North Carolina migrant field workers
- Tiffany Albright for Broger’s End, about a troubled couple who retreat to the woods to reconnect just before an apocalyptic event
Wish them luck and keep an eye on their projects as they develop!