Wilmington, NC —Cucalorus Film Foundation has been approved for a $20,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support the 28th annual Cucalorus Film Festival happening this November 16-20 in downtown Wilmington. This project supports filmmakers and performers showcasing new work at the multi-disciplinary fall festival. Cucalorus’ project is among 1,248 projects across America totaling $28,840,000 that were selected to receive this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects category.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects like this one from Cucalorus that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “Cucalorus in North Carolina is among the arts organizations nationwide that are using the arts as a source of strength, a path to well-being, and providing access and opportunity for people to connect and find joy through the arts.”
“Funding from the National Endowment for the Arts is essential to our effort to build a healthy creative economy here in Wilmington. These dollars allow us to provide financial support to emerging filmmakers and to showcase their work in world-class venues like Thalian Hall,” shared Executive Director Dan Brawley.
Cucalorus Board Chair and award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt shared, “We are delighted to receive funding support from NEA to help us to continue to amplify the work of filmmakers and artists that we showcase at the Cucalorus Film Festival! We are tremendously humbled by NEA’s support. We know that as a cultural arts institution, the NEA has many worthy organizations to choose from, and we are thrilled to be among the chosen.”
The 28th annual Cucalorus Film Festival will include 50+ events from film screenings to expanded cinema and performance. More than 200 artists will come to Wilmington to share their work. Filmmakers, performers, organizers, and community members will gather for facilitated discussions during the festival’s Conversations series. Three primary screening spaces include the historic Thalian Hall, UNCW’s Film Studies theater, and Jengo’s Playhouse. Additional performance and installation spaces are spread throughout Wilmington for 10+ venues hosting festival events over the 5 day period.
For more information on other projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.