The Cucalorus Film Festival will debut a family films program during the 20th annual event with the help of a $45,000 donation from its top sponsor, PNC Bank. The outreach program, which is designed to engage the local community during the five-day festival, Nov. 12-16 in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C., will be launched in two parts.
“PNC’s support of Cucalorus aims to provide more youth and community members with access to the art of film,” said Chris George, PNC region manager. “We also celebrate the 20th anniversary of this festival, which has brought tremendous economic impact and arts and cultural value to our community.”
“Kidsalorus,” a program of family films suitable for kids ages 7 and up, will bring fresh, innovative festival films into an accessible space for those of all generations to enjoy. The lineup will showcase a variety of family-friendly fare from programs such as “Surfalorus,” and “Tar Heel Shorties.” PNC’s sponsorship will also support “Popup Cinema,” a free, outdoor screening series to take place throughout the fall.
“Zip & Zap and the Marble Game,” will play during the festival’s “Kidsalorus” program.
“We are very excited to have PNC as the presenting sponsor of our 20th annual festival,” states Dan Brawley, Executive Director of Cucalorus Film Festival. “Through PNC’s generous sponsorship, we are able to reach even larger audiences through our Kidsalorus family films program and the Popup Cinema outdoor screenings.”
Two films from the Kidsalorus program have already made it into this year’s early selections: “Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang” and “Felix!“ “Zip & Zap” brings to life two of Spain’s most beloved comic-book characters determined to enjoy their summer within the confines of a strict boarding school where fun is absolutely forbidden. When they make new friends and form the Marble Gang, their ongoing mischief and resistance to authority leads them to a mysterious secret, begging to be solved.
Described as “Billy Elliot with Cape Jazz,” by Indiewire, “Felix” follows 14-year-old Felix Xaba’s adventures at an elite South African private school. Much to the dismay of his mother, Felix takes up the saxophone to follow in the footsteps of his late father, a jazz musician. Desperate to play in the school’s jazz concert, he seeks out the aid of his father’s former bandmate and quickly excels on the sax — until his mother finds out and Felix is forced to win her over or live a life without music.
————————————————————————————————-Founded in 1994 as a showcase for independent films, Cucalorus has since grown into a multi-disciplinary festival, attracting hundreds of artists from around the world and thousands of visitors and community members to downtown Wilmington for the five-day cinematic celebration.