Cucalorus 31 reveals full festival lineup with songbirds, snakes and suburban dreams

Wilmington, NC- Cucalorus is thrilled to announce the full list of film selections for the 31st annual Cucalorus Film Festival, returning to downtown Wilmington from November 19–23, 2025. This year’s festival showcases 95 independent and international films, selected from 1,608 submissions representing more than 75 countries. Celebrating bold and innovative storytelling, the lineup includes 15 narrative features, 10 documentaries, and 70 short films, presented in thematic blocks playfully named after spotted animals.Among this year’s narrative features is Suburban Nights, directed by Wilmington filmmakers RJ and Natalie Buckley. The darkly funny film follows new parents June and Evan, who recently relocated from the West Coast to a southern suburb and attempt a kid-free date night that takes a series of surprising turns. Meanwhile, Honeyjoon delivers a sexy, darkly funny, and life-affirming tale about Persian-Kurdish mother Lela and her daughter June, who travel to the Azores to grieve in very different ways, while crossing paths with honeymooners, activists, and a hot surfer-philosopher tour guide. Perfect for all audiences, The Songbirds’ Secret offers a magical family adventure brought to life through paper cut-out stop-motion animation–a technique not seen in a feature film for more than 30 years! The world premiere of Humble in the Jungle headlines the festival’s documentary features program. Directed by Ricky Kelly (Black Beach/White Beach), the film follows Mike Smalls, an everyday plumber who also happens to be Mike G of the legendary hip hop group, Jungle Brothers. Following the screening, audiences are invited to stick around for a Jungle Brothers concert, with one ticket granting admission to both events. Also on the documentary side, The Python Hunt offers a gripping look at Florida’s annual python removal contest in the Everglades, where hunters confront dangerous terrain, nocturnal predators, and their own ambitions. The festival also highlights films with heart and wide appeal. Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon tells the story of Sonia Manzano, beloved by millions as Maria on Sesame Street. Blending interviews, original animation, and scripted scenes, the film traces her remarkable journey from a childhood in the South Bronx to breaking barriers on national television, and eventually to her role as the creator of Alma’s Way. This year’s shorts programming is some of our most expansive, spanning animation, comedy, narrative, and documentary. Highlights include Once Upon a Wetland, a North Carolina–made doc short from Cucalorus alum Elizabeth Miller-Derstine, which follows Durham’s campy, un-beaver-lievable Beaver Queen Pageant—a celebration of LGBTQ activism, conservation, and queer joy. Also in the lineup is Pine, the directorial debut of Lilah Pate, daughter of filmmaker Jonas Pate, a tender story of young love and missed connections, shot in Wilmington. And in animation, Girls Night Out takes a simple premise – a night with the gals that turns into a night with José Cuervo – and spins it into pure visual chaos.The full lineup of films is available at cucalorus.eventive.org/films. Screenings and events will take place at Jengo’s Playhouse, Thalian Hall, the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College, and other venues across downtown. All-access Pegasorus passes are on sale while supplies last. To gain access to the whole film festival, parties, conversations and other events, be sure to purchase a pass!Cucalorus is sponsored by the Wilson Center, North Carolina Arts Council, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, City of Wilmington, University of North Carolina Wilmington, New Hanover County, National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, and over 50 local businesses.Cucalorus is a multi-disciplinary organization supporting emerging and innovative artists through an annual film festival, regional festivals, a residency program, a community cinema, an outdoor film series, and youth education programs. Cucalorus brings people together to celebrate, discover, and create. The annual festival provides a non-competitive environment to support independent filmmakers, performance artists, and community organizers who use storytelling to transform our world. More information is available at www.cucalorus.org.

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