Cucalorus to Receive $30,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts

Cucalorus is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $30,000. This grant supports the 31st annual Cucalorus Film Festival in downtown Wilmington Nov. 19 to 23, 2025. The festival will feature more than 75 events including independent film screenings, performances ranging from dance to comedy, and a host of unusual artistic events like the annual Bus To Lumberton experience, an homage to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants. “The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including the 31st annual Cucalorus Film Festival.”Incoming Board Chair Jason Sargis shared, "We are honored to receive this grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Cucalorus Film Foundation plays a crucial role in supporting independent artists and performers. It provides a unique platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their diverse perspectives, and fosters a spirit of collaboration, contributing to the cultural vibrancy of the region. NEA support allows Cucalorus to continue providing a platform for groundbreaking artists and fostering a vibrant creative community."Cucalorus showcases more than 90 independent films including favorites from the festival circuit, premieres, undiscovered gems, and a healthy selection of the best North Carolina shorts and features. Festival favorite Dance-a-lorus highlights innovative artists working at the crossroads between choreography and cinema on the main stage at Thalian Hall. Festival performances include a lineup of more than 20 performers working in comedy, cabaret, theater, dance, and more. The festival’s reputation for presenting off-the-wall work by legends like Benji Hughes alongside bold American talent like Alex Tatarsky has made Cucalorus a regular on MovieMaker’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for more than a decade.Cucalorus is seeking submissions from filmmakers on FilmFreeway. The Festival is looking for magical movies and outrageous videos. Cucalorus wants original, outlandish and unexpected creations that bring both justice and joy to our fierce family of filmmakers, performers, and community members. “We’re accepting fabulous features, daring documentaries, sizzling shorts, dance films, animation, experimental films, weirdly personal essays, experiments in cinema, social justice docs, first-time filmmakers, and just about anything you can fit into an MP4,” said Dan Brawley, Executive Director, Cucalorus.For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.# # #