Director to visit Wilmington for screening of North Putnam, a documentary on public schools and community growth

Wilmington, NC- Cucalorus is excited to announce that director Joel Fendelman will be in attendance at the upcoming screening of his inspiring community documentary, North Putnam, taking place at Jengo’s Playhouse on Friday, April 18 at 7:30pm. The screening is part of the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, which is sponsored locally through a dynamic partnership between UNCW Office of the Arts, Working Films, WHQR Public Radio, and Cucalorus Film Foundation.

North Putnam, a feature-length documentary by award-winning director Joel Fendelman, offers a powerful look at the interdependence between public schools and the communities they serve. Capturing a year in the life of a rural Indiana school district, the film uses immersive storytelling, empathy, and striking cinematography to spark action-oriented conversations about education and local development.

More than just a portrait of rural schools, North Putnam highlights the challenges and resilience of a community, inviting audiences to reflect on the broader impact of public education. The film is a special initiative of The Castle, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting public schools in Putnam County, Indiana.

The evening begins at 6:30pm with a social hour at Jengo's backyard bar, followed by the screening, and concludes with an in-depth discussion with Joel Fendelman, Executive Director Randolph Keaton of Men and Women United for Youth & Families, and several community partners. Tickets are only $10 and are on sale now at jengos.eventive.org.

This screening is brought to you by South Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, UNCW Office of the Arts, Cucalorus Film Foundation, WHQR, and Working Films.

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