Wilmington-made Feature to Headline Cucalorus Film Festival

Capsized, filmed right here in Wilmington, NC, follows the O'Briens after they lose their home to foreclosure. Naturally, larger-than-life patriarch Ray turns the crisis into a spectacle. He packs his wife, five kids, and the family hamster onto a barely seaworthy boat, aiming for a deep-sea fishing tournament with a grand prize big enough to solve everything. But as the stakes get real, their carefully maintained family equilibrium shatters. Capsized explores the cost of living in one person’s gravity—and what happens when the orbit finally breaks. Screening Friday, November 20th at Historic Thalian Hall.

‍

The festival will open with its long-time tradition, Dance-a-lorus, on Thursday, November 19 at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center. Dance-a-lorus pushes boundaries by pairing filmmakers and choreographers for an exploration of film and dance -  tickets are on sale now. The Cucalorus footprint grows this year with the addition of Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center as the hub of festival activities. The festival runs from November 19–22, 2026, bringing four days of independent film, live performance and creative events to Wilmington. Additional venues include Jengo’s Playhouse, CFCC’s Wilson Center, Thalian Hall, the Rift, and Hi-Wire Brewing.

‍

“Cucalorus has always been intentional about bringing the festival to the spaces that make this city special. The Coastline Center gives us an exciting opportunity to highlight Wilmington’s riverfront while creating a new setting for artists and audiences to come together.” -Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer

‍

On Sunday, November 22, the Coastline Center will host a special screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with live accompaniment by Shaolin Jazz, an award-winning creative brand known for their unique blend of Hip-Hop, Jazz and Martial Arts culture. Rounding out the early narrative feature selections are Henry’s Ebb (featuring WIlmington native Banks Repeta), Capsized by Lindsey Ryan (produced in Wilmington last year), and The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight by Theodore Schaefer. Early doc picks include Clovers by Jacob Hatley, A City in the Forest by Lev Omelchenko, and Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story by Ayden Mayeri, who starred in last year’s headliner Honeyjoon. Early shorts include Josephine Decker’s A Stable Marriage and Mary Dauterman’s Runs. 

‍

Tickets and passes are available at cucalorus.eventive.org