Erica Dunton’s Pretty Ugly to headline 32nd annual Cucalorus Film Festival

Erica Dunton’s dramatic thriller Pretty Ugly, set and filmed in Wilmington, headlines the 32nd annual Cucalorus Film Festival, screening at Thalian Hall on Saturday, November 21. Dunto’s seventh feature follows the complicated relationship between a cosmetology student and her mother, starring Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jazzy De Lisser, and Mary Stuart Masterson. Their lives unravel when a high-profile local influencer returns to town, coinciding with a sudden murder. The screening will take place on Saturday, November 21 at 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,” said Dan Brawley, Executive Director of the Cucalorus Film Foundation. “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.”

‍

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 Stable Marriage and Mary Dauterman’s Runs. 

‍

More than 60 judges are finalizing selections in the coming weeks, reviewing more than 1,600 films being considered for this year’s festival. The festival will hold it’s first Volunteer Orientation of the season at Jengo’s Playhouse on Wednesday, September 14 at 4pm. There’s still one week left to become a festival sponsor. Interested businesses can email Development Director TG White at development@cucalorus.org. And don’t miss out on discounted All-access passes, prices increase on September 23, so grab yours now. Stay tuned for the full festival lineup coming out in early October.

‍