Record Number of NC-Made Films screening at Cucalorus Film Festival

Tickets are officially on sale for the annual Cucalorus Film Festival! Returning to our riverside roots, this year’s festival marks a historic milestone with ten feature films produced right here in North Carolina anchoring the lineup. In total, the four-day celebration boasts a robust slate of 91 films complemented by 13 bold new performances, installations, and expanded cinema events.

‍

Spanning more than 75 events, this year's festival welcomes audiences to a host of exciting new spaces, including a complete takeover of the Coastline Center as the main hub of activity. "Coastline Main" and "Coastline Blue" will host a full schedule of film screenings, while the GigSalad Lounge serves as a daytime networking hub for conference events before transforming into a nightly performance venue with a full bar. Two additional major venue changes include Dance-a-lorus moving to the state-of-the-art Wilson Center and the launch of the brand-new "Best of the Fest" multiplex program at The Pointe 14. Meanwhile, the historic Thalian Hall continues to anchor the festival’s marquee headliners, and Jengo’s Playhouse will run day and night with shorts blocks and unusual late-night activities.

‍

"Reaching a milestone of ten North Carolina-produced features this year is a testament to the incredible talent right here in our backyard. Taking over the Coastline Center as our main hub lets us capture that classic riverfront energy while giving filmmakers and film lovers a completely immersive, non-stop space to connect, share ideas, and celebrate indie cinema." -Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer

‍

Headlining the narrative features program, HBO’s Girls alum Alex Karpovsky returns to Cucalorus with the gloriously outrageous dark comedy Riptides, starring Steve Little, Dylan Baker, and Bojana Novaković, screening Saturday, November 21 at Thalian Hall. Audiences can also catch Lindsey Ryan’s Wilmington-lensed feature Capsized on Friday at Thalian Hall, which follows a family packed onto a barely seaworthy boat as their larger-than-life patriarch risks everything on a high-stakes deep-sea fishing tournament to save them from foreclosure. Expect to see the exceptional work of Wilmington’s most talented cast and crew on the big screen across a total of 17 narrative features. This stacked program includes the world premieres of the cozy Halloween dramedy Hot Wieners and Coffee Milk and the haunting, psychological mystery There Should Be Flowers. Local actor Banks Repeta also stars in Henry’s Ebb, a poignant tale about a young boy fleeing from abuse alongside his imaginary friend. Additional feature standouts include Asheville filmmaker Jennifer Trudrung’s teenage horror film The Virgins, Anthony Overbeck’s deadpan comedy Little Doors, and the witty, absurdist comedy Everything Else is Noise from acclaimed Mexican director Nicolás Pereda.

‍

"Our narrative lineup this year is exceptionally sharp, blending top-tier Hollywood talent with brilliant homegrown filmmakers. From outrageous dark comedies to intense local thrillers, these are bold, unforgettable stories that demand to be seen on the big screen." -Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer

‍

Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story, the celebrated SXSW 2026 Grand Jury Winner, headlines the documentary features category, telling the story of a group of childhood friends whose teenage album goes viral during the pandemic, bringing them back together after 20 years. The robust documentary program also includes Dilsey Davis' Duke University protest doc 13 Demands, the sci-fi mushroom epic Daughters of the Forest, Lev Omelchenko's Cop City exposé A City in the Forest, and Jeremy Seifert's moving mill-closing portrait Papertown. Rounding out the non-fiction slate are the locally produced Nerdcore: Making it Anyway and Wilmington filmmaker Mark Anders' White Lightning, which shares a uniquely American story about runner King Combest. Last but not least, the festival presents 60 short films divided into 9 thematic blocks, all cleverly named after dog breeds like Löwchen Shorts (dramatic), Dandie Dinmont Shorts (comedy), and Klee Klai Shorts (experimental), with each specialized block screening twice during the festival.

‍

Among the many exciting new features this year, the festival joins forces with The Pointe 14 on Sunday, November 22 to present the inaugural "Best of the Fest" program, bringing top festival highlights straight to your favorite multiplex. These special screenings at The Pointe 14 include the Löwchen Shorts block, featuring films with major stars like Taylor Sheridan alongside local talent like Patrick Basquill. Audiences can also catch a repeat screening of the award-winning Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story or experience CAITY, a moody coming-of-age story about a young woman growing up at her family’s haunted house.

‍

"Best of the Fest is really exciting because it delivers a curated collection of the festival's three core components. In one day at the multiplex, you get a standout narrative feature, a crowd-pleasing documentary, and a shorts block showcasing outstanding dramatic films." -Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer

‍

The festival’s live performances and expanded cinema program feature returning favorites alongside wild new spectacles, including Canadian Cabaret comedian Shirley Gnome delivering a kids' show that goes hilariously off the rails. Music and cinema collide in a special edition of "Can I Kick It?" as Shaolin Jazz provides a live musical score for the Wilmington cult classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Additionally, The Party Robot takes over the "Bus to Lumberton" experience this year, which serves as the festival’s annual site-specific homage to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. On Sunday, local theater troupe Mouths of Babes will take over the GigSalad Lounge for Mobalorus, a vibrant showcase of short plays, puppetry, and multi-media works.

‍

Meanwhile, the Cucalorus Film Conference enters its second year with a new lineup of professional workshops and panels, including Camera Moves Tell the Story and Editing Blue Velvet. The conference will also host the Cucalorus Film Foundation’s official announcement of this year’s Filmed in NC Fund recipients before closing out with a Keynote Brunch featuring special guest Emily Best, CEO of Seed&Spark, a leading crowdfunding platform for indie filmmakers.

‍

Festival attendees have a range of excellent options for diving into the festivities, with individual tickets available for only $15 per screening. Moviegoers can also purchase custom ticket packages, apply for an Industry Pass, or secure a full All-Access Pass directly on the festival website. To explore the complete schedule and purchase your tickets today, visit cucalorus.eventive.org.

.

‍