Works-in-Progress Lab Opens Its Doors to the Public for the First Time

Wilmington, NC – For the first time ever, Cucalorus and Working Films are inviting the public to experience the 2025 Works-in-Progress Lab—an immersive residency that champions independent filmmakers telling powerful stories of social justice. Taking place April 22-29, 2025, at Jengo’s Playhouse in downtown Wilmington, the Lab provides hands-on guidance in audience engagement and accountable storytelling. Each evening, audiences will get an exclusive first look at one of five powerful works-in-progress, with filmmakers and mentors joining in person to share insights and spark conversation. The gatherings begin at 6:30pm -- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday's screening will begin at 3:00pm.

Filmmakers in this year’s cohort will refine their outreach strategies, ensuring their documentaries foster meaningful impact. The program is part of an ongoing effort to empower filmmakers with the tools to connect their stories with communities and drive change. Five filmmaking teams will receive extensive community feedback during a series of public screenings, workshops, and one-on-one consultations with mentors Jackie Olive, Byron Hurt, Akili Davis and Natalie Bullock Brown.

Designed to support independent social justice filmmakers, the Lab focuses on audience engagement and accountable storytelling, equipping participants with the tools to develop impactful outreach strategies for their documentaries. “Witnessing the relationships grow within the Lab between the cohort throughout the week is powerful and creates an environment of trust and support with aligned filmmakers, mentors and community members,” mentioned Works-in-Progress Lab organizer Stephanie Avery.

The following films have been selected for the 2025 WiP Lab:

• Women Who Ride, directed by Jessica Jones, follows Tish Edwards, founder of Oakland’s first Black women’s motorcycle club, as she balances leadership, caregiving, and her passion for riding.

• Afromystic, directed by Seyi Adebanjo, is a lyrical documentary exploring the spiritual journeys of LGBTQ+ Yoruba practitioners across Nigeria, Brazil, and the U.S. Through ritual, storytelling, and performance, the film challenges colonial erasure, highlighting Queer resilience within indigenous traditions.

• Of the Soil, directed by Alexis Bell, follows farmer and activist Kendrick Ransome, as he fights for Black food sovereignty, reclaiming land, mentoring youth, and advocating for sustainable agriculture to build a healthier future.

• Allensworth: The Town that Refuses to Die, directed by Daryl Jones, follows Black and Latine residents that are fighting climate change and hardship with resilience, preserving a legacy of survival and community.

• The Co-op: The Kids of Dorie Miller, directed by Paulina Davis, follows her family's history at NYC’s pioneering unsegregated housing co-op, The Dorie Miller Co-op, exploring its legacy of community and resistance amid today’s affordable housing crisis.

The Works-in-Progress Lab is designed and led by Working Films, a Wilmington-based nonprofit organization that is nationally recognized for its work using documentaries as a resource to inform and involve communities in addressing social and environmental issues that impact their lives.

Interviews with any of the filmmakers can be arranged by request. Please contact Stephanie Avery at savery@workingfilms.org to schedule or visit jengos.eventive.org/schedule for detailed information about each screening.

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