2024 Festival Movie Blocks
Comedy is tragedy plus time" (Carol Burnett)
Our comedy Block will have you rolling in the aisle! Friday 7:30 - 9:30
Suck It Up
Suck It Up. United Kingdom (English)
WORLD PREMIERE
8:55
Megan Shandley, Writer/ Director
When their flatmate moves out and takes her vacuum cleaner with her, the remaining tenants are faced with a challenging road to domestic paradise. ***Filmmaker in attendance***
V-Card
V-Card. United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
7:57
Brooklyn Braaten, Writer/Director
Remorseful about giving away her most precious asset, Amy wrestles with a world where virginity is personified into a tangible v-card.
Fence Sitter
Fence Sitter. United States (English)
14:42
NC PREMIERE
Liz Galalis, Writer
Sydne Horton, Director
An elder millennial experiences a pregnancy scare at her best friend's baby shower and totally ruins the vibe.
The Librarian
The Librarian. United States (English)
8:13
WORLD PREMIERE
Lauren Santana, Writer/Director
A retired bounty hunter-turned-librarian uses skills from his previous line of work to maintain order in his library, gaining the attention of a young troublemaker.
***Filmmaker in attendance***
He's Dead, Thanks
He's Dead, Thanks United Kingdom (English)
NC PREMIERE
7:05
Margherita Arco, Writer
Margherita Arco & Anna-Marie Ramm, Directors
With vastly different ideas of what their Dad would want, Iris and Jo peruse a charity shop to buy the perfect outfit: Dad can’t help - he's dead.
D!NK
D!NK United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
9:56
Rachael Marie & Andrew Silberman, Writers
Rachael Marie Silberman, Director
As the 2023 “Grab the Gherkin” Pickleball Tourney comes to Wilmington, North Carolina–four regional champions enter to compete for the Grand Gherkin Trophy and become legends in Pickleball history.
**Filmmaker in attendance****
In Tow
In Tow. United States (English & Spanish)
2023 Lisa Christine Hyatt Grant Winner
20:49
Sharon Arteaga, Writer/Director
A self-involved teen and her overworked single mom confront their differences as their mobile home is towed away … with them inside of it!s with the comically chaotic aftermath.
Dead Cat
Dead Cat. Canada (French)
NC Premiere
12:30
Annie-Claude Caron &
Danick Audet, Writers/Directors
What were Catherine and Louis thinking when they chose a cat with distinctive white spots? It would have been much easier to replace if they had picked the all-back one! Now, they will have to tell their daughter Sophie that Nugget’s dead. Unless….
“Some family trees bear an enormous crop of nuts” Wayne Huizenga
All About Families Saturday 12-1:30pm
Order My Steps
Order My Steps. United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
18:12
Kathryn Grant, Writer
Augusta Palmer, Director
When an incarcerated woman reaches out to the daughter she lost 20 years ago, they must battle through the addiction, neglect and institutional betrayal that kept them apart.
I'm Here
I'm Here. Bulgaria (bulgarian)
US PREMIERE
4:00
Vilma Kartalska, Writer/Director
Realize death. Accept death. Continue with life.
Small Selkie
Small Selkie. United Kingdom (English)
15:02
NC PREMIERE
Nina Georgieff, Writer
Matilda Harding-Kemp, Director
This is a story about a young girl trying to save the planet, one piece of plastic at a time. And it is a love letter to the wondrous, almighty sea.
Where We Belong
Where We Belong. United Kingdom (english, Japanese)
NC PREMIERE
29:50
Madoka Belda Yamamoto & Taylor Rasmussen, Writers
Madoka Belda Yamamoto, Director
A young British-Japanese woman tries to reconnect with her origins through grief, ghosts, and food.
How Tall is Jeffrey
How Tall Is Jeffrey. Canada (English)
10:51
NC PREMIERE
Madison Stenner, Writer/Director
A young dad must come to terms with his son's imaginary friend named Jeffrey.
“Love is a two way street constantly under construction.”- Carol Bryant
Relationships! Saturday 2:00-3:30pm
La Rue
La Ruse Canada (French)
10:46
Katherine Dupont, Writer
Johane Prégent, Director
Clara, 14-year-old, eats her lunch every day hidden away in the school bathroom. In the eyes of her peers, she’s a bitch. When 12-year-old Felix stumbles into HER room looking for a place to hide, the hunted teens find themselves in forced isolation.
[subtext]
[subtext]. United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
7:36
Olivia Haller, Writer
Erin Brown Thomas, Director
Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking.
Soulmate Wanted
Soulmate Wanted. Ireland (English)
13:37
Mary Kirwan, Writer
Zoë Brennan-Whitmore, Director
Gwen, a pedantic believer in all things mystical, has just received a sketch of her soulmate from a stranger on the internet. Determined to find the love of her life, Gwen launches her own personal search campaign.
Fairytales (cuentos de Hadas)
Fairytales. Mexico (Spanish)
NC PREMIERE
15:00
Daniela Soria, Writer/Director
At a religious retreat, Lidia befriends Arantxa with a fabricated tale. But after discovering a dead fairy, Lidia questions her lies and the true essence of friendship.
Roses
Roses. United Kingdom (English)
US PREMIERE
15:29
Coral Knights, Writer/Director
Rosa unexpectedly finds herself spending an evening out alone as her daughter throws an 18th birthday party in their house. Wasting time in her small Cornish town, she spies a woman she has met once before - and is drawn to her.
Quiche
Quiche Canada (English)
10:40
Suzannah Moore, Writer/Director
A suspicious neighbour presses her way into the kitchen of a private new mother.
**Filmmaker in attendance**
“I have the heart of a small boy, I keep it in a jar on my desk” ~Robert Bl
Horror Block Saturday 4- 5:30pm
Dark Water
Dark Water. United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
12:34
Nonie Shiverick, Writer/Director
A woman suffering from severe panic attacks experiences vivid sensations of drowning that become increasingly, terrifyingly real..
**Filmmaker in attendance**
The Urn
The Urn, Australia (English)
10:00
Ash Gray, Writer/Director
When a woman finds an urn that interprets and manifests her darkest desires, she learns the true meaning of ‘careful what you wish for’.
Not Him
Not HIm. United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
14:57
Sarah Young, Writer/Director
When her husband turns strange and violent, a wife becomes convinced he is possessed. But will anyone believe her?
***Filmmaker in attendance***
It's Not Real
It's Not Real United States (English)
NC PREMIERE
8:00
Tina Carbone, Writer/Director
Jess wonders whether the creepy incidents in her creaky old apartment are actually happening.
Biters and Bleeders
Biters and Bleeders. United States
22:22
Charlie Carson Monroe, Writer
Charlie Carson Monroe & Raven Angeline Whisnant, Directors
Beneath the thin veneer of their marriage lies a rotting core of regret, frustration, and contempt. Tad and Penelope have fallen on hard times. When Tad’s mother unexpectedly dies and Tad comes into possession of his stately family home, he believes it will be the key to solving everything. But what awaits them in that house is not salvation.
“What we know matters but who we are matters more." ~Brene Brown
All About Identity Sunday 10:30 - 11:30am
Beside Still Water
Beside Still Water United States (English)
11:50
Elizabeth Gordon, Writer
Regina McCleod, Director
A woman has an strange encounter while trying to have a solemn moment at a local Lake.
***Filmmaker in attendance***
Cursive
Cursive. United Kingdom (English)
12:23
Joe Borg, Writer
Isabel Steuble-Johnson, Director
When a woman on the verge of a breakup gets help from a mysterious stranger to improve her handwriting, she finds the inner voice she longed for all along.
Won't You Be My Dumpling
Won't you Be My Dumpling. United States (English)
**2023 Joy James Grant Winner**
9:07
WORLD PREMIERE
Jinna Kim, Writer/Director
A delightful short documentary that shows that dumplings can come in different forms and be tasty to everyone.
***Filmmaker in attendance***
Hierloom
Heirloom. Cananda (no Dialogue)
10:39
Marilyne Lamontagne, Writer/Director
Etienne confronts the crushing pressure of generational expectations and masculinity of their inheritance home as they seek emancipation in the wilderness. Etienne's trans identity is an experiential audible journey amidst chaos and spontaneity.
I Don't Need Adult Conversation
I Don't Need Adult Conversation. United Kingdom (English)
12:03
US PREMIERE
Vika Evdokimenko, Writer/Director
A new mother dotes on her baby by day, but discovers dark feelings stirring up inside her at night. This hybrid doc explores the shadow side of motherhood which remains taboo in our culture.
“I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way,” ~Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Animation Sunday 12:00 - 1:15pm
She's My Best Friend (...and I hate her).
She's My Best Friend (...and I hate her).
United Kingdom (English)
4:10
US PREMIERE
Candy Guard, Writer/Director
The complexity of an ancient friendship is dissected to hilarious and recognisable effect as old friends Milly and June wait impatiently for each other outside a coffee shop. The longer they wait, the more annoyed they get, causing old resentments to play on their minds.
Mum's Spaghetti
Mum's Spaghetti. United Kingdom (English)
10:53
NC PREMIERE
Lisa Kenney & Jack Maraghy, Writers
Lisa Kenney, Director
MC mastermind Poppy and her beatboxing border terrier Snoop are the new kids in town – and they’re ready to make their reputation known. Straight As and bubble baths are their way of life – but when confronted by an older crew en-route her first day at school, Poppy quickly changes her tune.
The Sprayer
The Sprayer. Islamic Republic of Iran (no dialogue)
8:45
Pegah Fardiar & Farnoosh Abedi, Writers
Farnoosh Abedi, Director
In the land occupied with the sprayers army, no one has the right to grow any kind of plants either in public or private.
Nurit
Nurit. Israel (Hebrew)
NC PREMIERE
11:25
Sohini Tal, Writer/Director
Nurit walks us through her fascinating journey to motherhood, which begins in a silent birth, continues on to tens of fertility treatments and ends up in fixing the Eilat cemetery. There she finds closure.
Waldeinsamkeit
Waldeinsamkeit. Germany & United Kingdom (English)
US PREMIERE
4:15
Silvana Roth, Writer/Director
An old lady feels alienated from modern city life, but when she embarks on a magical dreamlike journey, she finds wonder and a newfound appreciation for the place she lives in.
Dragonfly
Dragonfly. United States (english)
13:33
Julia Morizawa, Writer/Director
A young girl learns of her mother’s survival of the Tokyo Firebombing on March 9-10, 1945 through the eyes of her brother’s spirit.
The Coloring Book
The Coloring Book. Australia (English)
7:09
NC PREMIERE
Kylie Claude, Writer/Director
A mother is struck by the brutal reality that relaxation is pure fantasy.
“The question isn't who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me.” ~A
Strong Female Protagonists Sunday 2:00 - 3:30pm
Kiss
KISS. United Kingdom (English)
15:00
US PREMIERE
Katie Mulgrew, Writer
Katja Roberts, Director
Haunted by her past kisses, Annie must confront the one kiss she refuses to acknowledge.
Thread Tension
Thread Tension. United Kingdom (English)
13:30
US PREMIERE
Ruby Mastrodimos, Writer/Director
A sweatshop, 1987. Management is desperate to dispel the mysterious phenomenon spreading amongst the seamstresses: full-body possessions.
The Girl with the Mousy Hair
The Girl with The Mousy Hair. United Kingdom (English)
11:46
Thalia Kent-Egan, Writer/ Director
A psychological thriller about a middle aged queer woman forced to relive moments from her childhood that she has completely repressed.
Bodily Renaissance
Bodily Renaissance. United Kingdom (English)
7:10
NC PREMIERE
Claudia Lee Writer/Director
A poem-short on a woman's battle with body image, dysmorphia, and turning self-loathing into self-acceptance
Sara
Sara. Canada(English)
NC PREMIERE
11:00
Jessica Hinkson, Writer/Director
As Sara navigates the stress of her flight being delayed multiple times, a missed call from an unknown number sends her spiralling into distress. Taking refuge in a bar, an unlikely stranger becomes the confessional she didn't know she needed and the support to tackle her diagnosis.
Portrait
Portrait. United Kingdom (English)
11:38
US PREMIERE
Nina Street & Grace Louey, Writers
Nina Street, Director
When her nude selfie is shared, schoolgirl Siah embarks on a mission to reclaim her image.
“When I die I’m leaving my body to science fiction.” ~Steven Wright
Suspense, Sci-Fi & Experimental Sunday 4:00 -5:30pm
Archive & The Storyteller
Archive & The Storyteller. United States (English)
19:25
Natasha Marie Rivera & Seamus Boyle, Writers
Natasha Marie Rivera, Director
On the brink of human extinction, a young couple struggles to secure a spot on the ‘Archive.’
The Library at the End of the Universe
The Library at the End of the Universe. United States (English)
18:02
Missy Bell, Writer/Director
After spending her entire life inside The Library, where all decisions are made for her, Mildred is faced with a harrowing choice of her own.
Into the Hourglass
Into the Hourglass. United States (no dialogue)
2:06
Danielle Miner, Writer/ Director
A man is sleeping on the couch when he hears a noise outside followed by a knock on the door
***Filmmaker in attendance***
Bubbles
Bubbles. Albania & Italy (Italian)
15:00
NC PREMIERE
MERI DISHNICA Writer/Director
A forty-year-old woman named SOL, floats in a long-distance relationship bubble, along with her longtime boyfriend FRED. He is so far away that the sunrise at Sol's window marks the sunset at his'. They have to wait till Christmas to see each other again— but for some bizarre reason, their meeting never occurs.
The Hand that Feeds
The Hand That Feeds. Austria(German/Romanian)
NC PREMIERE
24:00
Helen Hideko Writer/Director
Irina, a single-mother, must move in with her mother-in-law Trudi. Overwhelmed by Trudi's generosity, Irina smiles while denying the rage that is growing in her gut.