The Carrboro Film Fest, now in its 19th iteration, is set to kick off its weekend-long celebration of Southern cinema from Friday to Sunday at the Carrboro Century Center, located at 100 N. Greensboro St. The festival prides itself on featuring a wide array of new Southern films that aim to both celebrate and critically examine the nuances of Southern culture. Attendees can expect an eclectic mix of short film blocks and feature presentations from various filmmakers hailing from across the Southern United States, as detailed by Town of Carrboro's official announcement. Individual screening tickets are priced at $8.
This year's Carrboro Film Fest endeavors to create a more inclusive festival atmosphere by reducing the number of film blocks and incorporating a complimentary film workshop and a meet-the-filmmakers dinner, according to new festival director Bryan Reklis. "We’re really excited about the attending filmmakers and the opportunities for audience-filmmaker engagement. That’s always been a great part of Carrboro Film Fest, and we want to keep that going," Reklis conveyed in a statement obtained by the Town of Carrboro.
A significant highlight of this year's festival comes from one of their own, Erika Arlee, a Chapel Hill native and UNC alum whose debut feature film, "A Song for Imogene," will be the opening night film. The film has already netted numerous accolades across the country for its portrayal of personal strife in a small Southern town. "A Song for Imogene" is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. showing on Friday, with Arlee and lead actress Kristi Ray present for a post-screening Q&A session.
The closing night will shine a light on a historical battle for environmental justice in "Our Movement Starts Here," directed by John Rash and Melanie Dang Ho. The documentary follows the 1982 efforts of a predominantly Black community in Warren County, NC, who stood against the establishment of toxic PCB landfill. This protest is duly noted for blending civil rights activism with environmentalism, birthing the concepts of environmental racism and justice. As revealed by the official schedule, the film will be shown on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Rash and various individuals featured in the film.
Aside from the headlining features, the festival will exhibit over 30 short films, including "The Queen Vs. Texas," a statement piece about LGBTQIA+ persistence in Texas, and "The Mutual Aid Garage," the story of a PhD-educated mechanic and his community-focused car repair shop. The variety of these films reflects the complex tapestry of life in the Southern States. Reklis, acknowledging the diversity of the festival's offerings, stated, "The South isn’t just one thing. It’s a whole lot of sub-cultures mingling and responding to each other, and our films reflect that dynamic," according to Town of Carrboro.
Finally, for those more interested in the craftsmanship of film, there will be a free workshop titled "Understanding Cinematography" at noon on Saturday. And for attendees driving to the festival, finding a spot for your vehicle won't be a hassle, with plenty of free public parking available throughout Carrboro. More details on the event and parking options can be found at CarrboroFilm.org.
