Compelled by dreams and a voice that urged her to “draw or die,” Wilmington artist Minnie Evans remains one of the most important, self-taught, African American artists of the 20th century.  Visually anchored in Evans’s vibrant compositions, the film weaves together archival imagery, Nina Starr’s photography, and  sweeping views of the sunrises and coastal landscapes that inspired her.

With this block we hope to inspire our audience to do more than just keep holding on–even when it feels like all you can do is wait, keep holding hope, keep holding each other, and keep holding others accountable. 

When the small town of Carrboro dares to sue Duke Energy for decades of climate deception, a damning pattern emerges of corporate power run amok. This documentary exposes the true cost of corporate power when billions in climate damages are paid by everyone except those who caused them. 

There are few things Southerners love more than a good ghost story–perhaps because we know the only thing scarier than confronting the past is forgetting it. For better or worse, each story in this block reminds us that the past is still very much present with us, echoing in the distance.

This unique block of 7 short films highlights the work of student filmmakers at 5 different southern universities. We hope you leave invigorated by each new discovery these films offer and inspired to stay curious long after you leave the theater. 

This eclectic collection of 8 short films aims to celebrate all moments in the journey through life, especially the ones which are often left off-screen. In every instance, these films defy our expectations by telling another side of a familiar story, moving us to thought, laughter, and tears–and everything in between.

In this collection of 6 short films we follow individuals who march to the beat of their own drums. In each instance, we see characters creating a better world for themselves and everyone around them, simply by following their dreams and doing what they do best.

Join us for a free panel about how to find organizational partners for your film, featuring filmmakers and representatives from PBS NC and Southern Documentary Fund. Hear ways to find partners for editorial consulting, distribution, marketing, funding, and more. The discussion will primarily center around documentary projects, but the knowledge shared will overlap with narrative filmmaking.

An acting professor has her life upended when her charming but volatile baby brother joins her acting class, setting off a battle of wills between them for the hearts and minds of her eager students that could bring them all to the brink of success or debilitating ruin.

Through heartfelt interviews, sweeping visuals, and on-the-ground storytelling, the film captures the quiet determination of neighbors who came together to rebuild what was broken. Across the counties of Western North Carolina, we see the resilience that defines these mountain communities where rivers may rise, but the people rise higher.

Carrboro Film Fest is proud to present Our Movement Starts Here, a powerful documentary about grassroots activism and environmental justice in the American South. The film centers the story of a rural community in North Carolina who articulated the concept of environmental racism in 1982 by fighting the state’s toxic landfill. We invite you to join us for the film and a special Q&A with the director, cast, and crew after the screening. Directed by John Rash and Melanie Dang Ho. 

Southerners aren’t arrogant – but we do believe there is nothing more fascinating than ourselves and the bodies we inhabit. This collection of 8 evocative shorts seek to both interrogate and celebrate our ideas about the Southern body. From the nourishing and transformative power of neighborhood gardens and art which centers fat beauty and liberation, to the societal and social challenges of processing death and improving our care for pregnant black women and trans individuals, to the deeply personal choices of how we express our identity through our bodies (be it through hair care, imaginative play, or a series of backflips)–this collection explores contemporary social issues and timeless existential questions through the most intimate lens possible: the human body.

As Southerners, we don’t shy away from what others may find strange, surreal, or uncanny; instead we approach with curiosity, eager to learn what the otherworldly has in store. With this block of twelve short films, we follow a cat to the center of the earth, watch best friends cleanse their home of a haunted couch, and witness individuals undergo a mysterious grieving process involving a supernatural telephone booth. With this collection we are taking our audience through the looking glass, hoping to return with an enriched perspective on the weird and wonderful world that is the South.

Come join us for a free dinner with some of the filmmakers from this year's Carrboro Film Fest. Admission is free, but registration is required. Space is limited, so register early!

This collection of 7 documentary shorts highlights the efforts and accomplishments of Southerners who are coming together and rolling up their sleeves to challenge, combat, and reform systems which no longer serve them. In Alabama, a mechanic with a PhD from Berkeley takes a stand against capitalism in his own garage; in Texas, the Briggle family must contend with a far right government to defend their child’s right to gender affirming healthcare; and in our very own Orange County, NC, social workers, police officers, community leaders, and individuals living without shelter use their voices to illuminate the growing crisis of affordable housing. We hope you leave this block enlightened and inspired by the work your neighbors are already doing in city halls, community centers, and backyards all around you. 

Southerners are tough – but we know real stories of triumph are never easy. That’s why this collection of 8 short films seeks to honor all the risks, challenges, and moments of discomfort we trade to create better versions of ourselves or a better world for the people we love. From a “post-binary, pansexual, polyamorous, pot-smoking parent and professional drag queen” who uses her platform to protect and celebrate her community, to a father trying to provide dinner for his family in a new country, to a recovering people pleaser trying her hand at BDSM – we are here for every moment of the process as all these individuals are sacrificing comfort and caution for something bolder and brighter on the other side.

Every film represents a collaboration between directors, cinematographers, writers, actors, equipment operators, editors, and more. Each of these people makes choices that impact the story they're telling and how audiences will receive it. This workshop offers a crash course in the technical language of cinema.

Carrboro Film Fest is proud to present, A Song for Imogene, a feature film by North Carolina native, Erika Arlee. After discovering she is pregnant by her abusive boyfriend, a fallen-away musician must decide between freeing herself or remaining a relic of her drive-by Southern town. Set against the grueling landscape of the American South, this gritty drama explores issues of abuse, pregnancy trauma, and the female bid for independence. We invite you to join us for the film and a special Q&A with the director, cast, and crew after the screening.

Carrboro Film Fest is proud to present, The Deciders: Red, Whiteville, and Blue, a feature documentary film by Durham filmmaker, D. L. Anderson. In a small North Carolina town, a nascent group of single mothers, military veterans, and Trump supporters who dub themselves “the Deciders,” find solidarity in each other as they must face entrenched forces and callous political leaders in their pursuit of a living wage. This heartfelt documentary will leave you asking who really decides where the money goes? And why not you? Join us for a special kick-off screening at the Chelsea Theater as well as a Q&A with the director and Susan Romaine, founder of Orange County Living Wage.

A Drop-In Night School Bar Film Class with Victoria Bouloubasis and Carrboro Film Fest | No registration required

The Power of Local Latine Stories features two documentaries made by NSB instructor Victoria Bouloubasis.

A Drop-In Night School Bar Film Class with Sowj Kudva and Carrboro Film Fest | No registration required

Equity and Education on Set: Trans Activism in Indie Filmmaking will feature two independently made short films from Trans filmmakers.

We're honored to announce that Carrboro Film Festival will be partnering with Second Sunday Sapphlix for the month of November!!! We’re beyond excited to see new and familiar faces alike during this fun collaboration on Sunday, November 10th at 7pm, as we screen 5 amazing queer short films. Some of the featured filmmakers will be in attendance and participating in a Q&A.

Carrboro Film Fest and UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media are proud to present The River Runs On, a meditative documentary that explores our relationship with nature and what managing land means for the future of our planet and ourselves.

In the South we know the best stories are sometimes the most unbelievable, which is why this block of nine narrative shorts comprises some of our wackiest, wildest tales.

This invigorating collection of seven documentary shorts showcases the efforts and accomplishments of Southerners who are using their voice to speak up, shout out, and sing their own praise. 

 With this block of six short films, we investigate the mysterious, the grotesque, and the uncanny to give you a view of the South which is both otherworldly and familiar, transformative and grounding.

This contemplative block of five short films is about honoring the kinds of work, bravery, and sacrifice that often go overlooked and unseen.

This bold collection of eight short films is dedicated to celebrating characters who unapologetically march to the beat of their own drum — and we can’t help but follow.

In this collection of seven short films we join Southerners who know how to meet all life’s challenges with grit, hope, and a good sense of humor.

This collection of eight short films seeks to honor the journey to authentic selfhood, in all its messiness, through the stories of diverse characters as they negotiate and renegotiate what defines them.