In the fall of 1994, a small filmmaking collective known as Twinkle Doon brought 16 films to a waterfront restaurant along the banks of the Cape Fear River. The intimate restaurant quickly reached capacity and a long line of eager film fans meandered down the riverwalk in the hopes of getting in before the last film screened. The humble event marked the beginning of the Cucalorus Film Festival.
With a growing indie film scene, Wilmington's creative environment was active and ascending. Film fans and filmmakers recognized the need for a film festival in Wilmington. In the spring of 1996, the 2nd Annual Cucalorus Film Festival was held at several venues around town, attracting filmmakers and film fans from all over North Carolina.
Cucalorus grew rapidly over the next three years, expanding into a four-day event, attracting filmmakers from around the world and bringing the finest short and feature films to the screen. Staying true to its roots, the festival continued to be organized by filmmakers and for filmmakers. Never competitive, Cucalorus focused on celebrating the artform in a relaxed and southern atmosphere, where the emphasis was on socializing and collaborating. Special guest Jack Cardiff presented his classic "The Red Shoes" at the Third annual event and native North Carolinian Ross McElwee brought his film "Six O'Clock News" to the festival. Actor Nick Searcy brought his debut feature "Paradise Falls" to the 4th Cucalorus, which screened alongside a collection of cutting-edge indie features and over 30 shorts from around the world.
In 1998, with five festivals under its belt, the festival staff established the Cucalorus Film Foundation as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. The Foundation produces the annual film festival and promotes film culture and film production throughout North Carolina. In 2005, the Foundation hosted the 1st Annual Cucalorus Kids! festival, an interactive weekend introducing filmmaking to children. Highlights included an all day 'Young Filmmakers Camp' with tours of Screen Gems Studios and Joe Dunton Cameras as well as an animation workshop with filmmaker David Hardin. The Foundation also hosts a weekly film series, screening a broad selection of classics, local shorts and international indie features. The series, "Friday Nite Films", takes place at the festival's headquarters, located at Jengo's Playhouse in the Independent Art Company creative compound in downtown Wilmington.
Cucalorus 6 broke new ground with a breathtaking screening of Farhad Yawari's "Dolphins" on the deck of the USS North Carolina. The outdoor screening, with the lights of the city reflecting in the waters of the Cape Fear River, was an unforgettable kick-off to an unruly and expanding festival. Festival Seven brought an international collection of films to Wilmington, with David Gordon Green's directorial debut "George Washington" as the undisputed indie film of the year. With an expanding lineup of films (over 70 shorts and features) and new national sponsors like Kodak, the festival established itself as an important national event. MovieMaker magazine attended Cucalorus 7, dubbing it "the best kept secret on the indie fest circuit."
In its eighth year, Cucalorus brought an important collection North Carolina and international independent films to the screen, introducing a new generation of filmmakers to a growing national audience. Filmed at EUE Screen Gems studios and on locations throughout Wilmington, "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" was an audience favorite in 2002. With a growing interest in documentaries, Cucalorus 9 reflected an increasing interest among indie filmmakers in the real. Screening films like "Schooling Jewel", "The Backyard" and Chris Smith's "Home Movie", the festival's programming style became more sophisticated. This trend continued at the 10th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival, as programmers brought a collection of politically and socially charged films to festival audiences. Highlights included Gus Van Sant's "Elephant", the East Coast premier of Tricia Brock's adaptation of a Clyde Edgerton novel "Killer Diller," and Ross McElwee's "Bright Leaves."
Cucalorus 11 (held March 30 - April 3, 2005) brought a record number of filmmakers to the festival from all over the world. The festival christened it's new micro-cinema Jengo's Playhouse at 815 Princess Street in downtown Wilmington. Highlights included Oscar winning (co-writer for "Sideways") writer Jim Taylor's directorial debut, a narrative short starring Nick Searcy - "The Lost Cause". Bringing the house to its feet, the festival screened Jonathan Caouette's "Tarnation" to a sold out crowd. The Q&A lasted nearly an hour, as filmmakers and film fans joined Caouette in savoring the brilliance of the ground-breaking, autobiographical documentary.
After eleven years, the festival staff and board, recognizing the hectic nature of the spring festival circuit, moved the annual festival to the Fall. Along with the change of season, Cucalorus made a new home, with the primary venue for the 12th Annual Festival at the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. The 12th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival swept through Wilmington, North Carolina from November 8-11, 2006. Official attendance was over 9000 as the festival drew visitors from around the world. Cucalorus 12 set a record for attending filmmakers with 78 of today's most innovative and promising film artists on hand to trade ideas and celebrate. International artists attended from Israel, Scotland and Canada. Thalian Hall's historic, ornate Main Stage Theater was the dramatic setting for a host of outstanding films, including a packed screening of John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus. Pushing the boundaries of artistic discipline, Dance-a-lorus was a hit in its second year as filmmakers and choreographers broke new ground with their experimental fusion of film and dance. The festival continued to screen controversial, challenging and highly personal documentaries, with extended post screening dialoque in Thalian Hall's stark Black Box theater. The hottest and wildest screen was at Jengo's Playhouse, the odd micro-cinema hosted most of the festival's short selections. Jengo's burned late into the night as the festival's venue for alternative and spirited social events as well.
The 13th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival, November 7 - 10, 2007 promises to bring an outstanding lineup of features, documentaries, and shorts to the screen, while connecting a unique mix of today's brightest artists from around the world with the festival's usual laid-back and relaxed rock n' roll style.
In addition the Foundation has an ongoing weekly film series that takes place at Jengo's Playhouse, please check our blog to find out whats playing. Cucalorus also looks forward to its 3rd Annual Cucalorus Kids! Festival, taking place at Jengo's Playhouse from March 26 to 28, 2008. HangOn! SlangOn!
Everyone, every week at Jengo's Playhouse for our ongoing film series. Check out our blog to see what were playing this week!!
Cucalorus screens a little bit of everything. Lots of shorts and docs scattered throughout the schedule. Each year we screen over 100 films, roughly 20 features both narrative and documentary and about 80 shorts. Short films range from super short (30 seconds) up to 39 minutes. Cucalorus attempts to represent the art form in all its diversity and contradiction.