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BEYOND 2025 Film Festival Winners Announced

CARY, N.C. — The Cary Theater today announced the winners of the 8th annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival, which took place September 11-14, 2025. Filmmakers from around the world submitted their short films to be screened in competition. For the past eight years, BEYOND has supported emerging filmmakers with accessible screenwriting and industry workshops, panel discussions, and engaging talkbacks. All activities took place within walking distance of The Cary’s historic downtown theater, making BEYOND among the industry’s most accessible film festivals. The following are the 2025 BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival award-winners:

 

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT

2025 Winner: For Every Breath, directed by Erika Arlee

 

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

2025 Winner: Once Upon A Wetland, directed by Elizabeth Miller-Derstine

 

 

BEST STUDENT SHORT

2025 Winner: For The Love Of Cats, directed by Calvin Bowers

 

 

BEST NC FILMMAKER SHORT

2025 Winner: Hell In A Climate Haven, directed by Amelia Waldeck and Thomas Comick

 

 

AUDIENCE AWARD

2025 Winner: Thank You For Your Time, directed by Ricki “Ricasso” Nelson

 

 

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY

2025 Winner: Burning Hammer, by Dylan Wilson

 

 

BEYOND would like to thank the following sponsors and partners for helping to make our 8th annual festival a huge success. More information and submission dates for the 9th annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival will be announced in December on Film Freeway.

 

 

 

 

 

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📽️Cary's historic art house downtown for indies, classic films & live performances.
BEYOND Film Festival returns Sept. 2026!

🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 Audience Award Winner- Thank You For Your Time!

🎬In an unassuming HR office, April Moore sits down for her exit interview, determined to leave her job without rocking the boat. But when the interview veers into a surreal interrogation of her flaws, perceived and otherwise, the lines between reality and absurdity blur.
✏️Directed by Ricki "Ricasso" Nelson

See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater!

#bcff2025 #Beyond2025 #AudienceAward #ThankYouForYourTime #CaryFilmFestival #IndieFilm #FilmFestivalWinner #ShortFilm #SupportIndieFilm #FilmScreening #CaryNC

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🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 Audience Award Winner- Thank You For Your Time! 🎬In an unassuming HR office, April Moore sits down for her exit interview, determined to leave her job without rocking the boat. But when the interview veers into a surreal interrogation of her flaws, perceived and otherwise, the lines between reality and absurdity blur. ✏️Directed by Ricki "Ricasso" Nelson See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater! #bcff2025 #Beyond2025 #AudienceAward #ThankYouForYourTime #CaryFilmFestival #IndieFilm #FilmFestivalWinner #ShortFilm #SupportIndieFilm #FilmScreening #CaryNC

🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best NC Filmmaker Short - Hell In A Climate Haven!

🎬In the wake of Hurricane Helene, a woman searching for her emu, a man rescuing neighbors in a kayak, and local artists face the myth of safety in the mountains of North Carolina.
✏️Directed by Amelia Waldeck and Thomas Comick

See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater!

#bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #NCFilmmakers #ShortFilmAward #ClimateCinema #IndieFilmFest #CaryTheater #NorthCarolinaFilm #FilmCommunityNC #AwardWinningShort #FilmFestival2025 #UNCSchoolofArts

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🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best NC Filmmaker Short - Hell In A Climate Haven! 🎬In the wake of Hurricane Helene, a woman searching for her emu, a man rescuing neighbors in a kayak, and local artists face the myth of safety in the mountains of North Carolina. ✏️Directed by Amelia Waldeck and Thomas Comick See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater! #bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #NCFilmmakers #ShortFilmAward #ClimateCinema #IndieFilmFest #CaryTheater #NorthCarolinaFilm #FilmCommunityNC #AwardWinningShort #FilmFestival2025 #UNCSchoolofArts

🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best Student Short - For The Love Of Cats!

🎬In the small mountain town of Barga, Italy, a group of four filmmakers speak with local cat lovers and immerse themselves in the unique world of street-trotting felines and Gattaras.
✏️Directed by Calvin Bowers

See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater!

#bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #StudentShortFilm #ForTheLoveOfCats #CatDocumentary #BargaItaly #FilmFestival2025 #CatLovers #IndieFilmmakers #AwardWinningShort #TheCaryTheater

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🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best Student Short - For The Love Of Cats! 🎬In the small mountain town of Barga, Italy, a group of four filmmakers speak with local cat lovers and immerse themselves in the unique world of street-trotting felines and Gattaras. ✏️Directed by Calvin Bowers See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater! #bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #StudentShortFilm #ForTheLoveOfCats #CatDocumentary #BargaItaly #FilmFestival2025 #CatLovers #IndieFilmmakers #AwardWinningShort #TheCaryTheater

🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL 2025 award winner for Best Documentary Short - Once Upon A Wetland!

🎬As restrictions tighten across the country, Durham, North Carolina preps for the annual Beaver Queen Pageant a campy, un-beaver-lievable celebration of LGBTQIA activism, environmental conservation, and outrageous critter cosplay.
✏️Directed by Elizabeth Miller-Derstine

See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater!

#bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #OnceUponAWetland #BestDocumentaryShort #DurhamNC #LGBTQIAStories #BeaverQueenPageant #IndieFilmAwards #CaryTheater #FilmFestival2025

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🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL 2025 award winner for Best Documentary Short - Once Upon A Wetland! 🎬As restrictions tighten across the country, Durham, North Carolina preps for the annual Beaver Queen Pageant a campy, un-beaver-lievable celebration of LGBTQIA activism, environmental conservation, and outrageous critter cosplay. ✏️Directed by Elizabeth Miller-Derstine See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater! #bcff2025 #BeyondFilmFestival #OnceUponAWetland #BestDocumentaryShort #DurhamNC #LGBTQIAStories #BeaverQueenPageant #IndieFilmAwards #CaryTheater #FilmFestival2025

🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best Narrative Short - For Every Breath!

🎬A young girl goes on an illicit scavenger hunt to find medication for her strung out grandmother.
✏️Directed by Erika Arlee

See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater!

#bcff2025 #Beyond2025 #BestNarrativeShort #ForEveryBreath #CaryFilmFestival #ShortFilmAward #IndieFilm #FilmFestivalWinner #NarrativeShort #WomenDirectors #FilmCommunity #honeyheadfilms

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🏆Congratulations to the BEYOND 2025 award winner for Best Narrative Short - For Every Breath! 🎬A young girl goes on an illicit scavenger hunt to find medication for her strung out grandmother. ✏️Directed by Erika Arlee See all of our award winners at 1:00 pm on Sun, Sep 14 at The Cary Theater! #bcff2025 #Beyond2025 #BestNarrativeShort #ForEveryBreath #CaryFilmFestival #ShortFilmAward #IndieFilm #FilmFestivalWinner #NarrativeShort #WomenDirectors #FilmCommunity #honeyheadfilms

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