Produced by The Cary Theater, the fifth annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival will host filmmaking workshops and screen short films from around the globe Sept. 15-18, 2022.
CARY, N.C. (September 7, 2022) – BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival returns Sept. 15-18, 2022, for its fifth year celebrating the art of short films from independent filmmakers from around the world. Produced by The Cary Theater, BEYOND received short films and screenplay submissions from independent filmmakers worldwide that will compete for more than $6,000 in prizes. All festival events take place at The Cary Theater downtown. Film schedule and filmmaking workshop information is available here.
“We cannot wait to screen this year’s lineup of outstanding short films from around the world for our fifth year of Cary’s hometown film festival,” said Lani Simeona, festival director and operations and program supervisor at The Cary Theater. “BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival is an opportunity for audiences and filmmakers of all experience levels to learn about the screenwriting process and see great short films from talented artists.”
Angel of Alabama, directed by local filmmaker Elijah Yetter-Bowman, will screen at 7 p.m. on opening night, September 15. The film chronicles an investigator’s return home to rural Alabama to support her mother’s failing health. Amidst unusually rampant disease throughout the community, she launches an investigation into the cause. This film is presented in partnership with the Southern Documentary Fund and N.C. Humanities. A Q&A with Yetter-Bowman and opening night reception featuring DJ Ras J will follow the screening.
In addition to short films in competition throughout the weekend, the festival schedule also includes two filmmaking workshops open to filmmakers of all experience levels. Cost to participate is $25 for Friday’s workshop with lunch provided, and $12 for Saturday’s workshop.
Friday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Lunch included)
Screenwriting Workshop – Beyond the Page
Instructor: Q. Terah Jackson
This hands-on workshop invites participants to explore their creative writing process and rethink their approach to developing a screenplay. Each participant will apply techniques used by Hollywood professionals to sharpen their ideas and creativity. Instructor Q. Terah Jackson’s writing has garnered attention from the Writers’ Guild of America, Film Independent, Academy Nicholl and Sundance-Sloan Foundation Fellowships.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hindsight 2020: An Indie Filmmaking Retrospective
Instructors: Erika Arlee, Kristi Ray (Honey Head Films)
This workshop covers how to scale a short film concept into a fully funded feature. An informative and entertaining discussion for filmmakers to learn how to reverse engineer their most audacious creative goals. Includes a sneak peek at North Carolina’s newest independent feature film: A Song For Imogene.
Tickets are on sale now. The 2022 festival is presented by: InkTip, Final Draft, Slated, Town of Cary, Cary Magazine, The Mayton Inn, Misner Public Relations, Digital P Media, N.C. Humanities, and the Southern Documentary Fund.
About The Cary Theater
Located at 122 E. Chatham St., The Cary Theater lights up downtown with its mission to provide a unique setting for the community to experience art house cinema and live performances that enhance the cultural arts experience in the Town of Cary. Originally constructed in 1946 to serve as the Town’s first indoor movie theater, The Cary was restored in 2014 to create a vibrant space downtown that offers independent film, live music, comedy and improv, and other performances. The theater is owned by the Town of Cary and operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
Media Contacts:
Lani Simeona, The Cary Theater, Operations & Program Supervisor, (919) 319-4549
Scott Misner, Media Relations, (919) 412-3886
William Lewis, Cultural Arts Manager, (919) 462-3861
