EVENT SCHEDULE
Join us for Cary’s hometown film festival, featuring four days of films, workshops, conversations and events for audiences and filmmakers. BEYOND is a friendly, unpretentious festival that welcomes cinema fans of all ages and from all walks of life to join us to celebrate the art of filmmaking.
THURSDAY – Sept. 5
1:30 p.m. – Every Little Thing
SPECIAL PROGRAM
Directed By: Sally Aitken
Amid the glamour of Hollywood, a woman finds herself on a transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unraveling a visually captivating and magical tale of love, fragility, healing, and the delicate beauty in tiny acts of greatness.
4:30 p.m. – FILM BLOCK: You Are Not Alone
A collection of short films in competition showcasing the impact of community, the strength found in shared activities, and the inspiration of hope amidst solitude. The block is followed by a 20 minute Q&A with filmmakers.
The School of Canine Massage (Directed By: Emma D. Miller)
Birdfeeder (Directed By: Daniel Feighery)
American Seams (Directed By: Carly Jakins)
A Home on Every Floor (Directed By: Signe Rosenlund-Hauglid)
Stud Country (Directed By: Lina Abascal and Alexandra Kern)
7:00 p.m. – How to Sue the Klan
OPENING NIGHT FILM w/ FILMMAKER Q&A
Directed By: John Beder
How to Sue the Klan is the story of how five Black women from Chattanooga used legal ingenuity to take on the Ku Klux Klan in a historic 1982 civil case, fighting to hold them accountable for their crimes and bring justice to their community. Their victory set a legal precedent that continues to inspire the ongoing fight against organized hate.
Presented in partnership with the Southern Documentary Fund.
8:30 p.m. – OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
BREW COFFEE BAR
Included with Opening Night Film ticket.
Sponsored by the Southern Documentary Fund
FRIDAY - Sept. 6
10:00 a.m. – Writing & Rewriting Your First Screenplay
WORKSHOP – Academy Pavilion, Downtown Cary Park
Instructor: Ron Stacker Thompson
Staying up all hours trying to determine the difference between your theme and your plot? Going bonkers trying to define your characters, find their dialogue? Getting the jitters trying to reduce your screenplay from 150 pages to 110? This workshop will provide tips on how to better your screenplay and maybe get a good night’s sleep.
12:30 p.m. – Crowdfunding to Build Independence
WORKSHOP – Academy Pavilion, Downtown Cary Park
Presented By Emily Best, Seed & Spark
Most people think about crowdfunding simply as a fundraising tool, but we’re going to show you how it’s much more than that. Discover how to have a successful crowdfunding campaign, and career! You’ll learn how to find your audience, structure your crowdfunding campaign, pick the right goal and incentives, and more.
Free, Ticket Required
1:45 p.m. – A Song For Imogene
SPECIAL PROGRAM w/ FILMMAKER Q&A
Directed By: Erika Arlee
Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Cheyenne, a fallen-away musician, flees her abusive boyfriend and finds her way back to her small, Southern hometown. While there, Cheyenne reunites with her vagabond sister, Janelle: now a single mother to a five-year-old son. The two rekindle their relationship while Cheyenne tries to keep her boyfriend from discovering her whereabouts. Tensions rise as secrets surface, eventually leading to a choice that could change Cheyenne’s life forever. Q&A follows with writer-director Erika Arlee and producer Kristi Ray from Honey Head Films.
4:00 p.m. – FILMMAKER RECEPTION
RBF CHAMPAGNE BAR
By Invitation Only.
Sponsored by DigitalP Media
5:30 p.m. – FILM BLOCK: Say You’ll Be There
A collection of short films in competition exploring themes of grief, shifting family expectations, challenges, and the love that carries us through. The block is followed by a 20 minute Q&A with filmmakers.
Lillo (Directed By: Andrea Figueroa)
American Daydream (Directed By: Ziyu Luo)
Tortilla Woman (Directed By: Aly Castillo)
Forbidden Fruit (Directed By: Isaiah Alexander Forte-Rose)
Sweet Pea (Directed By: Clarke L Phillips)
8:00 p.m. – FILM BLOCK: I didn’t See it Coming
A collection of short films in competition that will keep you on the edge of your seat with unexpected twists, eerie moments, and thought-provoking storylines. The block is followed by a 20 minute Q&A with filmmakers.
Hi, Friends (Directed By: Wheaton Simis)
Brenda Gets Gaslit (Directed By: Jessica Vitkin)
Strings (Directed By: Paige Archer)
I Could Just Die, And That Would Be All Right (Directed By: A.K. Espada)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
10:00 a.m. – Developing Your Short Film Into a Feature or Series
WORKSHOP – Academy Pavilion, Downtown Cary Park
Instructor: Crickett Rumley, New York Film Academy
Have you received feedback from audiences that your short could be a feature or a TV show? Did your film originate as a proof of concept, so now you need to develop the script or series bible? Or, do you have an idea for a feature or series but you want to make the short first?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, this session is for you. In it, we’ll discuss best practices for expanding your short, from recommendations on the development process, to tips for writing a low budget feature to direct, to opportunities that the festival circuit offers filmmakers promoting their next project. Time will be allotted for questions and light workshopping.
12:30 P.m. – Distribution Down Low
WORKSHOP – Academy Pavilion, Downtown Cary Park
Presented by Emily Best, Seed & Spark
Distribution is one of the most mysterious and misunderstood topics for independent creators. We break down the current landscape of distribution for indie films and series, including the different avenues to take, the right questions to ask potential partners, and most importantly, the economics for every window, from theatrical through VOD and beyond.
Free, Ticket Required
1:45 p.m. – SCREENPLAY LIVE TABLE READ
PUDDIN’ w/ SCREENWRITER Q&A
Screenplay By: Lauryn Massenburg
A 10-year-old navigates her relationship with her charming but oblivious grandpa as his flirting leads to a meltdown, a locked baby in the car, and an old family trick saving the day.
This year’s recipient of the Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay, Lauryn Massenburg is a writer, director, producer, and recent MFA screenwriting graduate of UNC School of the Arts.
Free, Ticket Required
3:15 p.m. – FILM BLOCK: A Whole New World
A collection of animated short films in competition that effectively convey important messages about relationships, growth, resilience, and the power of dreams. The block is followed by a 20 minute Q&A with filmmakers.
Dembaya (Directed By: Borja Espana Guillot)
Provisions (Directed By: Kheyal Roy-Meighoo)
Beyond (Directed By: Raquel Salvatella de Prada)
Worry World (Directed By: Jessica Patterson)
Hero’s Journey (Directed By: Ash Suh and Wes Smith)
The Sun is Bad (Directed By: Sum Yee Rachel Mow)
4:00 p.m. – FILMMAKER RECEPTION
Chatham Street Wine Market
By Invitation Only.
Sponsored by DigitalP Media
5:30 p.m. – FILM BLOCK: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…
A collection of quirky short films in competition filled with unconventional and remarkable escapades that are simultaneously captivating and perplexing. The block is followed by a 20 minute Q&A with filmmakers.
Cow (Directed By: Joe Appel and Tristan Alkemper)
Wizard Therapy (Directed By: Jake Mah and Gabriel Warren)
Titty Boy (Directed By: Austin Ford Franklin Culp)
Shannon is Strange (Directed By: Don Hessell and Alan LaFave)
My Boyfriend Stole My Kidney (Directed By: Coven)
7:00 p.m. – FILMMAKER MeetUp
The Cary Theater, Upper Lobby, 2nd Floor
FREE
Hosted by the New Carolinas Film Collective
8:00 p.m. – Can I Kick It? Kill Bill, VOL. 1
SPECIAL PROGRAM: Live Score by Shaolin Jazz
Sponsored by 3 Chambers Fest
The Tarantino classic with a live score, as a pregnant assassin, code-named The Bride goes into a coma for four years after her ex-boss Bill brutally attacks her. She wakes up and sets out to seek revenge.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
11:00 a.m. – FILMMAKERS AWARDS BRUNCH
The Mayton
By Invitation Only.
1:00 p.m. – BEST OF BEYOND
FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS
We cap off the weekend by screening the festival’s top films as recognized by our juries and audiences. These films have captivated audiences and showcased exceptional talent in the categories: Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Student Short, Best N.C. Filmmaker Short, and People’s Choice Award.
4:00 p.m. – Luther: Never Too Much
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Directed by: Dawn Porter
Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from friends and musical collaborators: Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, and Roberta Flack. The film relives the many stunning moments of his award-winning career, while exploring his personal life, health struggles, and lifelong battle to earn respect.
