What to see at this week’s Charlotte Film Festival, with one-sentence previews
Today kicks off the 10th annual Charlotte Film Festival, one of the city’s most popular festivals. This year’s event, which goes from Sept. 26-30, will feature different narratives and documentaries, all submitted by emerging filmmakers in and around the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.
Film showings will be at Ayrsley Grand Cinemas 14. The festival schedule and tickets are available here. A general admission ticket is $10 ($9 for students) and an all-access pass is $150.
There will be nearly 100 films featured this year. Here’s a sampling of 11 of my picks, complete with a one-sentence synopsis.
“Little Woods” directed by Nia DaCosta’s
A woman who’s been illicitly helping residents access Canadian healthcare and medication continues her work after a cry for help from her sister. (Fun fact: this is the festival’s opening night film.)
Screenin: Special Presentation
Date: Sept. 26, 2018
Time: 7:30PM
“A New Beginning” directed by Erik Lauer
A photographer losing his eyesight takes one final trip to photograph the vistas of the world, followed by an unexpected memory that helps him move on.
Screening: Student’s short
Date: Sept. 30, 2018
Time: 12:00PM
“An Act of Terror” directed by Ashley Paige Brim
This film captures the true story of 16-year-old Virginia Christian who was accused of murder in the Jim Crow South.
Screening: Narrative short
Date: Sept. 29, 2018
Time: 2:40PM
“People You May Know” directed by Louisa Fielden
A woman uses Facebook to track down her first love 11 years after their breakup.
Screening: Narrative Short
Date: Sept. 29, 2018
Time: 2:40PM
“Selective Memory”
After a traumatic loss, a young woman discovers a pill that erases her worst memories.
Screening: Student Shorts Block
Date: Sept. 30, 2018
Time: 12:30PM
“Meanders” by Tereza Srbova
Set in different centuries, two lovers who refrain from sharing their true feelings might need artificial intelligence to lead them out of a loop of their altered destinies.
Screening: Narrative shorts
Date: Sept. 29, 2018
Time: 12:30PM
“In the Pursuit of Justice” directed by Gregg Jamback
A man who walked past a brutally beaten body in 1991 continues to fight the North Carolina criminal justice system to undo his wrongful conviction.
Screening: Documentary
Date: September 28, 2018
Time: 7PM
Me (with You) by Jim McQuaid
A seven-sentence love story features acquaintance, intimacy, love, commitment and loss.
Screening: Narrative shorts
Date: Sept. 29, 2018
Time: 12:30PM
“Shoplifters” directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
After one of their shoplifting sessions, a family finds and shelters a little girl after learning of the hardships she faced.
Screening: Charlotte Film Society Special Presentation
Date: Sept. 30, 2018
Time: 6:45PM
“The Replacement” directed by Sean Miller
A janitor whose clone becomes the newly elected president faces prejudice, dismissal and classism while in his fight to justice.
Screening: Narrative short
Date: Sept. 28, 2018
Time: 9:25PM
“Valerie Morgan: TV Qualified”
A girl works to find a job in the medical field, based solely on her obsession with medical TV shows
Screening: Student Short
Date: Sept. 30
Time: 12:30PM
This story was originally published September 26, 2018 at 2:00 AM with the headline "What to see at this week’s Charlotte Film Festival, with one-sentence previews."