Nestled within the rich cultural tapestry of North Carolina lies a cinematic gem – the North Carolina Film Festival – an institution devoted to fortifying the pillars of the independent film, television, and video industry. With unwavering dedication, we traverse the breadth of our state, our region, and beyond, tirelessly seeking out the most exceptional talents and their captivating creations. Here, within the hallowed halls of our festival, features and shorts converge, creating a kaleidoscope of artistic expression that transcends boundaries and celebrates the diversity of creative voices.

As the sun sets over the picturesque landscapes of North Carolina, the world’s attention turns to our thriving cinematic hub, a magnet for motion pictures and talent from every corner of the globe. In this fertile ground for creativity, dreams take flight, fueled by the fervent desire for recognition and acclaim. Our prestigious awards serve as beacons, guiding the aspirations of filmmakers towards the pinnacle of their craft, shining a spotlight on the brightest stars in the industry. It is our privilege, our honor, to transform these dreams into reality, to bestow upon a deserving cadre of independent craftsmen the recognition they so richly deserve.

The journey of the North Carolina Film Festival is a testament to resilience and evolution, a saga that began in the quaint town of Chapel Hill in 1974. Over the decades, it weathered storms and embraced change, finding refuge under the auspices of the North Carolina Museum of Art and later, reinventing itself as the North Carolina Film and Video Festival. In 2010, the spirit of the original festival was revived with the inception of the North Carolina Film Awards, a beacon of excellence in the digital realm. And in 2018, the festival found its rightful home at the historic New Bern Civic Theatre, reclaiming its mantle as the North Carolina Film Festival, where it continues to weave the rich tapestry of cinematic brilliance for generations to come.