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.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, September 21, 2023

2:00 P.M. – THE STONES & BRIAN JONES

ADVANCE SCREENING

Directed by: Nick Broomfield

Featuring revealing interviews with all the main players and unseen archive footage, this film explores the creative genius and contributions of Jones, uncovering how the founder of what became the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band was left behind in the shadows of history.

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7:00 P.M. – IN THE BUBBLE WITH JAIME

OPENING NIGHT FILM w/ FILMMAKER Q&A

Directed By: Emily Harrold

This film follows Jaime Harrison in his run for U.S. Senate in South Carolina against Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham amidst a global pandemic and legacy of racial injustice that makes winning an uphill battle. Presented in partnership with the Southern Documentary Fund.

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8:15 P.M. – OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

BREW COFFEE BAR

Included with Opening Night Film ticket.

Friday, September 22, 2023

10:00 A.M. – CRASH COURSE IN SCENES

WORKSHOP

Instructors: Joy Goodwin & Ron Stacker Thompson

We can’t write a good screenplay without great scenes. After just 90 minutes, participants will gain critical professional tools to improve scene writing.

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12:15 P.M. – FILM BLOCK – SOCIETY + PRESSURE

A collection of short films that examine the unrealistic expectations and complicated choices women endure to prove their worthiness.

SELL THE GIRL

Directed by: Natalie Burchert

(USA | 2022 | 11 min)

Down on her luck during the 2008 recession, portrait artist Lorena answers an ad for a young female painter. When wealthy Madam requests to livestream Lorena’s life in exchange for a fruitful career, she takes the bait and finds that her viewers have their own demands.

BABYFACE

Directed by: Sannah Kim

(USA | 2023 | 20 min)

Teenage sisters Eden and Lux navigate their competitive relationship over the course of a Halloween party filled with glitter, confrontation, and blackouts.

SCOTTY’S VAG

Directed by: Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz

(USA | 2022 | 15 min)

A college freshman goes outside her comfort zone to impress the older girl she wants as her sorority “big.”

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2:30 P.M. – SLOANE: A JAZZ SINGER

SPECIAL PROGRAM w/ FILMMAKER Q&A

Directed by: Michael Lippert

This film chronicles the career of little-known jazz legend Carol Sloane, who, despite having toured and performed with some of the greatest names in 20th century American music, is still chasing artistic perfection at age of 82. Hers is a heart-wrenching, hopeful, and beautiful story of faith in the face of trials and tragedy. It is also an homage to a uniquely American art form. Q&A and panel discussion follows.

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3:00 P.M. – THE PITCH & FUNDING YOUR FILM

CONVERSATION: FINANCIALS OF FILMMAKING

Panelists: Christopher Everett (Southern Documentary Fund, Speller Street Films), Erika Arlee & Kristi Ray (Honey Head Films), Doug McKeon (actor, director, screenwriter)

Moderator: Camden Watts (filmmaker)

Pitching projects takes time, effort, and persistence. With the right preparation and approach, filmmakers can increase their chances of securing the financial support you need to bring your vision to life.

Limited seating – first come, first served.

4:00 P.M. – FILMMAKER RECEPTION

RBF CHAMPAGNE BAR

By Invitation Only.

5:30 P.M. – FILM BLOCK – LISTEN + THINK

A collection of short films that approach life changing and tragic situations with humor, necessity, and compassion.

RUN AMOK

Directed by: Nitzan Mager

(USA | 2023 | 12 min)

Meg, professional teacher’s pet and amateur harpist, decides to stage a full, musical reenactment of the shooting that took place at her high school in honor of the 10-year anniversary.

FIREFLIES SAVE THE NIGHT

Directed by: A.J. Riggins

(USA | 2022 | 11 min)

Hiding in a bedroom closet, an embattled teenager comforts his younger sister and discusses the purpose of fireflies before finding a solution to his family’s misery.

DISTANCE CONSCIENCE

Directed by: Sam Henselijn

(Israel | 2022 | 11 min)

A military reservist on duty at the Israel-Syrian border is forced to withstand two refugees on his own.

BITE OF BENIN

Directed by: Brad Herring, Adé Carrena

(USA | 2023 | 36 min)

Adé travels home to understand her African heritage and reclaim her identity through food and the Béninese women who mean a lot to her. She learns food is not solely about sustenance but also embedded in our identity.

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8:00 P.M. – FILM BLOCK – TRUTH + FICTION

A collection of short films that explore dystopian worlds, historical inequalities, and our darkest fears.

LUNGS

Directed by: Kieran Moreira

(USA | 2022 | 11 min)

In the near future, when environmental disaster threatens humanity and oxygen is scarce, Satchel, a former baseball pitcher, must fight to survive after turning her back on a group of violent murderers who are now hot on her heels.

THE VOICE IN ISABEL FLEISS’ OFFICE

Directed by: Jim Haverkamp

(USA | 2022 | 6 min)

A woman with an unusual malady – cobweb buildup in the throat – receives an even more unusual treatment in this adaptation of a surreal poem by North Carolina writer Virgil Renfroe.

SAMMY WITHOUT STRINGS

Directed by: Ralph Parker, III

(USA | 2022 | 16 min)

When a Black puppet named Sammy, performing at the hands of his malevolent Puppeteer, falls in love with a woman in his audience, he sets his sights on freedom from his strings to live a life of dignity and humanity with her.

I WAS BORN IN 1988

Directed by: Yasaman Baghban

(USA | 2022 | 9 min)

This film is an experimental documentary and personal essay based on the series of executions of Iranian political prisoners in the summer of 1988.

IN THE MATCHBOX

Directed by: Mike Rae Anderson

(USA | 2023 | 11 min)

Uncle Wendell shares a centuries old family secret with his great nephews. If the secret gets out, it can affect and infect the entire world. Literally.

SUGA BROWN

Directed by: Clarke Phillips

(USA | 2022 | 18 min)

In a world where free health care requires genetic alterations, a pregnant woman, Eden, must go to extreme lengths to ensure her child is born free of mandated modification.

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Saturday, September 23, 2023

10:00 A.M. – HOW NOT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY

WORKSHOP

Instructor: Ron Stacker Thompson

Formatting your screenplay is both a necessity and an art. In this 90-minute crash course, learn the thought process behind formatting conventions. As the title says, plan to learn what NOT to do to avoid common mistakes that make work seem amateurish.

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11:00 A.M. – BUILDING YOUR CREW & FAIR PAY

CONVERSATION: FINANCIALS OF FILMMAKING

Panelists: Erika Arlee & Kristi Ray (Honey Head Films), Sara Elizabeth Timmins (Life Out Loud Films)

Moderator: Camden Watts (filmmaker)

Assembling a team can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Where do we find crew members? How much should we pay them? Learn how to find the right people for your team – on any budget – and start filming.

Limited seating – first come, first served.

12:15 P.M. – FILM BLOCK – LOVE + LAUGHTER

A collection of short films that explore the highs and lows of relationships and the humorous – and sometimes surprising – journey they can take us on.

SONATA

Directed by: Madison Crisp, Abby Davenport, Fern Singleton, Vic Sosa

(USA | 2022 | 7 min)

When a blackout derails a young man’s plans for the perfect first date, he must navigate his nerves, the heat, and a mischievous gang of shadows if he has any hope of connecting with the girl of his dreams.

SUNKIST & NINTH

Directed by: Jonathan Kemp

(USA | 2023 | 4 min)

An original musical presenting the hectic and fun story of two lovers.

LOVESTRUCK

Directed by: Zachary Echols

(USA | 2022 | 8 min)

Jax, a young video store attendant, comes face to face with an unlikely patron, a young lady who is either his biggest romantic fantasy or worst nightmare.

A TWISTFUL OF DOLLARS

Directed by: Kevin Murray

(USA | 2023 | 18 min)

In this visually rich short, two rival balloon twisters engage in an epic duel at a kid’s birthday party, with hilarious and magical results. It’s high noon — with balloons!

FATIH THE CONQUEROR

Directed by: Onur Yagiz

(France | 2023 | 15 min)

Fatih, and his best friends, Murat and Recep, huddle in a car in the parking lot of a Turkish wedding venue. A series of unfortunate events unfold as Fatih decides to propose to Recep’s sister that night, with an unexpected person’s help.

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1:00 P.M. – LUNE SPARK SCREENWRITING

WORKSHOP: FOR KIDS AGES 7-16

Presented by: Lune Spark

Instructor: Adam Ingram Perry

For youth with a compelling idea itching to come to life on the screen, this 2-hour screenwriting workshop is designed to assist you in transforming your concept into a real screenplay. An ideal initiation to the world of screenwriting, tailored for beginners.

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3:00 P.M. – SCREENPLAY LIVE TABLE READ

INFINITY CARE w/ SCREENWRITER Q&A

By: Autumn Karen

A mother and her 3 year-old daughter with disabilities connect in tender, ordinary moments through an extraordinary futuristic service that defies corporal limitations. Festival Grand Jury Award-Winner.

Free, Ticket Required.

3:30 P.M. – LUNE SPARK STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP w/ LUNE SPARK

A collection of films from local youth filmmakers sure to wow audiences.

Limited seating – first come, first served.

4:00 P.M. – FILMMAKER RECEPTION

Chatham Street Wine Market

By Invitation Only.

5:00 P.M. – FILM BLOCK – ADJUSTING + BELONGING

A collection of short films that encourage connection despite the challenges life can often present.

PROCESSING MAGIC

Directed by: Vale Stanley, Jo Knorpp

(USA | 2022 | 4 min)

When a dragon takes his first foray into wizard school, he, and those around him, soon discover that not everyone learns magic the same way.

CURTSY

Directed by: Nicole Triche

(USA | 2023 | 27 min)

A small-town dance studio plans to celebrate its 50th year. Unfortunately, that year is 2020. Follow a dance teacher in her 70s as she faces the challenges.

ORIENT

Directed by: Fatima Wardy

(USA | 2023| 10 min)

A Sudanese immigrant’s first night in America goes wrong, when he can’t figure out the direction of the Qibla in order to pray.

MA’S KITCHEN

Directed by: Debbie Vu

(Iran | 2022 | 12 min)

A semi-autobiographical short about the director, her mother, their language barrier, and their struggle between two very different cultures, Vietnamese and American.

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6:45 P.M. – HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR FILM

CONVERSATION: FINANCIALS OF FILMMAKING

Participant: Christopher Everett (Speller Street Films)

Moderator: Charlon Turner Everett (N.C. Black Film Festival)

You’ve completed your film, now you have a product to generate revenue from. Discover creative ways to raise awareness, engage audiences, and make money with your project beyond streaming and theatrical runs.

Limited seating – first come, first served.

8:00 P.M. – MEMORIES OF YOU: SONGS & LETTERS FROM CAROL SLOANE

SPECIAL PROGRAM: LIVE JAZZ SHOW

Featuring: Kate McGarry, Shana Tucker, Natalie Douglas

Musical Director & Pianist: Christian Tamburr

This  live concert celebrates the music of iconic jazz vocalist Carol Sloane. On the heels of Friday’s screening of award-winning documentary, Sloane: A Jazz Singer, go from screen to stage with three renowned singers to hear how her vocal legacy inspires new generations of jazz artists everywhere.

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Sunday, September 24, 2023

11:00 A.M. – FILMMAKERS AWARDS BRUNCH

The Mayton

By Invitation Only.

2:00 P.M. – BEST OF BEYOND

FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

We cap off the weekend by screening the festival’s top films as recognized by our judging committee as well as the people’s choice favorite.

Winners announced at 12:30 P.M. on Sept. 24.

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5:00 P.M. – THE STONES & BRIAN JONES

ADVANCE SCREENING

Directed by: Nick Broomfield

Featuring revealing interviews with all the main players and unseen archive footage, this film explores the creative genius and contributions of Jones, uncovering how the founder of what became the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band was left behind in the shadows of history.

Get Tickets

Date: September 21-24, 2023

Location: The Cary Theater - 122 East Chatham Street Cary, NC 27511

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