Raleigh Film Festival – Celebrating 10 Years

By Antino Art

Raleigh Film and Art Festival

Celebrating 10 Years of Giving Homegrown Talent the Red Carpet Treatment

Raleigh isn’t Hollywood. We don’t have the megawatt draw of a big-name metropolis. No bridge with a golden billing. No needle-shaped monument from the space age. And that’s fine. Our humble hometown is more of an indie arthouse film. Like something you might have seen at the 2022 Raleigh Film and Art Festival at NC State’s centennial campus. As the largest event of its kind in the state, the film festival is an expression of our hyperlocal culture.

You won’t find big-budget special effects or superhero fanfare. Just a thriving scene of talent you’ve never heard of – writers, directors, actors, animators, poets – all telling the stories that never make it into the national spotlight. Until now.

Not for Fame or Fortune

“It’s an opportunity for all types of artists to share their gifts and perspectives on a large platform”, said DS Will, a multi-disciplinary creative based in Raleigh who serves as the PR Chair and Director of Poetry for the festival.

Now in its 10th year, the non-profit festival showcased more than 200 films from more than 20 countries, including original works by local filmmakers.

Aniya Bourne, who moved to Chapel Hill when she was eight, is one of them. “I never wanted to make videos for fame or money based on what’s trending,” said Bourne, a full-time filmmaker who took home the coveted Quasar award in her festival debut. “My focus is putting my heart into projects that educate, inspire, or give back to the community.”

Bourne’s portfolio includes a poetry docu-feature she shot and directed for Voices 2 Reel, a program sponsored by the festival where spoken word artists under 18 are invited to perform in front of the camera and have their poetry turned into a piece of cinema.

Nali Katana Antonio – a 7-year-old artist based in Raleigh – is its youngest star. Her award-winning poetry painting was featured on the big screen as part of this year’s Voices 2 Reel lineup. “[The event] is important because you get to create and use your imagination,” said Antonio. Voices 2 Reel is just one of many ways the festival transcends film and brings the community together. Beyond first-run screenings, the weekend included live music, local vendors, visual art exhibitions, and spoken word performances as part of the 10th anniversary celebration.

Driven by Community

Will said that the spirit of the event has always been a grassroots commitment to supporting and celebrating local talent. “What sets us apart is how localized and accessible we are,” said DS. “Whether you’re a filmmaker, artist, sponsor, or fan, there are many ways to get involved.”

And there’s none of the exclusive gatekeeping you might find in a big city market. Anyone with a film and a vision can apply year-round on the website for a chance to have their work featured next year.

Will credits the festival’s staying power to its visionary founder, artist Christopher Terrell, who built the key relationships necessary for sustainable growth.

Beyond the Big Screen

Since its inception, the festival has expanded its presence to marquee venues like Dorothea Dix Park for their Arts on the Hill event series, Paragon Theaters for their opening night ceremonies, and a newly minted partnership with Lotus Cinemas for exclusive showings.

The festival has also gained industry recognition, including a spot among Film Freeway’s top-100 best reviewed festivals in the world.

More than the acclaim, Will said the true reward is the impact that individuals, especially the youth, take away from the experience. “For filmmakers and artists, I’ve seen it increase the esteem and belief in what they do,” said Will. “For the general public, it opens your mind to new perspectives and sparks the latent creativity that’s dormant within you.”

Breaking Down Barriers

Aniya Bourne echoes Will’s sentiments, citing the Triangle’s abundance of peer support as key to the growth of her artistry. “Everyone here is genuinely interested in uplifting and supporting one another,” said Bourne. “There’s no negative competition. It motivates me to push myself.”

A case in point is her new collaboration project with DS Will entitled Kings, a poetry-driven stage play written, directed, and performed by Will (alongside a cast of local poets) and filmed by Bourne in front of a live audience.

Unlike Anything You’ve Seen

Kings was among many tentpole titles that premiered at the festival. Other works included Raleigh, I Kinda Like You, a satirical rom-com told in improv skits; an animated allegorical short called Bolero Station; and a cultural documentary on Black Gospel music as the voice of social change called From the Soul.

Will encourages more people to get involved in next year’s festival and support the artists who make our community vibrant. “It’s an explosion of creativity that’s different from what you’re used to seeing,” said Will.

In Raleigh, we don’t have to be Hollywood material. Because we’re different. But for one weekend, we’ll got our name on the marquee.

For more info on the Raleigh Film and Arts Festival: www.raleighfilmandartfestival.com www.instagram.com/raleighfilmandartfestival DS Will: www.instagram.com/ifyouwontdswill

Antino Art is a copywriter for VisionPoint Marketing (www.visionpointmarketing.com) and a poet whose work has appeared in the Heron Clan and Triangle Poetry (https://trianglepoetry.com) among other places.