Due to time constraints, the program schedule will vary by theater and screening. To see which films are playing at your community theater, simply click on the appropriate theater location.
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Oktapodi By Julien Bocabeille, Francois-Xavier Chanious, Olivier Delbarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin Marmier and Emud Mokhberi 2 minutes France
The Academy Award nominated story of an octopi couple and the adventure that ensues when they are separated.
The "Oktapodi" team formed with the goal of making a funny and fast-paced cartoon with a crescendo like rhythm. The choice of octopi as protagonist characters was based not only on the comical situations which they lend themselves to, but also on the unique challenges that they pose both from a technical and a character animation standpoint.
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Goldfish Joe Wein 13 minutes United States
Two girls. One mission. A lot of fish.
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Incident at Tower 37 Chris Perry 10 minutes United States
In the middle of a dry, desolate landscape stands Tower 37: a shimmering water processing station, siphoning every last drop of water from a once pristine lake. Day in and day out the station's lone steward monitors the tower's activities, never realizing that Tower 37 is slowly destroying an entire ecosystem. But when two unexpected guests arrive, the tower's operator learns the high cost of his ignorance.
"The Incident at Tower 37" leverages the power of allegory to foster a debate about the ownership, use, and exhaustion of natural resources.
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Change a Life: with Martin Dreyer Gert Ungerer 27 minutes South Africa
Seven times Dusi Canoe Challenge Champion and South Africa's Multi-Sport King, Martin Dreyer, has demonstrated how to change lives. In October 2008 he launched his Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy with what seemed an impossible dream - to groom 10 Dusi Valley youngsters (with hardly any previous paddling experience) to become leaders in the Dusi Canoe Challenge.
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Lost and Found Phillip Hunt 25 minutes England
"Lost and Found" is the beautiful story based on Oliver Jeffers's award winning children's picture book.
"'Lost and Found' tells the tale of a boy who wakes up one day to find a penguin on his doorstep. The two embark on an adventure together as the boy becomes determined to help the penguin get home-- even if it means rowing all the way to the South Pole." From Gavin Lucas of Creative Review.
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Gone Fishing Chris Jones 13 minutes England
"Gone Fishing" is the touching story of a boy and old man coming to terms with bereavement through their shared love of fishing and the legend of Goliath, the biggest pike ever caught!
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Heather and Goliath Thea Louise Parker 8 minutes United States
"Heather and Goliath" is a humorous and inspiring short film in which people risk their livelihood or freedom in order to stand for what they feel is right. "At the time I was not thinking I was putting my career on the line," quips Heather Wylie, the Army Corps whistle blower. "The river is one of our most important natural resources, and it needed to be protected."
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Pier Paul Bonesteel 9 minutes United States
Ocean Crest pier overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on North Carolina's Oak Island. A haven for hardcore pier fisherman, retirees, transients and tourists, "Pier" captures thoughts and images from a single day in the life of a classic American scene.
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Take ECO-Action! Frank Gould 9 minutes United States
"Take ECO-Action!" is a film about the work of a Central Florida volunteer organization that hosts weekly waterway cleanups. Volunteers pick up trash that can be both harmful and deadly to wildlife.
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Ride of the Mergansers Steve Furman 11 minutes United States
The Hooded Merganser is a rare and reclusive duck found only in North America. Every spring, in the Great Lakes region, the wary hen lays and incubates her eggs in a nest high in the trees. Just 24 hours after hatching, the tiny ducklings must make the perilous leap to the ground below to begin life in the wild.
This age-old rite is rarely observed by humans. "Ride of the Mergansers", an 11-minute wildlife documentary, brings this hidden drama to the screen. Filmed entirely in northern Minnesota, "Ride of the Mergansers" is a heartwarming blend of natural history, humor and suspense. You'll be entertained, educated, and inspired- and leave with a newfound appreciation of the phrase "leap of faith."
A crowd favorite, "Ride of the Mergansers" will be shown at the Raleigh matinee, as well as in Kinston, Oriental and Wilson.
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Your River: The Lower Neuse River Watershed Tom and Angela Swift of Awaken Pictures United States
Larry Baldwin, the Lower Neuse RIVERKEEPER®, takes you on a stunning visual tour along the watershed of the widest-mouthed river in the Continental US.
"Your River" will be shown in New Bern, Kinston and Oriental.
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Gimme Green Isaac Brown and Eric Flagg 30 minutes United States
"Gimme Green" is a humorous look at the American obsession with the residential lawn and the effects it has on our environment, our wallets and our outlook on life. From the limitless subdivisions of Florida to sod farms in the arid southwest, "Gimme Green" peers behind the curtain of the $40-billion industry that fuels our nation's largest irrigated crop-- the lawn.
A favorite at last year's festival, "Gimme Green" will be screened at our newest location, Wilson, NC.
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Beneath the Blue Art Howard 20 minutes United States
"Dive into the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where deep-sea coral thrives and creates a diverse habitat that has been described as looking like a 'land where Dr. Seuss went crazy.' This stunning production takes you, via submersible, to the center of an ancient ecosystem that lives thousands of feet below the surface of the Gulf Streat waters." From the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Local videographer Art Howard will be at the Raleigh Matinee screening to introduce his film.
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Student Documentaries Carnage, Centennial and Exploris Middle School students 5-7 minutes each
For the first time ever, we teamed up with local educators and asked students to create short documentaries about the Neuse River. One winning film from each school will be shown at the Raleigh Matinee Film Festival screening.
