76 Days Adrift
Steven Callahan’s solo passage across the Atlantic Ocean was upended when a whale collided with his boat, and he was left stranded on an inflatable raft drifting towards the Americas. For 76 harrowing days, Steven reckoned with his own limitations and connected with his natural surroundings to survive against all odds.
A New Perspective Shorts
When going through the hundreds of short documentary film submissions we received, a theme emerged, highlighting the incredible resilience of the human spirit even in the face of tragedy or difficulty. This documentary shorts block celebrates humanity and the need for us all to look at life with a new perspective.
Above the Clouds
An ambitious owlet yearns to fly above the clouds despite his shortcomings but keeps falling short, only to find that all he needed was an unexpected glide down the mountainside.
All That We Love
Following the death of her family dog, Emma finds herself at a crossroads where grief and release play together. A midlife awakening is now in full throttle, and those closest to Emma feel the impact, including her best friend Stan and her rambunctious daughter Maggie. To make matters more complicated and ripe for comedic mishaps, Emma’s estranged ex-husband Andy returns to the city from Singapore down on his professional luck and aiming to rekindle things
Always Looking: Titus Brooks Heagins
“Always Looking” explores the work of Durham photographer Titus Brooks Heagins and the challenging questions his photos pose about the systemic and casual exclusions and neglect of society’s most vulnerable communities of color.
American Coup: Wilmington 1898
AMERICAN COUP: WILMINGTON 1898 tells the little-known story of a race massacre and coup d’état in Wilmington, North Carolina, in which White supremacists overthrew the multi-racial “Fusion” government of North Carolina’s largest city through a coordinated campaign of violence and intimidation that destroyed Black political and economic power and imposed white control.
American Dream No More
From his upbringing in the Jim Crow South to Harvard, Deon, a Native American college professor, reflects on the struggles and triumphs of growing up Lumbee in a world that often refused to see him fully—navigating the weight of systemic inequalities while carrying the cultural richness of his heritage.
Animated Shorts 2025: Program 1
RiverRun’s Academy Award®-qualifying Animated Shorts Program showcases a vibrant collection of imaginative storytelling and artistic innovation. From hand-drawn wonders to cutting-edge digital creations, these films push the boundaries of animation while delivering heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking narratives.
Animated Shorts 2025: Program 2
RiverRun’s Academy Award®-qualifying Animated Shorts Program showcases a vibrant collection of imaginative storytelling and artistic innovation. From hand-drawn wonders to cutting-edge digital creations, these films push the boundaries of animation while delivering heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking narratives.
Anxiety Club
“Anxiety Club” provides an intimate and humorous look at anxiety through the eyes and minds of some of the most brilliant comedians working today. Tiffany Jenkins, Joe List, Marc Maron, Aparna Nancherla, Mark Normand, Baron Vaughn, and Eva Victor offer candid reflections on their relationship with anxiety through exclusive interviews, standup performances, sketch videos, therapy, and everyday life.
As We Are
“As We Are” sheds light on several neurodiverse adults grappling with challenges while pursuing their goals to live independently.
At See
A group of blind travelers navigate a commercial cruise ship with their guide dogs.
Bar
BAR offers an unprecedented look into the world of elite bartending and the hospitality industry, following five students on their journey to join the ranks of the best bar professionals in the world. The film captures the passion, craft, and diversity behind some of the world’s most exceptional bars and the professionals who run them, highlighting their commitment to excellence and the vibrant community they form.
Battersea
Estranged siblings reconvene at their childhood home, where they spend a precarious weekend drinking and talking while uncovering the narratives and secrets that have shaped their lives.
Blue Velvet
To celebrate the life of acclaimed director David Lynch, we are partnering with the UNCSA Archives (one of the top archives in the country) to show their 35mm print of this cult classic. The discovery of a severed human ear in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.
