Death of James, The
Based on a true story, “The Death of James” tells the unique journey of two young friends grappling with mortality as they are confronted with the impending loss of a cherished pet ferret. Humorous, awkward, and deeply heartbreaking, the film takes an unflinching look at death, loss, euthanasia, and the uncertainties that may or may not follow.
Derby
In Derby, Kansas, summer is coming to an end, and nine-year old Percy is confronted with the harsh reality of his mother’s addiction. Student Film – Columbia University.
Devil is Busy, The
As the director of operations and security of a clinic in Atlanta, Tracy doesn’t take any chances when it comes to the safety of both the patients and the staff. Executive produced by Soledad O’Brien and directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton, this short documentary is an eye-opening portrayal of the shifting landscape for abortion providers in America.
Dragfox
Sam’s search for identity gets interrupted by a mysterious neighbourhood fox. Together, they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they might have in common, and how to celebrate the ways in which they differ.
Éiru
Éiru is the smallest child in an Iron-Age clan. All she wants is to be a mighty warrior who is taken seriously by her kinfolk. But when the village’s well mysteriously dries up, only she is small enough to descend into the belly of the earth to investigate and bring the water of life back to her people.
Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting
An allegorical, 1930s-set, coming-of-age fable about mothers, daughters, & the beasts they hunt.
Etherea
Cloud formations converge and transform into shapes of two transient dancers in the sky. The beautifully surreal illusion displays the ephemeral nature of relationships and life.
Films With Class Shorts Program 2025 – Elementary School
Teaching through film. RiverRun recognizes the unique and critical role arts education plays in reaching students both inside and outside the classroom. Through our free education program, Films With Class, we present free screenings of carefully curated films for area students at the Festival each spring. Sponsored by Duke Energy and The Lovett Foundation.
Five Seasons of My Childhood
A journey through childhood memories brings nostalgia full of pain and love. Nothing is as it was in childhood; only memories roam freely and illuminate in retrospect.
Five Star
“Five Star” tells the story of Soung Kang, a diligent locksmith and first-generation immigrant whose quest for a perfect score from his client Maya leads him into an unexpected adventure. Called on an unusual job—to keep Maya’s closet door shut for good—Soung discovers a dark secret in the house that challenges him to go to extraordinary lengths to secure his five-star review.
For Every Breath
A young girl goes on an illicit scavenger hunt to find medication for her strung-out grandmother.
Freeman Vines
82-year-old Freeman Vines built his first guitar when he was 16 and since then has been trying to reproduce an elusive sound the instrument made. Now living in Fountain, a town of 130 souls in eastern North Carolina, Vines hand-carves guitars and objects that speak to his lifelong conflict with racism in this region. When he acquired a stack of lumber from a tree used in the lynching of a young Black man named Oliver
Gilbert
Gilbert and Sullivan are inhabitants of a small archipelago in the middle of the ocean, where Sullivan is a trumpeter and Gilbert distributes packages with his gondola. But one day, Gilbert decides to keep a package that was intended for his neighbor.
Giving Mom the Talk
In this literal “coming”-of-age story, an Indian daughter gives her mom “the talk.”
Golden Boy, The
A family drama about a non-verbal, autistic, six-year-old boy who, with the help of his older sister, proves that his high support needs can’t stop his potential.
