Cucalorus program to feature ‘Hazing’ documentary and filmmaker discussion

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cucalorus Film Foundation, Working Films and the Documentary Accountability Working Group are inviting the public to a Works-in-Progress Showcase this week at Jengo’s Playhouse in Wilmington.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. and will feature a screening of Byron Hurt’s documentary “Hazing,” followed by a conversation with filmmakers and mentors Byron Hurt and Natalie Bullock Brown.

According to organizers, the documentary examines hazing culture and the rituals tied to it, including practices that can be humiliating, violent and sometimes deadly. The film also looks at issues including power, masculinity, binge drinking and institutional coverups.

Organizers say the discussion after the screening will focus on the filmmaking process and the broader social issues surrounding hazing culture.

The event also highlights the Cucalorus Works-in-Progress Lab, a program that supports social justice documentaries with a focus on Black storytelling. Organizers say the lab brings emerging and established filmmakers from across the country to Wilmington for a weeklong residency that includes workshops, mentorship and consultations with teams from Working Films, Cucalorus and the Documentary Accountability Working Group, along with documentary film mentors.

Participants receive feedback on unfinished projects, explore accountability practices and develop strategies for connecting audiences with their films, according to organizers.

The showcase is intended to give the public a chance to see films connected to the program and hear directly from the artists and mentors involved.

Tickets are $10.