Wilmington-filmed ‘Pretty Ugly’ named headliner for Cucalorus Film Festival
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — “Pretty Ugly,” a dramatic thriller set and filmed in Wilmington, will headline the 32nd annual Cucalorus Film Festival, organizers announced Wednesday.
The film, directed by Erica Dunton, will screen Nov. 21 at Thalian Hall as part of the festival, which runs Nov. 19-22 in Wilmington.
“Pretty Ugly” stars Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jazzy De Lisser and Mary Stuart Masterson. The film follows a cosmetology student and her mother whose lives are disrupted when a high-profile local influencer returns to town and a murder occurs.
The festival will open Nov. 19 with Dance-a-lorus at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center. The event pairs filmmakers and choreographers for performances combining film and dance.
Organizers also announced that the festival will use the Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center as a hub for activities this year. Other participating venues include Jengo’s Playhouse, the Wilson Center, Thalian Hall, the Rift and Hi-Wire Brewing.
On Nov. 22, the Coastline Center will host a screening of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” with live accompaniment by Shaolin Jazz.
Other films announced as part of the early selections include “Henry’s Ebb,” featuring Wilmington native Banks Repeta; “Capsized,” directed by Lindsey Ryan and produced in Wilmington last year; and “The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight,” directed by Theodore Schaefer.
Early documentary selections include “Clovers” by Jacob Hatley, “A City in the Forest” by Lev Omelchenko and “Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story” by Ayden Mayeri.
The early short-film selections include Josephine Decker’s “Stable Marriage” and Mary Dauterman’s “Runs.”
More than 1,600 films are being considered for this year’s festival, with more than 60 judges expected to finalize selections in the coming weeks.
Organizers said the full festival lineup is expected to be released in early October.
The festival will also hold a volunteer orientation Sept. 14 at Jengo’s Playhouse.
