Real to Reel Film Festival

01/14/2026

Our friends from the North Carolina Thespians are presenting the NC Filmworks Festival on Saturday, January 24 at 12:30pm at Triangle Cinemas in Raleigh! Visit https://www.ncthespians.org/ncfilmworks.html to learn more

12/31/2025

The regular deadline to submit your film to the Real to Reel Film Festival is Feb. 2. The Real to Reel Film Festival is scheduled to take place July 22-25 in Kings Mountain, NC.

🎬 More Info: https://bit.ly/49hXwWu

12/08/2025

This is a wonderful piece on Real to Reel alumnus and award-winner Michael Flores! His film "Dogs on the Sendero" was our Best Narrative Feature in 2024, and you can watch it now on video-on-demand. It was a privilege to host Michael at Real to Reel and we're always on the lookout for what he's doing next!

That’s the true secret to success. Surround yourself with people you trust and love, and who also have the same passion as you do to work…

12/01/2025

Congrats to Real to Reel Film Festival alumni and North Carolina products Matt and Ross Duffer on their latest "Stranger Things" installment, now streaming on Netflix! Yes, you read that right -- The Duffer Brothers' short film "Mad Cell" was an award-winner at the 2001 Real to Reel International Film Festival! We're proud to support independent filmmakers in their artistic journeys and thank the Duffer Brothers for playing a part in Real to Reel's rich history.

11/21/2025

Here's an opportunity to watch a 2025 Real to Reel award-winner!

Discover the story behind O. Max and Fay Webb Gardner and how their impact continues to shape Gardner-Webb University and the state of North Carolina. “Shaping the Old North State,” a documentary created by GWU students and winner of the Founder’s Choice Award at the Real to Reel International Film Festival, will air locally on Spectrum Cable C19 TV from Nov. 23 to Nov. 29.

The film highlights the Gardners influence on politics, education, and their lasting devotion to their hometown and to Gardner-Webb.

Read the full article to learn more about their legacy and the student-produced documentary that brings it to life. https://gardner-webb.edu/news/students-documentary-to-air-on-c19-tv/

09/16/2025

We celebrate the legacy of Robert Redford, a true titanic force in independent film. Without the efforts of folks like him, the Real to Reel International Film Festival would certainly not exist in its current form. Thank you, Mr. Redford, for leaving a legacy that we proudly work to carry on today, along with countless other independent film festivals around the world.

08/18/2025

Those of you who attended Real to Reel 2024 will remember the brilliant Audience Choice Award-winning short film "Sister." Directed by Shane Andries, written, produced and starring Meg Jenkins Locke, and also starring Billy Magnussen, this film is now available to stream for free on Vimeo! Congrats to the entire cast and crew of "Sister" and thank you for your part in Real to Reel history. You can watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/1110368333?ref=fb-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawMQNe1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpY0MSWhtqnDEgEPoZ-TybxCIAi7yA4A8y_ylg8PtkxRLSoB7PFs0ijj_xY5_aem_f4LUjtBA8snu4deJ-22PAw

On the day of her older sister’s burial, a bereaved woman seeks solitude in a quiet Lowcountry dive bar, where an affable bartender offers an unexpected moment…

08/11/2025

Many of you may remember the film "Dogs on the Sendero," directed by Michael Flores and beloved by our Real to Reel audiences at our festival in 2024. Well, this gem is now available to watch on streaming and VOD! Distributed by Good Deed Entertainment, "Dogs on the Sendero" can be found on platforms such as Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home! Congratulate Michael and his entire team on a job well done, and watch "Dogs on the Sendero" today!

07/31/2025

Our last episode of Reel Conversations for this season is with Aaron Golden, writer and producer of "As Easy As Closing Your Eyes," Best of Fest winner at the 2025 Real to Reel Film Festival! Directed by Parker Croft and executive produced by Oscar-nominee Abigail Breslin, "As Easy As Closing Your Eyes" is also in the early stages of being adapted into a feature film. We talk about that and a lot more in this discussion https://open.spotify.com/episode/63KoUJZ96sCYxk7Zsu8DEh?si=mf_ZVBJBQ0ykj6ZpoMvMBg

Reel Conversations - A Film Podcast · Episode

07/30/2025

07/29/2025

We would like to extend a hearty congratulations to all of our award-winners from the 2025 Real to Reel Film Festival:

Best of Fest – "As Easy As Closing Your Eyes"

Best Professional Short – Tie between "Hearts of Stone" and
"Wait to Tell Mother"

Best Amateur Short – "Last Call"

Best Professional Documentary – "Bite of Bénin"

Best Student Documentary – "Small Town Friendly"

Carolina’s Choice Award – "A Thousand Years"

Best Professional Animation – "The Tiny King"

Best Student Animation – "The Clones of Kevin Nguyen"

Festival Director’s Choice Award – "A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers"

Festival Director’s Choice Award – "A Runner’s High"

Founder’s Choice Award – "Shaping the Old North State"

Founder’s Choice Award – "Trail Mix"

Audience Choice Award – "Salt Cured Life"

You can find additional information about each of these films at realtoreelfest.com.

07/29/2025

The 2025 Real to Reel Film Festival brought us 38 films from 10 states, 7 countries, and 4 continents. It included conversations with Oscar-nominees who crossed an ocean to be here, deeply personal stories that connected universally with our audience, and an overall celebration of the artists who keep the world turning. We're already making preparations for Real to Reel 2026! See you at the movies!