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🎞️ See you at the movies

Find your new favorite film at RiverRun International Film Festival

A person with gray hair and a younger person with orange hair stand close together looking at something off screen.

“Thelma” is the opening night comedy that tells the story of a grandmother who refuses to become the victim of a phone scam. | Photo courtesy of RiverRun International Film Festival

For 10 days this month, the Twin City will become the Film City. The 26th RiverRun International Film Festival begins Thursday, April 18 and will run through Saturday, April 27.

Thousands of cinephiles from around the world will be in Winston-Salem for special screenings, premieres, programs, and parties. Here’s what you should know about the event.

Reel-y fantastic films

The festival has earned a reputation for presenting the best in international independent cinema. It showcases new narrative, documentary, short, student, and animated films — meaning you can see movies getting buzz before their mainstream debuts.

Person in camel-colored coat is showing something on a phone to a person with dark hair and a jean jacket. They are in a restaurant. — Robert Schwartzman, the director of “The Good Half”, will receive an Emerging Master of Cinema award at the festival.
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Photo courtesy of RiverRun International Film Festival

Nearly 2,000 films were considered for the 2024 festival. This year, the festival will screen 197 of them, the most in its history. Those films represent 51 countries.

“We are so proud to have a lineup of films that will truly move audiences as we celebrate the very best in world cinema,” RiverRun Programming Director Mary Dossinger said.

The RiverRun BIPOC Fellowship Program is new this year. Sudanese Cinema Now will focus on contemporary Sudanese films curated by filmmaker Fatima Wardy.

“This marks the first time anywhere that these films have been screened in one place and we’ve received a great deal of national and international attention for this Sudanese film profile,” RiverRun Executive Director Rob Davis said.

BIPOC Program fellow Fatima Wardy will take part in a panel discussion on Sunday, April 21.

Photo courtesy of RiverRun International Film Festival

Get red-carpet ready

Purchasing tickets early is the way to ensure you have a seat in the theater. Festival passes are on sale. Individual tickets are $12 and will be available starting tomorrow, April 5. You’ll need to bring a printed copy of the ticket or the digital QR code with you to screenings. The following venues are hosting screenings this year:

Crossnore Communities for Children, 1001 Reynolda Rd.
Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St.
Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (Reynolds Place Theatre and Mountcastle Forum), 251 N. Spruce St.
Kilpatrick, 1001 W. 4th St.
Marketplace Cinemas, 2095 Peters Creek Pkwy.
UNC School of the Arts ACE Theatre Complex (Main and Gold Theatres), 1533 S. Main St.
RED Cinemas, 1305 Battleground Ave., Greensboro

Virtual access is available for some films. Tickets are $14 and most films will be available to watch through the Elevent TV app between April 29 and May 5.

Find your new favorite film

Events

Thursday, April 4

Fireside: Sound Design in Storytelling | Thursday, April 4 | 6-8 p.m. | SECCA (NC Museum of Art, Winston-Salem), 750 Marguerite Dr., Winston-Salem | Free | Join a panel of filmmaking and production experts for a conversation about fundamental elements of sound design in storytelling.
“Twelfth Night, or What You Will” | Thursday, April 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Freedman Theater, UNC School of the Arts, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem | $20-$25 | Students perform Shakespeare’s romantic comedy of unrequited love, identity, and death with original music.

Friday, April 5

Beyond Boundaries: The WSSU Senior Thesis Exhibition | Friday, April 5 | 6-8 p.m. | Delta Arts Center, 2611 New Walkertown Rd., Winston-Salem | Free | See a wide range of media and artistic styles from talented local student artists.

Saturday, April 6

Spring at Bethabara | Saturday, April 6 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Historic Bethabara Park, 2147 Bethabara Rd., Winston-Salem | Free | Celebrate the opening of the park’s 2024 season with colonial games, hands-on demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, and Moravian music.

Sunday, April 7

Fiddle & Bow Presents Jon Shain and FJ Ventre | Sunday, April 7 | 2-4 p.m. | Footnote Coffee & Cocktails, 634 W. 4th St., Ste. 120, Winston-Salem | $20-$25 | Listen to the folk musicians during a special matinee performance.

Monday, April 8

Star Party and Eclipse Viewing | Monday, April 8 | 1:30-5 p.m. | Liberty Plaza, 102 W. 3rd St., Winston-Salem | Free | Take part in astronomy activities, crafts, and get a glimpse of the partial eclipse through a solar telescope — the first 400 visitors will receive a pair of eclipse glasses.

Events calendar here

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Seasonal

There’s a lot blooming at Reynolda Gardens

Spring has sprung at Reynolda. | Photo provided by Reynolda

A trip to Reynolda Gardens is a perfect way to celebrate spring in Winston-Salem. From the beauty of the Cherry trees to tulips, daffodils, and the many other beautiful spring flowers in the historic garden, you won’t believe your irises (pun intended). Visitors can:

Brush up on their gardening skills at the Tuesday Garden Workshops
Stock their garden at the annual Spring Plant sale on Saturday, April 20
Stroll the extensive grounds, which include walking trails through the meadow, the woodlands, and by Lake Katharine

Plan your visit

News Notes

Real Estate

Winston-Salem is one of the top 10 big cities to move to in 2024, according to moveBuddha. The site looks at moving trends and calculated the ratio of people moving to and from the Twin City. For every 100 people who move away, 193 people are choosing to call it home.

Biz

Radel Inc. is considering 209 Mercantile Dr. in Winston-Salem for its North American site. The South African company that makes components for rail, defense, mining, and industrial vehicles would create 50 jobs and invest $5 million. (Triad Business Journal)

Shop

Find vintage, handmade, and repurposed items from local vendors at the first Firefly Market of the year on Saturday, April 6. The open-air market is located in the breezeway in front of Footnote Coffee and Cocktails (634 W. 4th St., Ste. 120) — it runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Outdoors

See Winston-Salem’s quarry from a new perspective. Register for Kayak the Quarry on Saturday, April 20 — individual and tandem paddle sessions will run hourly between 9 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. for $20.

History

Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church (1435 E. 4th St.) will commemorate 60 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s sermon at the church. People who heard the Civil Rights leader speak in 1964 will make remarks during a wreath-laying ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13. (The Winston-Salem Chronicle)

Cause

Celebrate Winston-Salem Urban League’s 75 years of service at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Gala on Friday, April 19 at Wake Forest Biotech Place (575 Patterson Ave.). A VIP reception will start at 6 p.m. and dinner at the black-tie event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $100.

Announced

Former NC governor Pat McCrory will speak during the 10th annual Memorial Day Service at the Carolina Field of Honor. The ceremony on Monday, May 27 will begin at 10 a.m. at the veterans memorial at Triad Park in Kernersville (9652 W. Market St.). (Winston-Salem Journal)

Job

Your job search: streamlined. Forsyth Works’ brand-new online workforce hub acts as a comprehensive resource for job seekers + employers. Take a look (and sign up for helpful industry updates).*

Plan Ahead

You don’t want to miss this, Winston-Salem: Emmy Award-winning comedian and bestselling author Trevor Noah is coming to town. Snag tickets to see Noah during the next Face to Face Speaker Forum on Tuesday, April 30 — tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait.*

Sports

New owner at bat

Winston-Salem Dash will soon be under new ownership

Blue skies with clouds and lights above a baseball stadium from the outfield.

Professional baseball first came to Winston-Salem in 1905. | Photo by WStoday

Ownership of the Winston-Salem Dash is changing hands. The franchise has entered into an agreement to become part of Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH). Minor League Baseball still needs to consent to the sale and standard closing conditions must be met, but the team says it expects the transaction to be completed “promptly.”

Billy Prim, managing partner of the Dash ownership group, says DBH shares his vision for the future and passing the baton will benefit fans.

“DBH is widely known for its focus on investing in the local communities where it operates with a commitment to providing affordable, family-friendly entertainment and unforgettable experiences, and I’m confident in their ability to do the same for Winston-Salem.”

The owner might be changing, but don’t worry, Dash fans. President and General Manager Brian DeAngelis will continue to lead employees. The team will remain a High-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and they will continue to play at Truist Stadium. DeAngelis says Opening Day on Tuesday, April 9 will be “the beginning of what will become a new standard of entertainment in Winston-Salem.”

The Buy

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

I was fortunate to get a quick preview of some of the films that will be screened at RiverRun this year. “Mr. Blake at Your Service!” is one I’m really looking forward to seeing. The uplifting message of making new memories in unexpected places will be a great way to cap off this year’s festival.

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