By Cameron Lee
September 23, 2025
The 17th Charlotte Film Festival returns this week, showcasing over 130 films from September 23-28 at the Independent Picture House. Founded in 2006 to provide a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers, the festival has grown into a destination for industry professionals and independent film enthusiasts.
Since taking over in 2020, the Charlotte Film Society — which operates the Independent Picture House — has broadened the festival’s programming to include an exciting mix of features, shorts, documentaries, and student films. Panels and daily talks at the neighboring jazz club Eighty Eights will also give audiences behind-the-scenes insights and education from directors, editors, and producers.
Attendees can explore nearby restaurants, breweries, and eateries — from the recently reopened Soul Gastrolounge to spots like Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe, Salud Cerveceria, Cabo Fish Taco, and The Wafflery — with festival discounts available at select establishments.
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In addition to the opening night premiere of Roofman at Carolina Theatre, this year’s highlights include John Candy: I Like Me, the Colin Hanks-directed, Ryan Reynolds-produced documentary on the beloved comedian; John Woo’s 1992 Hong Kong thriller Hard Boiled, presented in a full 4K restoration; Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, about a 90-year-old woman who moves to New York City and befriends a 19-year-old student; Micro Budget, a hilarious comedy about an aspiring filmmaker from Iowa who shoots a low-budget indie film in a desperate attempt to make money in Los Angeles; and an encore screening of Roofman.
Viewing options are designed for flexibility: single tickets are $14; bundles of five are $50, ten are $85; and the all-access Discover Different Pass is $250. Ticket packs are digital, fully shareable, and redeemable for screenings at the Independent Picture House.
Check out the full schedule of film screenings and discussions at Charlotte Film Festival, taking place September 23-28:
Tuesday, September 23
7:30 p.m. – Special Presentations: Roofman (126 mins) at Carolina Theatre (Sold Out)
Wednesday, September 24
4:00 p.m. – Daily Talks: Navigating Culture and Cinema (60 mins) at Eighty Eights
5:15 p.m. – Narrative Features: Micro Budget (89 mins) at Independent Picture House
5:20 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Dreamers and Doers – Documentary Shorts (83 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:10 p.m. – Special Presentations: Natchez (86 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:20 p.m. – Narrative Features: Under the Lights (108 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:30 p.m. – Special Presentations: Eleanor the Great (98 mins) at Independent Picture House
Thursday, September 25
4:00 p.m. – Daily Talks: The Art and Science of Pitching (60 mins) at Eighty Eights
5:00 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Cracking Up – Narrative Shorts (97 mins) at Independent Picture House
5:10 p.m. – Documentary Features: Thaw (86 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:15 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Joy in the Little Things – Documentary Shorts (62 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:20 p.m. – Special Presentations: Wooden Hearts (83 mins) at Independent Picture House
9:15 p.m. – Special Presentations: House of Ashes (95 mins) at Independent Picture House
9:20 p.m. – Special Presentations: Deathstalker (102 mins) at Independent Picture House
Friday, September 26
1:20 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Destruct / Reconstruct – Narrative Shorts (110 mins) at Independent Picture House
1:30 p.m. – Documentary Features: The Opener (72 mins) at Independent Picture House
3:45 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Mirror Me – Narrative Shorts (79 mins) at Independent Picture House
4:00 p.m. – Daily Talks: Meet The Editors (60 mins) at Eighty Eights
5:35 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Give / Take – Student Shorts (107 mins) at Independent Picture House
5:45 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Connect – Disconnect Narrative Shorts (106 mins) at Independent Picture House
8:05 p.m. – Special Presentations: Our Hero, Balthazar (91 mins) at Independent Picture House
8:15 p.m. – Special Presentations: Queens of the Dead (101 mins) at Independent Picture House
10:00 p.m. – Shorts Programs: She Doesn’t Even Go Here – Narrative Shorts (100 mins) at Independent Picture House
10:30 p.m. – Special Presentations: Fuck My Son! (94 mins) at Independent Picture House
Saturday, September 27
12:00 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Comic / Books – Student Shorts (97 mins) at Independent Picture House
12:15 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Child’s Play – Animated Shorts (50 mins) at Independent Picture House
2:15 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Gentle Spirits – Documentary Shorts (95 mins) at Independent Picture House
2:20 p.m. – Documentary Features: The Kids Are Not Alright (91 mins) at Independent Picture House
4:00 p.m. – Daily Talks: The Future of Distribution – A Conversation with Alison Cohen (60 mins) at Eighty Eights
4:25 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Open / Close – Narrative Shorts (89 mins) at Independent Picture House
4:30 p.m. – Narrative Features: The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo (92 mins) at Independent Picture House
6:30 p.m. – Shorts Programs: In Movement – Narrative Shorts (99 mins) at Independent Picture House
6:40 p.m. – Shorts Programs: A Case of the Everydays – Narrative Shorts (99 mins) at Independent Picture House
9:15 p.m. – Special Presentations: Hard Boiled (126 mins) at Independent Picture House
9:30 p.m. – Special Presentations: Fucktoys (106 mins) at Independent Picture House
Sunday, September 28
12:00 p.m. – Shorts Programs: Animated Shorts (60 mins) at Independent Picture House
12:10 p.m. – Award Winners (101 mins) at Independent Picture House
1:40 p.m. – Documentary Features: Viktor (89 mins) at Independent Picture House
2:40 p.m. – Special Presentations: Bitter Gold (83 mins) at Independent Picture House
3:25 p.m. – Narrative Features: Ride or Die (85 mins) at Independent Picture House
4:00 p.m. – Daily Talks: The Business of Indie Filmmaking (60 mins) at Eighty Eights
5:00 p.m. – Special Presentations: Roofman (126 mins) at Independent Picture House (Sold Out)
5:10 p.m. – Special Presentations: John Candy: I Like Me (113 mins) at Independent Picture House
7:30 p.m. – Special Presentations: Mr. K (96 mins) at Independent Picture House
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