Real to Reel International Film Festival Returns with an Eclectic Blend of Indie Cinema

38 Short Films, Documentaries, and Animations to be Screened at the Joy Performance Center in Kings Mountain, NC, July 23-26

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. - The Cleveland County Arts Council is pleased to announce that the Real to Reel International Film Festival will once again open its doors to embrace filmmakers and film lovers alike for its 26^th annual festival on July 23-26, 2025 at the Joy Performance Center in Kings Mountain, N.C. 

“Real to Reel continues to be a platform for independent filmmakers from around the world to showcase their work to the Cleveland County community and beyond. We pride ourselves on keeping the focus of the festival on the artists who make it possible. Audiences this year can expect a strong lineup of stories across a wide range of genres and production styles, with multiple opportunities to interact with directors, actors, and other film crew members,” said Festival Director Thomas Manning.  

“Real to Reel is one of the Arts Council's signature events. We are proud to provide an opportunity for filmmakers to participate and attendees to enjoy the art of film,” said Cleveland County Arts Council President Shearra Miller. 

A total of 38 films will be shown throughout the festival, with screening blocks beginning at 7 p.m. nightly with a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee. Interactive moderated Q&A sessions with filmmakers will be held after multiple screenings. 

Tickets can be purchased at a discount in advance, and are available online at realtoreelfest.com, in-person at the Cleveland County Arts Council at 111 S Washington Street Shelby, N.C., or by phone at 704-484-2787. Tickets will also be available at the Joy Performance Center at 202 S Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, N.C. each day of the festival. 

The selection committee screened more than 200 film submissions from amateur and professional filmmakers, including short films, documentaries, feature-length projects, and animations. International countries of origin for submissions include Japan, India, Iran, Turkey, Belgium, and Brazil, among others. Awards categories will be classified by their student/amateur or professional submission status. 

 For more information about this year’s festival, contact Thomas Manning at the Cleveland County Arts Council by email thomas@ccartscouncil.org or phone 704-484-2787. You can also visit the film festival website at realtoreelfest.com.

The mission of the Real to Reel International Film Festival is to offer a forum for independent film, video and multimedia artists from around the world to showcase their talents and expose the works of these artists to our region.