If you just can't take the heat any longer, you are in luck! The 20th annual Real to Reel International Film Festival is set for July 24-27, 2019, and offers a chance to get out of the sun and enjoy a unique festival celebrating the art of film. This year's festival is co-sponsored by the Cleveland County Arts Council (CCAC), the Kings Mountain Little Theatre and The Historic Kings Mountain Tourism Development Authority.
"The Real to Reel Film Festival's mission is to offer a forum for independent film, video, and multimedia artists to showcase their talents and garner award winning name recognition," says Shearra Miller, president of the CCAC. "Films of all genres from all over the U.S., as well as 20 different countries, have poured into Cleveland County, and now is the time to see them! This year's festival features 12 North Carolina films."
The screenings for the festival will take place in the Joy Performance Center, 202 S. Railroad Ave., Kings Mountain. Advance festival passes can be purchased for $35 at the Arts Council, 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, or online at www.realtoreelfest.com. Advance session tickets are $8. Tickets at the door are $10 per session or $40 for a festival pass. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. VIP passes are also available.
Screenings will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. There will also be a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee.
"Real to Reel is a competitive film festival with monetary awards presented to the winners in both the professional and amateur categories," says Miller. The Best of Show Award will be $1,000. The professional winners will receive a $500 award, while amateur winners will receive a $250 award. The winner of the Best of North Carolina Award will receive $300.
Audience members will be allowed to vote on their favorite film each night, with one winner selected at the end of the festival.
Returning this year is Real to Reel Kids Fest sponsored by KidSenses Children's Interactive Museum.
"This special screening on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. will feature films made for kids and films made by kids," says Miller. Tickets for the Kids Fest are $4 in advance and $5 at the door. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free.
Also returning again this year is the silent auction, which runs throughout the festival. Items such as scripts from movies, trips to famous movie locations, movie passes and other movie memorabilia will be available to the highest bidder at the end of the festival. There will be special giveaways and question/answer sessions with all visiting filmmakers throughout the festival, according to Miller.
"Everyone is also invited to attend the wrap-party and awards presentation at Cherokee Grill in Kings Mountain after the final film on Saturday night, July 27," says Miller.
For more information about any of the activities associated with Real to Reel or for a complete schedule of the 41 films that will screen this year, call the Arts Council at 704-484-2787 or visit the festival's website at www.realtoreelfest.com.

By April Hoyle-Shauf, Special to Community First Media