From reports of Diane Keaton roaming around town to Asheville’s first-ever Hallmark Movie, “A Biltmore Christmas” — our city has been buzzing with cinemagic over the last few years.
Here are 10 film projects that are newly available or currently in production.
Available now
The Peripheral | This time-bending science fiction thriller series goes between London and the Blue Ridge Mountains and filmed a ton of its scenes in Marshall. It debuted at the end of 2022 — watch season one on Amazon Prime.
Black in Asheville | This film explores the Black experience of Asheville, from the Antebellum period to the Civil War to modern-day. See a screening at Black Wall Street on Friday, May 26 at 6 p.m. as part of GrindFest.
Joyland | While not filmed in WNC, this 2022 Cannes Film Festival winner was written by Asheville screenwriter Maggie Briggs. Based in Pakistan, the movie explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. See it at Grail Moviehouse starting Friday, May 5.
In production
Summer Camp | Starring Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Eugene Levy and Beverly D’Angelo, this feature film follows the story of three childhood best friends who return for an adult summer camp reunion. It’s currently filming in Hendersonville.
A Biltmore Christmas | This holiday movie stars actor Bethany Joy Lenz as a modern-day screenwriter who finds herself transported back to a 1946 film set at Biltmore, with plenty of ensuing romance. While no official release date has been announced, it’s expected to debut in November 2023.
Shadow of a Wheel | The latest from local production collaborative Bonesteel Films, this documentary chronicles the story of the 31 kids who biked across the country in 1982. It premieres on PBS July 6.
Bloom! | This animated short from Asheville-based animator, artist, and director Zachary Gladwin follows the story of a young teen who awakes from a hypnotic trance in a strange land and seeks to escape his lonely existence.
The Haunting of Helen’s Bridge | Asheville director Stephen Presley is filming this horror film at the grounds of the allegedly haunted Helen’s Bridge. The movie hones in on the urban legend of the distraught mother who is thought to haunt the bridge to this day.
On our radar
Decomposer | This low-budget, feature-length horror film is a creation from local directors Mason and Tabitha McDonald who also produced the award-winning short film “The Night Courier.” It plans to explore the “toll humanity has put on the Earth, as well as discover the beauty in the triumphs and flaws of the human race.”
Whistle Down Wind | Based on a short film of the same name, this now feature-length script centers queer relationships in the south during the early 2000s.
Want to get more connected with the local film scene?
Give AVL Film a follow — the page shares weekly updates on events, workshops, screenings, and other happenings in the film community, such as WCU’s upcoming Controlled Chaos Film Festival. And check out this recent Mountain Xpress feature on youth filmmaking classes.
