Nestled atop the unique Plateau where rhododendrons crowd winding streets, the inaugural Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival is as much a celebration of community as it is of celluloid. Over four days, more than 20 features and shorts – from independent dramas to beloved classics – will screen in venues that feel as welcoming as a neighbor’s living room. Here, red carpets, brush Fraser firs, and filmmakers sit elbow to elbow with local residents who share a love of story.
The festival’s heartbeat is its commitment to place. On opening night, attendees will gather in the private gardens of Ray and Diane McPhail after an exclusive PAC sneak preview of The Gardener, a feature shot entirely on Highlands soil. Following the screening, guests will sip sparkling wine beneath the same oaks and azaleas that appear on screen, mingle with the director and cast, and savor small-town hospitality courtesy of a soon-to-be-named Food Network star.
Hollywood glitz arrives in Highlands courtesy of Illeana Douglas, who on September 19 will introduce and discuss her breakout role in Ghost World. Douglas known for memorable turns in Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and Grace of My Heart – brings a dual lens as performer and film historian. In a moderated Q&A, she’ll explore the indie spirit that made Ghost World a cult touchstone and share stories from her new book, Connecticut in the Movies. Festivalgoers will leave with fresh insight into how setting shapes cinematic storytelling, whether on a bustling city street or a sleepy mountain town.
The following afternoon, Catherine Wyler, daughter of legendary director William Wyler, will illuminate her father’s legacy in a special presentation. Alongside a newly restored screening of Roman Holiday, Wyler will offer a personal documentary tracing the behind-the-scenes evolution of her family’s cinematic heritage. From Audrey Hepburn’s debut performance to the Golden Age glamour that defined her father’s work, Catherine’s perspective bridges Hollywood lore and Highlands’ admiration for timeless artistry.
Beyond premieres and powerhouses, the festival champions grassroots voices. Seminars on Technicolor restoration, panel discussions with Production Designer Bill Brzeski (whose credits include Matilda), and hands-on workshops for young filmmakers ensure that every guest can participate – not just spectate. By day, filmmakers trade tips over coffee at local cafés; by night, the town’s churches and galleries transform into pop-up screening rooms.
When the credits roll on Sunday, the celebration continues with Highlands Porchfest, a free music event that spills onto front stoops and sidewalks. Banjo players, poets, and bluegrass trios will share stages carved from folding chairs and front steps, extending the festival’s invitation to create – and connect – long after the film reels rewind.
In Highlands and Cashiers, cinema is more than entertainment. It’s a shared experience, a spark for conversation, and a bridge between neighbors. This festival may be new, but its roots run deep in the soil of a town that knows how to tell a story.
For tickets and more information about the festival’s dizzying slate of events, workshops, and lectures, visit highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com.
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