Film Festival Year 3: Picking up steam

ASHEBORO — After the 3rd Annual Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival completed its first summer edition with no weather threats or delays (the first two took place in January), creator and organizer Ty Brueilly had some closing thoughts on an event that has morphed into about more than just films.

“This weekend was surreal, it was soul fulfilling to see what this has become in just three years,” he said in a press release afterwards. “There were several times I went out into the lobby and saw about 100 people in there each day and they were different groups each time from absolutely all walks of life, there was not a bad vibe in the entire three days.

“A lot of times, us creatives have visions of what we really want from the finished product and it’s so clear and also so obtainable that the more we work at it the clearer it becomes. It’s the big picture, and that picture is actually a puzzle that you can’t fully see until you find all the proper pieces and put them together. That’s what I did, my mother always taught me to find the corner pieces first and then build the outside first before working in. That’s the mentality I had for this third year. My corner pieces were Hollywood based director and actor Sean Haitz with his film company Happy Fright Films, Los Angeles-based Rigarrao Productions, Asheboro’s own Camp Films and another Hollywood producer and actor, Ryan James and his Pink Plaid Productions. That’s how this was able to run on all cylinders.”

Haitz was most recently in the massive blockbuster film “The Odyssey” and spent six weeks on set being directed by Christopher Nolan. Rigarrao productions is a power duo, Patricia Rigney & Kevin Carrao coming straight from Burbank International Film Festival. Ryan Camp & Camp films is known for its strong tutorial type YouTube channel that is ever popular and helps filmmakers with low to no budget productions. James, the “Bow Tie Guy” in “Terrifier 2” that took the world by storm in 2022, following up with his role as Zine in the cult classic sequel “Mutilator 2.”

During the festival over 70 films were shown, 30% less than previous years, but that left room for more variety in the three-day event, which included Q&A panels for onstage conversations with the filmmakers and actors, a comedy hour, an opening night concert, a deadly double feature and an award show that gave 24 awards focused of films and 21 awards focused on the Asheboro area arts, culture and entertainment. Special guests numbered over a dozen, with the Guest Of Honor being Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook, the distinctive director as Nachela Knox and Buddy Cooper as the double feature director. Ian Reid painted live, Brian Campos performed, Casey Mull installed sculptures around the stage. The festival stepped into the realm showcasing a Content Creator block, becoming a pioneer for that. A self reflection exercise, PhotoSophia and a Festival Pro Tip & Pitch Hour rounded out the festival. 

Year 4 is scheduled for August 2027.

Asheboro Area Arts, Culture & Entertainment Award recipients

John Czop: Mighty Masterwork In Illustrations

Neil Hoover: Wes Norman Lived By A Code Award

Buddy Cooper: Mighty Icon

Marquéz Cassidy: Mighty Maestro

Gene Woodle: Mighty Voice Of Change

Busta Brown: Mighty Lifetime Dedication To Craft 

Alex Purdue: Mighty Protostar 

Amber Hogan: Mighty Eye: Lens Of LIfe

Michael Trogdon: Mighty Voice Of Asheboro

Chip Foust: Mighty Message: Slave Memorial

Sandy Chriso Hatley: Mighty Writer: Keystone Career

Corey Hunt & The Wise: Mighty Music: Acclaimed Album ‘The Storm’

Donna Hughes: Mighty Sounds Of Our Surroundings 

Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours: Power Performance - Grand Ole Opry Debut

Joel McClosky: Mighty Manifestor 

Donna Hughes: Mighty Melody: The Grass Ain’t Greener

Alex Navy - Southern Fried Funeral Scene On Stage

Ross Holt: Super Supporter

Marcus Lowrey II: Profound Painter

Jennifer Yates: Fearless Forger

Dusty Cagle: Mighty Comedic

Josie Purdue: Mighty Pageantry