LOCAL HAPPENINGS: The Sunset Film Festival is moving from January to August

Ty Brueilly’s MTTS Awards and  Sunset Film Festival now in August

ASHEBORO — Ty Brueilly’s Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival, in conjunction with the City of Asheboro and Sunset Theatre, is back for its third incarnation, but this time in August.

The comprehensive festival experience will include even more North Carolina-based films than previous years, plus a special double feature event, live entertainment with comedy hour, guest speakers, viral content creators and an award ceremony.

The event is set for Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9.

The move from January both gives Brueilly more time to curate and find more North Carolina-based films and focus on the entertainment and culture aspects of the festival more, plus avoid unpredictable winter weather.

“This has always been an ambitious endeavor, we’ve ended up calling it a hybrid festival because of how many components of the arts, entertainment and culture scene it provides,” Brueilly said in a press release. “I feel like it’s necessary to encompass them all because in my experience everything in this world is tied with the thread of theater and film and I intend to use the word, festival in it’s proper manner.”

The five main components to be programmed into a seamless stream include:

1. A core international film festival.

2. An opening night concert.

3. A comedy hour.

4. A cult classic double feature event with guests of honor from those films.

5. A formal award ceremony for both the film festival awards and Asheboro area arts, entertainment and culture.

“These films are pieces of art that are usually not on any streaming platforms or available anywhere else, so our audience is really getting a treat, and on top of that any film that we show that has representation will have an on stage Q&A session following the film, so that our audience can engage and hear more about the process,” Brueilly said. “That’s the type of enhancement I want to provide for both our filmmakers and our audience, it’s magical.”

Find the early schedule at www.filmandfashionbybrueilly.com/mttsawards. It’s evolving; highlights will be published here before its unveiling on Aug. 7-9.

THIS WEEK

Final Randolph town 250th celebration is in Trinity

As we get further from the Fourth of July, the local parties are winding down. But there’s one more scheduled for a Randolph county town:

    — TRINITY, July 17, 5:30-9 p.m.

7037 NC Hwy 62, Trinity. The night will be filled with music by the Warren Phillips Band and The Collegiates, plus some of the area’s best food trucks. Fireworks will follow after the concert. No cost and open to the public.

Randleman Market & Music series: Ace Party Band up

RANDLEMAN — If you haven’t been enjoying the expanded Randleman Market & Music series this summer in Commerce Square in downtown Randleman, get on out there: This Friday’s event is already the fifth of seven planned for the summer. The musical draw this week is the Ace Party Band. Music begins at 7 but the arrival of food trucks and local vendors begin at 5 p.m. The concert is free, just bring your own chair! 

Up next for Friday Night Bluegrass: Hammer-N-Song

ASHEBORO — Friday Night Bluegrass is a monthly series sponsored by the City of Asheboro and the Sunset Theatre. On the third Friday of each month, a local or regional act takes stage. This month, it’s Hammer-N-Song on Friday, July 17. This gospel group is from Robbins. Members include Mike Garner (guitar), Monica  Williams (vocal), Ronnie Hinshaw (bass), Tim Williamson (banjo) and Racy Maness Jr. (mandolin). Tickets are $10 and can be ordered online at sunsettheatre.org or bought at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 7.

The Catalinas are next up for a Sunday night concert 

 ASHEBORO — Asheboro’s Summer Concert Series continues on Sunday, July 19, with The Catalinas on stage. The Catalinas are a beach music band that formed in Charlotte in late 1957, and since then, more than 60 guitarists, keyboardists, trumpet players, drummers, bass players and singers have been a part of the band. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy food from food trucks or downtown restaurants open that evening. The concert is free.

UPCOMING

Rock’n the Park returns July 24 with Yacht Rock

ASHEBORO — The Black Pearl Party Band: The Ultimate Yacht Rock Experience  will be the headliner for the next Rock’n the Park event set for Friday, July 24, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Bicentennial Park in downtown Asheboro. Local musician Brandon Shepherd will be the opening act, playing from 6:30 to 7:30 with the main event beginning about 8 p.m. Food trucks are on hand plus all the downtown restaurants and pubs will be open and the Zoo City Social District will be available. Just bring a chair or blanket and kick back for this outdoor concert.

Two cruise-in events set for July 25

ASHEBORO — How lucky is this? A pair of cruise-ins will grace the area on Saturday, July 25, with one in Randleman from 9 a.m. to noon and another in Asheboro from 6 to 10 p.m.. Find both items in today’s calendar section on page 5A for more information as they are two different kind of events.