RiverRun 2027: Heading in a New Direction, With Their New Vision Announced

The RiverRun International Film Festival, a longstanding cultural fixture in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is preparing for its 29th edition with a comprehensive overhaul in its programming approach and community engagement. Scheduled for April 16 to 24, 2027, the festival aims to deepen its roots within the regional artistic ecosystem while broadening access and participation.

This reorientation comes with the appointment of two significant team members: Ben Umstead as director of programming and artist relations, and Katherine White as director of development and operations. Umstead brings a decade of experience from Slamdance Film Festival, where he was instrumental in programming and co-founded the Indie Awards. White arrives with over 30 years of nonprofit leadership, having held senior roles in numerous arts organizations including SECCA, New Winston Museum, and AIDS Care Service.

Under this new leadership, RiverRun is launching three distinct programming initiatives designed to diversify decision-making and programming perspectives. The first, a Curatorial Filmmaker Fellowship, invites six filmmakers specializing in various cinema forms to contribute to the festival’s lineup and lead workshops and discussions. These fellows, selected for their distinctive voices and achievements, will receive financial support to foster future creative projects.

The fellowship’s inaugural participants include Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Christalyn Hampton, narrative director Merawi Gerima known for his award-winning debut feature, actor and advocate Steve Way focusing on disability representation, narrative shorts specialist Kristian Mercado, queer cinema artist Avalon Fast, and screenwriter Liz Sargent, recognized for her Sundance award-winning debut. Their involvement underscores RiverRun’s commitment to authentic storytelling and social impact through independent film.

Complementing this is the Community Programming panel, which incorporates insights from local arts leaders, curators, and cultural partners. This collective includes figures such as Brittany K. Giles-Jones, Jake Laystrom, Christopher Everett, Max Cullen, Taja Seafus, and Tiffany Albright, reflecting a broad cross-section of Winston-Salem’s vibrant creative networks. The initiative aims to highlight the city’s robust artistic vitality and integrate diverse community voices into festival curation.

The third initiative, Youth SELECT (Shaping Emerging Leaders in Exhibition and Curatorial Talent), targets young filmmakers and recent graduates within the Piedmont Triad area. Led by former UNCSA film students Emily McCann and M-Alain Bertoni, this program offers emerging professionals hands-on experience in film selection and festival programming, with opportunities for academic credit or stipends. This approach emphasizes mentorship and the cultivation of future festival curators and programmers.

In addition to structural changes, RiverRun has adjusted its film submission process to alleviate filmmaker burdens. Submissions will open earlier, on August 11, 2026, with reduced entry fees set at $33 for shorts and $44 for feature films, aiming to ease financial strain and allow more time for filmmakers to complete their entries. Key deadlines stretch from late August through early December 2026, with notifications expected by mid-February 2027.

Further expanding its year-round presence, RiverRun is launching "Scene & Heard," an autumn event series in partnership with UNCSA and a/perture cinema. The inaugural event, scheduled for September 18, 2026, features a screening of acclaimed filmmaker Boots Riley’s "I Love Boosters," accompanied by a post-screening discussion. This initiative reflects the festival’s ambition to maintain continuous engagement with local audiences and filmmakers beyond the spring event.

RiverRun International Film Festival, founded in 1998, has long served as a platform for emerging and established filmmakers worldwide, showcasing an array of narrative, documentary, animated, and student films. The 2027 reconfiguration signals a deliberate shift toward inclusivity, transparency in programming, and community integration, reinforcing its role not only as a film festival but as a dynamic hub for cinematic culture in the region.

Those interested in participating in the Youth SELECT program or seeking sponsorship opportunities for the 2027 festival are encouraged to contact the festival directly. As RiverRun embarks on this new chapter, it positions itself to foster greater artistic collaboration and accessibility, reflecting contemporary demands and the evolving landscape of independent cinema.