Director Dan Brawley says box office sales for the independent festival, held Nov. 11-15, were up 33 percent from last year.

Ticket sales were just under 10,000.

“We didn’t have as many people, but we sold a lot more tickets,” Brawley said. “It was really a big year for Cucalorus .… I think we’re starting to build the network of support that will keep Cucalorus going for years to come.”

Some of the favorite screenings this year included “Calvin Marshall” and “Mississippi Damned,” as well as two films with Oscar buzz – “The Messenger” and “Precious.”

Several shorts blocks sold out, as did Dance-a-lorus, a show that teamed filmmakers with choreographers, which sold out on opening night and on its second showing.

Kids-a-lorus, which features the works of young filmmakers, also sold out.

Audience members at these events and screenings came from across North Carolina, around the Southeast and from as far away as San Francisco; Albany, N.Y.; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; New Jersey; Ohio; Portland, Ore.; and Amherst, Mass.

Source: StarNewsOnline.com