Opening Night Film Block

Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don't want to miss!

Join us for the opening night ceremony and film block of the 2026 Asheville Film Festival! Tickets are $12/ person for this event, drinks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Films to be Screened:

“Origin”

Directed by: Campbell Hass

A man sits down to conduct a Turing test. Across from him is an advanced artificial language model. The goal is simple: determine whether the entity he’s speaking to is truly conscious, or is just simulating it. But as the conversation deepens, something starts to feel off and the the test transforms into something that neither could have expected.

“After Helene”

Directed by: Zoe Miller

After Helene highlights the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on northwestern North Carolina almost 2 years later. This documentary shows the perseverance through community.

“Unheard Voice”

Directed by: Joseph S. S. Galyean

When a weapon is discovered in the sandy refuges of the beach, a story of untamed trauma and inevitable destruction unfolds.

“Forget Me Not”

Directed by: Michelle Bucci & Danielle Herrera Boivin

When a fracture in the multiverse tears them from their parallel lives, a guarded go-go dancer and a spirited cocktail waitress are thrust into a garden between realities—where they must confront the forces that have kept them trapped before they’re pulled back for good.

“Bloom”

Directed by: Zachary Gladwin

After a young man awakes from a hypnotic trance in a strange land he must search high and low for a way to escape his lonely existence. Will his curiosity and ingenuity be able to withstand repeated failures and the familiar draw to complacency, or will he find a way to break through his limits and explore the great beyond?

“The Drive”

Directed by: Brody Atticus Van Arnam

Weeks before leaving Asheville for college, Danny is surprised when his best friend Jack presents him with a broken-down car- their dream project to restore together. As their opposing views of the future strain their friendship, Danny leaves, only to return after a devastating storm claims Jack’s life. Faced with grief and an unfinished dream, Danny rebuilds the car himself, ultimately learning what it means to move forward without leaving everything behind.

Get tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81056019

Want to enjoy the entire festival weekend without paying for every event separately? Get your All-Access Festival Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462