24 things to do in Wilmington this weekend, at the Cucalorus Film Festival and beyond

Happy Cucalorus, everyone!

The 28th annual film festival will hold sway in downtown Wilmington this weekend, with performances, parties and the screening of more than 130 films, from feature-length narratives and documentaries to dozens and dozens of short films.

I've outlined several really good options for each day, and you can also check the links below for even more of our pre-festival coverage. (Most individual events at Cucalorus are $15, or you could also buy a festival pass. For a complete and detailed schedule, go to Cucalorus.org.)

There's also plenty of non-Cucalorus entertainment options this week, and we'll get into those as well.

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Cucalorus Film Festival

THURSDAY

'Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game': Did you know that pinball used to be banned in New York City? This feature from directors Austin and Meredith Bragg tells the story of the journalist and pinball fanatic who helped get the puzzling ban overturned. 1:15 p.m. Nov. 17, Thalian Hall black box; 1:45 p.m. Nov. 19, Thalian Hall main stage.

'Hard Shell, Soft Shell': This crowd-pleasing French film is about a lovelorn young man who tries to win back the love of his life by wowing her with (what else?) an epic dance performance. If you're looking to leave the theater feeling good about life, check this box.

'The Smell of Money': Documentary film about a Duplin County community fighting against one of the biggest hog-farming operations in the country, an operation that's destroying the lives of people who live near the farms. Prepare to have your outrage stoked, and to question how the food that might be on your plate affects people in the real world. 7 p.m. Nov. 17, Thalian Hall black box.

'Poundcake': Acclaimed, button-pushing indie writer and director Onur Tukel ("Catfight," "The Misogynists") cut his filmmaking teeth making movies in Wilmington in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now based in New York, Tukel returns for a "work-in-progress" screening of his latest, a satirical comedy about a mysterious series of unsolved murders in which the victims are all straight white men. 9:45 Nov. 17, Thalian Hall black box.

FRIDAY

'Zoo Lock Down': Documentary film with a healthy sense of humor looks at how the pandemic lockdown affected the animal inhabitants of an Austrian zoo. 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Thalian Hall main stage.

Sarcastic Fringehead Shorts: This selection of comedic short films includes "Plantastic!" from director Emily Gold, which stars Wilmington comic Daisy Faith and asks (and answers) the question, "What if plants could talk?" 3:45 p.m. Nov. 18, Thalian Hall main stage.

'Our Father, the Devil': One of the most highly touted films at this year's festival is this French feature from director Ellie Foumbi. The psychological thriller is about an African refugee in small-town France whose life is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of a charismatic priest she knows from her hometown. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Thalian Hall main stage.

SATURDAY

Blue Footed Booby Shorts: Cucalorus has long been known for its commitment to dance, and this collection of short films are all centered on movement in some way. 10:45 a.m., Jengo's Playhouse.

VR Salon: IMMERSION: Whether you've already gotten a taste of virtual reality or are curious as to what it's all about, this free program of short films should intrigue. All were made for the VR platform by filmmakers during a residency at Cucalorus headquarters. 2 p.m., Thalian Hall ballroom, FREE.

Acme Revue: Former Wilmington comic Julia Desmond returns from New York City to stage the variety show she started at downtown dive The Opera Room. A DIY mix of stand-up comedy, live music (from Wilmington's seldom-seen-live Western Media) and visual art. 10: 45 p.m., Jengo's Playhouse.

SUNDAY

'Quantum Cowboys': Director Geoff Marslett takes the Western into the quantum realm with this mind-boggling feature that delves into the very nature of art. 10:15 a.m., Thalian Hall main stage.

'Maniac Miki': Cucalorus alum Carla Forte directs this largely improvised, experimental feature about a washed-up former celebrity. 1:45 p.m. Nov. 20, Thalian Hall black box.

'Jack Has a Plan': Only at Cucalorus can you see a documentary feature about a man who's lived with a deadly brain tumor for 25 years, only to devise a performance art piece that will ultimately lead to his euthanasia. Wildly funny, deeply affecting, all the things. Go see it. 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Jengo's Playhouse.

'Rise and Rebuild: A Tale of Three Cities': This crucial documentary from directors Asako Gladsjo and Sam Pollard looks at how prosperous Black communities, so-called "Black Wall Streets," were destroyed in three cities: Chicago, Atlanta and Wilmington. The film features Black-owned Wilmington start-up incubator Genesis Block and Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo. 7 p.m. Nov. 20, Thalian Hall main stage.

Non-Cucalorus options

THURSDAY

Rakim

At CFCC Wilson Center: Hip-hop legend Rakim, who is generally regarded as one of the best rappers of all time, makes his first-ever Wilmington appearance. Rakim is best-known for his work in the duo Eric B. & Rakim, who shot to fame in the late 1980s before breaking up in the '90s, later reuniting for some shows in 2018. Rakim also has three acclaimed solo records, most recently "The Seventh Seal" in 2009. He gets well over 1 million listeners a month on Spotify. Opening act is the well-regarded soul singer Omar Wilson.

8 p.m. Nov. 17, tickets start at $25. 910-362-7999 or WilsonCenterTickets.com.

UNCW senior art exhibition

At the Cultural Arts Building gallery: Twelve Studio Art majors at the University of North Carolina Wilmington will display their work as part of this annual show. The multimedia show will include ceramics, animation, paintings, pop art and more.

Opening reception is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Show hangs through Dec. 16. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,Monday through Friday. Details at UNCW.edu/art/gallery.

ALL WEEKEND

Port City Blitz

At Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: It's about to get very real at Wilmington rock club Reggie's when 23 hard-rock bands from Wilmington and around the Southeast perform over two nights as part of this fifth annual music festival. Atlanta rockers Loony headline on Friday, while Saturday's headliner is longtime Wilmington fav A Bottle Volcanic.

7 p.m. Nov. 18, 5 p.m. Nov. 19. Tickets start at $8.

'Fight Girl Battle World'

Mainstage Theatre in UNCW's Cultural Arts Building: UNCW's theater department presents this play by Qui Nguyen, best known for his emotionally epic, Dungeons-and-Dragons-inspired play "She Kills Monsters." "Fight Girl Battle World" sounds like it's cut from similar cloth. Set in a futuristic universe, it's about E-V, the last known human woman, who must fight with aliens and androids to keep the entire human race from being destroyed.

8 p.m. Nov. 17-19, 2 p.m. Nov. 20. 910-962-3500.

'Rhinoceros'

At CFCC Wilson Center's black box theater: Cape Fear Community College's Department of Fine and Performing Arts presents the absurdist classic by Eugene Ionesco. Although it was written in 1958, some might see parallels to our time in its story: When a man in a small town turns into the title beast and begins wrecking the social order, others in the town soon follow his lead and become rhinos as well.

7 p.m. Nov. 17-19, tickets are $15. 910-362-7999.

FRIDAY

The Graes

At Live at Ted's: Wilmington folk-pop duo The Graes are pretty fantastic, with married couple Cassie and CJ Grae teaming up to deliver dreamy, harmony-laden melodies about love, grief and everything in between. Opening act is Jaron Strom, who was a contestant on season 14 of "The Voice."

8 p.m. Nov. 18, tickets are $15.

Taylor Hunnicutt

At Bourgie Nights: Bluesy country rocker Hunnicutt is an artist on the rise, and her mix of classic country and Southern rock sounds like it could be on bigger stages sooner rather than later. This will likely be your last, best chance to see her in an intimate venue like Bourgie. Opening acts are the rootsy Low Water Bridge Band and the very good Virginia rock songwriter Justin Golden.

8 p.m. Nov. 18, tickets are $15, $17 day of show.

SATURDAY

Susto

At Bourgie Nights: The outstanding Charleston, S.C., band led by the songwriter Justin Osborne brings its well-honed, rootsy indie pop tunes to town. Susto's latest album, "Time in the Sun," is out on New West Records. Opening act is North Carolina's own Clint Roberts, who mixes rock, country, pop and more to great effect.

8:30 p.m. doors, 9:30 p.m. show, Nov. 19. Tickets are $20, $25 day of show.

DREAMS turns 25

At DREAMS: For a quarter of a century now, Wilmington groups DREAMS has been providing arts classes for Wilmington children at little to no cost. This weekend, it's time to celebrate that awesome achievement with a concert by New Orleans band The Soul Rebels, a brass ensemble that blends soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock, pop and more. The party includes food trucks and drinks along with the show.

7 p.m. Nov. 19, $25.

SUNDAY

Bajissama

At Live at Ted's: Some of North Carolina's best jazz musicians are featured in this new Latin jazz group, which is led by the bassist and UNCW music professor Natalie Boeyink. If you've seen her perform, you know she's the real deal. And so is the combo she's assembled, which includes saxophonist and Wilmington jazz legend Benny Hill; trombonist Joe Dowdy; pianist Carlos Garcia; and drummer Jon Hill.

4 p.m. Nov. 20, $10.

Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or John.Staton@StarNewsOnline.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington Nov. 17-20, including Cucalorus Film Fest