Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival

06/11/2026

Join us for a FREE screening of this powerful documentary featuring inspiring stories like these. The documentary, Trail Mix: Finding Yourself On the Appalachian Trail, will be shown on Saturday June 20th at 12pm at The Village Green and 4pm at the PAC.

The filmmaker and director, Glenn Sweitzer, will be at both showings for an exclusive Q&A.

The 50-minute documentary follows a 2,000-mile journey from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Trail. The film focuses on the "transformative power of nature," interviewing a diverse range of hikers—including military veterans with PTSD, grieving widowers, and troubled teens—who seek healing and clarity in the wilderness.

The film began as a project in May 2018 and was partially inspired by the story of Cheryl Strayed’s book/movie Wild. What was initially curiosity became a strong pull, a “calling” to go into the woods and interview some of the hikers and discover the source of their healing and transformation.

More information: https://www.highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com/events/trailmix

No tickets required!

06/04/2026

Thank you Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival for the presentation this week!

Hosted by club member Charlotte Muir, Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival Artistic Director Joy Jorgensen provided a preview of the upcoming Festival. Joy, who has been coming to the Highlands–Cashiers area since childhood and maintains a close connection to the community, outlined her vision for the Festival.

As a community-focused festival model rooted in “place,” she wants to emphasize in-person experiences that bring audiences and filmmakers together with screenings, conversations, and time shared—while thoughtfully building new traditions that feel welcoming, intentional, and connected to the Highlands–Cashiers community.

The 2026 Film Festival kicks off with four summer screenings—June through August at the Highlands Performing Arts Center and Cashiers Village Green--and the main Film Fest September 17-20th at the PAC. Additional details can be found at www.highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com

05/26/2026

05/07/2026

Tickets: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E365973&id=1

On Sunday, May 31, we will gather for A Film Festival Soirée, an elegant evening hosted by Amy and Cecil Conlee at the Hudson House in Highlands Country Club.

This special event introduces our new Artistic Director, Joy Jorgensen, an accomplished independent film producer with deep ties to the Plateau.

The Film Festival stands as PAC’s premier annual fundraiser, raising critical resources that sustain our facility and enrich the Plateau through the performing arts. This year's festival will be held September 17-20 with additional film and fundraising events held throughout the summer.

About Joy:

This year’s festival is led by Artistic Director Joy Jorgensen, an independent film producer and festival leader dedicated to creating thoughtful, artist-centered spaces for storytelling. With a background in producing acclaimed films that have premiered at top international festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and International Film Festival Rotterdam, she brings deep expertise in connecting films with audiences and shaping meaningful festival experiences. Joy also shares a longstanding personal connection to the Highlands–Cashiers community, having spent time there since childhood.

05/05/2026

Chloé Zhao is a filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary-style realism. She directed Songs My Brothers Taught Me, The Rider, the Oscar-winning Nomadland, Marvel’s Eternals, and the Oscar-winning Hamnet.

-CashiersFilmFestival

04/22/2026

Check out our April News Reel to learn about the latest news and events with this year's festival! 😀🙌🎥

The April edition spotlights a story called, "The 40 Million Missing Moviegoers".

View the April News Reel: https://icont.ac/51gNQ

Subscribe to the email newsletter: https://www.highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com/mailinglist...

04/13/2026

Join us at this FREE screening of Never Not Yours, the 2025 Feature Film Award Winner!

Plus, meet the director for a special Q&A session after the screening 😀

Never Not Yours, the 2025 Highlands Cashiers Film Festival Feature Film Award winner, returns on Sunday, August 16, at The Village Green, an HCFF screening that celebrates community, independent filmmaking, and the festival’s growing creative spirit.

02/20/2026

Joy Jorgensen is an independent film producer and festival leader dedicated to building thoughtful, artist-centered spaces for storytelling and community connection.

Joy’s producing work includes acclaimed independent features and shorts that have premiered at major international festivals including Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, and Rotterdam. Through this work, she has developed a deep understanding of how films live beyond the screen—and how festivals play a vital role in shaping that journey.

Joy has been coming to the Highlands–Cashiers area since childhood and maintains a close connection to the community.

As Creative Director of the Highlands–Cashiers Film Festival, Joy brings that experience to a community-focused festival model rooted in place. Her vision for HCFF emphasizes in-person experiences that can’t be streamed—shared screenings, conversation, and time together—while thoughtfully building new traditions that feel welcoming, intentional, and connected to the Highlands–Cashiers community.

Learn more at our website: https://www.highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com/who-we-are

02/06/2026

Sign up for our monthly News Reel! 😀https://www.highlandscashiersfilmfestival.com/mailinglistsignup

01/23/2026

We’re not just building a festival, we’re also building a community. Comment below how you think a festival can bring community!