Celebrate the art of storytelling at the 2nd Annual Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival! Born from a shared love of film, creativity, and community, this annual festival brings together filmmakers, media artists, and audiences from around the world for an engaging in-person experience that sparks conversation and connection through powerful storytelling. 

Weekend highlights include a "Black & White Masquerade", competition feature films submitted from around the world, and a special talk with Wesley Wofford and Clara Stack. Click HERE to learn more and stay tuned for updates. 

Also, join us for our four incredible summer screenings leading up to the festival! Each event showcases a different film and includes a Q&A with the director! Click HERE for details. 

The festival is supported by volunteers and benefits the Performing Arts Center.

Tickets available soon!

Meet Our Artistic Director: Joy Jorgensen

Joy Jorgensen is an independent film producer and festival leader dedicated to building thoughtful, artist-centered spaces for storytelling and community connection. Her career has been shaped by years of producing director-driven independent films and working closely within the international film festival ecosystem. Across projects and premieres, Joy has collaborated with filmmakers at all stages of their careers, helping films find audiences through festivals that value conversation, care, and creative point of view. 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.