The Creative Cornerstone NC

The Creative Cornerstone NC Creativity Evolved, founded by AJ & Queen, has been shaping Charlotte's creatives since '21.

As the founders of the Creative Cornerstone nonprofit, they are dedicated to bridging the gap between artistic dreams and professional triumphs

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: THE CHAIRIt’s officially ONE MORE DAY until the On the Rise Student Film Festival, and we have one mor...
09/18/2026

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: THE CHAIR

It’s officially ONE MORE DAY until the On the Rise Student Film Festival, and we have one more student film to introduce before we hit the BIG SCREEN tomorrow! 🎥✨

Next up: THE CHAIR

Sometimes being left out can hurt more than we realize.

When a group of friends unintentionally forgets to invite someone in their circle to a party, they begin to notice that something has changed. She hasn’t been to class for several days, she’s pulled away from the group, and they’re forced to face the impact their actions may have had.

The Chair explores friendship, exclusion, empathy, and the importance of paying attention to the people around us.

It’s another example of what student storytelling can do: take situations young people actually experience and turn them into stories that create conversation, reflection, and connection. 🎬

🎟️ Come see THE CHAIR and our other student films TOMORROW!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission

Their stories are ready. The big screen is waiting. Tomorrow, it’s SHOWTIME. 🎬🍿

CharlotteFilm CharlotteNC TheCreativeCornerstone

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: SUMMER GYM SHOWDOWNWe’re getting closer to the On the Rise Student Film Festival, and we’ve got anothe...
09/17/2026

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: SUMMER GYM SHOWDOWN

We’re getting closer to the On the Rise Student Film Festival, and we’ve got another student film headed to the BIG SCREEN this Saturday! 🎥🔥

Next up: SUMMER GYM SHOWDOWN 🏀

This game changes everything.

The gym is set. The competition is on. And when the scoreboard starts running, it’s about more than just who walks away with the win. 👀🏀

Written by Keya Hamilton and directed by AJ Williams, Summer Gym Showdown brings together competition, storytelling, teamwork, and young talent for a film we can’t wait for you to experience.

Produced by Queen Williams and co-produced by AJ Williams for Creativity Evolved Studios, this film is another example of what happens when young creatives are given opportunities to learn, collaborate, perform, and bring a story from an idea to the screen. 🎬✨

🎟️ Come see SUMMER GYM SHOWDOWN and more at the On the Rise Student Film Festival!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission

Their stories are ready. The big screen is waiting. 🎬

CharlotteFilm CharlotteNC TheCreativeCornerstone

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: THE ENTITYThe countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival continues, and today we’re introducin...
09/16/2026

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: THE ENTITY

The countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival continues, and today we’re introducing another student film making its way to the BIG SCREEN this Saturday! 🎥

Next up: THE ENTITY 👀

🔴 Some things should stay hidden.

What begins as a seemingly typical summer day at Creativity Evolved Studios quickly turns into something the campers never bargained for.

Inspired by a true story and brought to life with the creativity of the 2024 Creative Arts Summer Camp students and staff, The Entity takes us into a suspenseful story where things may not be quite what they seem.

This film is another reminder of what can happen when young creatives are given the space to imagine, collaborate, perform, create, and bring their ideas to life.

And this Saturday, they get to see it where it belongs: on the BIG SCREEN. 🎬✨

🎟️ Come see THE ENTITY and more at the On the Rise Student Film Festival!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission

Their stories are ready. The big screen is waiting. 🎬

CharlotteFilm CharlotteNC TheCreativeCornerstone

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: SLIPThe countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival continues, and today we’re giving you anoth...
09/15/2026

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: SLIP

The countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival continues, and today we’re giving you another look at one of the student films hitting the BIG SCREEN this Saturday! 🎥

Next up: SLIP

⚡ Some powers can’t be controlled.

What happens when something unexpected turns an ordinary moment into something completely out of your control? 👀

SLIP brings imagination, creativity, and a supernatural twist to the screen, all through the vision and work of young filmmakers.

Produced by The Creative Cornerstone and directed by Aniya Westbrook-Hall, this is another story we’re excited for you to experience at this year’s festival.

This is why we create spaces like On the Rise. Our students aren’t just learning about filmmaking. They’re creating, collaborating, telling stories, and seeing their work come to life on the BIG SCREEN. 🎬✨

🎟️ Come see SLIP and more this Saturday!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission

Their stories are ready. The big screen is waiting. 🎬

CharlotteFilm CharlotteNC TheCreativeCornerstone

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: NO MATTER WHEREThe countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival is officially ON, and all week l...
09/14/2026

🎬 MEET THE FILMS: NO MATTER WHERE

The countdown to the On the Rise Student Film Festival is officially ON, and all week long, we’re giving you a look at the student films hitting the big screen this Saturday! 🎥

First up: NO MATTER WHERE

Some obsessions never end.

Addison finds herself facing a terrifying reality when someone from her past escapes and comes looking for her. 👀

Created by young filmmakers through The Creative Cornerstone, No Matter Where is one of the student films you’ll experience at this year’s festival.

This is what On the Rise is all about: giving young creatives the opportunity to tell their stories, develop their craft, and experience seeing their work on the BIG SCREEN.

🎟️ Come see No Matter Where and more this Saturday!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission

Their stories are ready. The big screen is waiting. 🎬

CharlotteFilm CharlotteNC TheCreativeCornerstone

🎬 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 ON THE RISE FILM FESTIVAL SPONSORS!The On the Rise Student Film Festival is about more th...
09/11/2026

🎬 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 ON THE RISE FILM FESTIVAL SPONSORS!

The On the Rise Student Film Festival is about more than simply showing films. It’s about creating a space where the next generation of filmmakers, directors, creatives, and storytellers can see their work on the big screen, connect with industry professionals, and know that their creativity deserves to be seen.

And we couldn’t create that kind of experience without the organizations and businesses who believe in the vision alongside us.

We are incredibly grateful to recognize this year’s sponsors and supporters:

✨ Sony Electronics Sony Electronics
✨ Arts & Science Council (ASC) Arts & Science Council
✨ Charlotte Is Creative Charlotte Is Creative
✨ The Creative Cornerstone
✨ Green Envy greenenvyeats.nc
✨ Creativity Evolved Creativity Evolved | Media Production

Thank you for investing in young creatives and helping us create opportunities for their stories to move beyond an idea and onto the BIG SCREEN. 🎥

We’re officially getting closer, Charlotte!

📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Independent Picture House The Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE & open to the community

Come celebrate these talented young filmmakers with us and experience the stories they’ve worked so hard to bring to life.

We’ll see you at On the Rise! 🎬✨

SupportYoungCreatives TheCreativeCornerstone FilmFestival CharlotteCreatives

09/10/2026

🎬 Here’s a little sneak peek at where it’s all going down!

We’re officially counting down to the On the Rise Student Film Festival, happening September 19th at Independent Picture House in Charlotte!

From walking through the doors to seeing our students’ films on the BIG screen, we cannot wait to fill these seats with families, creatives, filmmakers, and community members ready to celebrate the next generation of storytellers. 🎥✨

And yes, admission is completely FREE!

Come spend the day with us for student film screenings, our Industry Panel Discussion, food, community, and an opportunity to celebrate some incredibly creative young filmmakers.

📅 September 19, 2026
📍 Independent Picture House The Independent Picture House
🎟️ FREE Admission
🎬 On the Rise Student Film Festival

The screen is ready. The students are ready. Now we just need YOU in the audience.

CharlotteFilm YoungFilmmakers YouthInFilm StudentFilmmakers

Charlotte food truck owners ... we have ONE spot left. 👀On September 19, students, families, filmmakers, creatives, and ...
09/07/2026

Charlotte food truck owners ... we have ONE spot left. 👀

On September 19, students, families, filmmakers, creatives, and members of Charlotte's film community will gather at Independent Picture House for the On The Rise Student Film Festival and we're looking for one more food truck to join us.

We are currently filling our final food truck spot for festival day.

This is an opportunity to serve our festival guests while being part of a day created to celebrate the next generation of storytellers and filmmakers.

📅 September 19, 2026
📍 Independent Picture House | Charlotte, NC
🎬 On The Rise Student Film Festival

Interested or know a food truck that would be a great fit?

Send them this link: https://form.jotform.com/262244176185055

Please share this with a Charlotte food truck owner! Our last spot may be sitting on somebody's timeline right now. 👀

🎥 What happens when the person teaching the next generation of filmmakers is also actively creating stories for the scre...
09/07/2026

🎥 What happens when the person teaching the next generation of filmmakers is also actively creating stories for the screen?

You get our next Industry Panelist: Rodney Stringfellow. 👏🏾

Rodney serves as Director of Film Studies at UNC Charlotte, where he oversees the undergraduate film program and teaches screenwriting, film history, and video production.

But his experience goes far beyond the classroom.

As a screenwriter, Rodney has written for children’s programming across PBS Kids, Nick Jr., Disney Channel, BBC, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Workshop. His work has earned major recognition, including a 2026 Silver Telly Award for writing on PBS North Carolina’s Mini Fab Science Lab, along with previous writing nominations for Alma’s Way and The Backyardigans.

He’s also an award-winning filmmaker himself, with shorts including Everybody Don’t Electric Slide and Manhood appearing in film festivals and showcases.

For the young filmmakers joining us September 19, this is the kind of access we want you to have — people who understand the craft, the industry AND what it takes to grow as a storyteller.

📍 Independent Picture House | Charlotte, NC
📅 September 19, 2026

💬 Got a question for Rodney? Drop it in the comments. We may pull YOUR question and ask him live during the Industry Panel.

And if you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet… what are you waiting for? 👀 Come be in the room.

🎬 She’s spent years bringing stories from the page to the screen — and now she’s bringing that experience to the On The ...
09/02/2026

🎬 She’s spent years bringing stories from the page to the screen — and now she’s bringing that experience to the On The Rise Film Festival.

Meet Joanne Hock, one of our 2026 Industry Panelists!

Joanne’s career spans feature films, documentaries, and television. She has directed Academy Award, Golden Globe, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning actors, with feature film credits including When We Last Spoke, The Ultimate Legacy, Discarded Things, and Trinity Goodheart. She has also directed more than 30 episodes of true-crime television.

And when we say award-winning, we mean it. 👏🏾 When We Last Spoke received the Austin Film Festival Audience Favorite Award, while her documentary work has been showcased at festivals and venues including Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and Lincoln Center.

This is exactly why we created our Industry Panel — to give emerging filmmakers and creatives an opportunity to hear from people who have actually done the work, built the career, and navigated the industry.

📍 Independent Picture House | Charlotte, NC
📅 September 19, 2026

Have something you’ve always wanted to ask a film director? Drop your question below 👇🏾 — we may ask Joanne LIVE during the panel.

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1920 Stroud Park Court Charlotte, NC 28206
Charlotte, NC
28206

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