Piedmont Triad Film Commission

08/08/2026

Congratulations to the very talented and local filmmaker Nachela Knox - recognized as this year's Distinctive Director at the Mightier than the Sword Film Festival in Asheboro - going on NOW!

Nachela Knox has claimed the title of 2026 Distinctive Director for the upcoming Mightier Than the Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival in Asheboro, taking place Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9, festival

08/07/2026

Look who’s getting some well-deserved national attention! Travel + Leisure has named Mount Airy one of North Carolina’s most charming small towns—and we couldn’t agree more!

Mount Airy and Surry County are among the many wonderful communities the Piedmont Triad Film Commission proudly promotes and markets for filmmaking. And if you’re wondering whether this is a great place to make movie...

•••Warning: Name-dropping ahead. Proceed with caution.•••

Just ask Eli Roth, who filmed Cabin Fever here; Nicholas Sparks and director George Tillman Jr., whose The Longest Ride filmed throughout Surry County; or Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, whose feature Are You Here also found the perfect backdrop here—and those are just a few!

Come experience the nostalgic charm of “Mayberry,” along with Surry County’s beautiful rolling hills, mountain vistas, vineyards and wineries, country roads, farms, historic buildings, and quaint small towns. Whether your story calls for classic Americana, breathtaking rural scenery, or something a little more sinister lurking in the woods, you’ll find it here.

Read all about Mount Airy in Travel + Leisure—and filmmakers, come see why Surry County is always ready for its close-up!

https://www.travelandleisure.com/guide-mount-airy-north-carolina-12029500

Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mount Airy, North Carolina, is known as Andy Griffith’s hometown—and it has hikes, wineries, and small-town charm.

08/05/2026

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with these three aspiring filmmakers! Mike Kimel, Jordan Fillipino and Eric Clifton are in the early stages of embarking on their filmmaking journey and were looking for some advice and suggestions—which I was more than happy to provide.

They also all work at Remedy Coffee, so I’m beginning to think being a filmmaker or serious film fan may be a prerequisite for working there!

I always enjoy meeting local creatives and learning more about the stories they want to tell. Stay tuned for more updates from these guys!

07/31/2026

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of touring THS Creative in Greensboro—and let me tell you: they have it all, y’all!

THS is an extraordinary full-service creative production studio with deep roots in still photography and an impressive 110,000-square-foot facility. They are continuing to expand their capacity to accommodate video, commercial, film and television productions—and I was blown away by both the space and the possibilities.

I met with President and Partner Larry Boyd; the Chief Marketing Officer Renee Loper-Boyd; and their Sales Development Manager - Lauren Caroline Heider (all pictured below, along with PTFC's E.D. Rebecca Clark). They generously showed me around their stages, custom fabrication and set-building areas, paint facilities, prop department, equipment room, editing suites and production office space. Their talented team has the ability to design, build, paint and create just about anything a production might need!

Even better, THS is open to working with outside film, television, video and commercial production companies. Their stages are available for rental, and professional productions may also be able to rent props and equipment.

I was truly impressed—not only by the size and capabilities of the facility, but by the THS team’s enthusiasm and openness to working with our creative community and helping us grow the Piedmont Triad’s film, television and commercial production industry.

Get to know THS Creative!
https://thscreative.com/

Oh!!! Last but not least - I met Maxwell (also pictured below)- Larry & Renee's delightful doggy who oversees the entire organization.

07/30/2026

If you don’t already know Ty Brueilly—get to know him! Ty is an incredibly talented musician, writer, filmmaker, fashion designer and creative entrepreneur—and the founder of Asheboro’s Mightier Than the Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival, now entering its third year!

This year’s festival takes place August 7–9, 2026, at the historic Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro. CHECK IT OUT!

Ty is awesome, and I love the energy, creativity and opportunities he continues to bring to Asheboro and our region. Read more about this mighty creative force here:

A Mighty Look In The Mind Of Entrepreneurial Artist, Asheboro’s Ty Brueilly

07/22/2026

Thank you, Algenon Cash, for continuing to shine a spotlight - pun intended! - on one of our region’s most often overlooked yet substantial economic-development opportunities: recruiting and helping facilitate film, television, commercial and new-media business.

Winston-Salem and the Piedmont Triad have the locations, talent, potential for more infrastructure, educational resources and rich filmmaking history. What we still need is a geographic uplift in North Carolina’s film incentive for major productions choosing to film in regions outside the state’s established production hubs. That is the ONE change that is and has been needed in the incentive that would help offset the additional costs these productions face and allow our region to attract more of this valuable business.

Thank you again, Algenon, for recognizing the potential and continuing to make the case. Excellent article!

Opinion | Winston-Salem has everything needed to become a film destination — except one thing By Algenon Cash Economic development is often measured by the factories a community recruits, the corporate headquarters it lands or the next billion-dollar investment announced with elected officials sta...

07/21/2026

Calling all video production professionals!

The City of Winston-Salem’s Marketing and Communications Department is seeking a creative, hardworking Video Production Specialist to join its team in a full-time position.

If you—or someone you know—has a passion for visual storytelling and the skills to bring stories to life through video, check out the complete job description and application details below!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/winstonsalemnc/jobs/5403258-0/video-production-specialist

We’re hiring! 🎥 The City of Winston-Salem’s Marketing and Communications Department is seeking a creative and hardworking Video Production Specialist to join their team, supporting programming for events, social media, and the city’s cable TV station.

Apply by July 29, 2026 at the link in bio.

07/08/2026

Congratulations to Ty Brueilly and the team behind the Mightier Than the Sword Film Festival in Asheboro! Now in its third year, the festival will be held at the historic Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro August 7–9.

If you love celebrating North Carolina's independent filmmakers and experiencing great stories on the big screen, you need to CHECK IT OUT!

SUNSET THEATRE -August 7-9, 2026234

04/18/2026

Saturday, April 18 / 4:00PM / Hanesbrands Theatre

ATTN: LOCAL FILMMAKERS!! Today RiverRun International Film Festival is hosting a FREE panel discussion on film distribution that is being co-sponsored by the Piedmont Triad Film Commission:

"HOW TO NAVIGATE INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTION", featuring panelists Alexa Whiteside (WAM Entertainment Law), Max Geschwind (CAA), and filmmaker Marie Jamora.

What questions about distribution do YOU have or do you want to learn more about? Let me know!

Saturday, April 18 / 4:00PM / Hanesbrands Theatre

Alexa will present the legal aspects of navigating film distribution through her work with filmmakers. Max will discuss it from the agent/distributor side, and Marie can discuss how she navigated self-distribution.

JOIN US!

This discussion offers filmmakers and cinephiles a practical, insider look at today’s evolving distribution landscape. Industry professionals will break dow ...