Home Is Distant Shores Film Festival 2026

11.00 AM EDT, Saturday, May 9th 2026

The Cary Theater, Cary, North Carolina.

In its 8th year, the Home Is Distant Shores Film Festival celebrates the lives and experiences of immigrants and refugees who have embarked on journeys to new lands, showcasing their compelling stories through captivating films and artwork. This year, we’ve three film blocks which will immerse audiences in a variety of engaging narratives, each culminating in Q&A sessions with filmmakers and community members. Join us for a transformative experience and secure your tickets today!

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2026 SCHEDULE

Doors Open - 11:00 AM

Film Block One- 11:30 AM to 12:50 PM

Film Block One- Q&A Discussion - 12:50 PM to 1:20 PM

Intermission- 1:20 PM to 1:35 PM

Film Block Two- 1:35 PM to 2:55 PM

Film Block Two- Q&A Discussion - 2:55 PM to 3:25 PM

Intermission- 3:25 PM to 3:40 PM

Film Block Three- 3:40 PM to 5:00 PM

Film Block Three - Q&A Discussion- 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Selected Films - 2026

BLOCK 1

1. A Bigger Table – Refugee chef Laetitia Nsengi crafts a 12-course pop-up dinner and fundraiser inspired by dishes from the Republic of the Congo, aiming to raise $25,000 for Refugee Community Partnership in Carrboro, North Carolina. – 14 minutes 47 seconds – Documentary Short.

2. A Road Out – The remarkable story of South African medical pioneers who transformed community health in the American South and beyond. – 30 minutes – Documentary.

3. Hielo – An immigrant woman on the verge of giving birth searches for her missing husband, uncovering truths that challenge the American dream she envisioned for her family. – 10 minutes 59 seconds – Fiction.

4. Threads – A portrait of the Montagnard refugee community in North Carolina, weaving intergenerational storytelling and history in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. – 16 minutes – Documentary.

BLOCK 2

1. 2x ft Double J the Rapper – A look into the life of an Indian immigrant rapper in Canada, exploring identity, family, and his pursuit of music. – 8 minutes 10 seconds – Documentary.

2. First Winter – A newly arrived immigrant in Chicago experiences his first winter and begins to understand what it means to be far from home. – 4 minutes 27 seconds – Documentary Animation.

3. Not From These Parts – Maine’s newest immigrants reshape their public narrative by documenting their lives through photography. – 4 minutes 10 seconds – Documentary.

4. Philoxenia – A documentary exploring the connection between Greek hospitality and Southern culture through Greek-owned restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama. – 14 minutes 49 seconds – Documentary.

5. Swim – A tense relationship unfolds between a mother and daughter after a risky moment during a family camping trip. – 13 minutes 37 seconds – Fiction.

6. Teb Chaw (Land) – An immersive look at Hmong refugee farmers reshaping local food systems in Minnesota. – 11 minutes – Documentary.

7. The Trees Still in Brooklyn – A young woman reflects on her identity as a first-generation American during a revealing conversation with friends. – 9 minutes 20 seconds – Fiction.

8. Yousef – An Iranian asylum seeker faces a life-altering decision while awaiting the outcome of his immigration interview. – 9 minutes 17 seconds – Fiction.

BLOCK 3

1. Adas Falasteen (Palestine Lentils) – A Palestinian chef uses cooking as resistance and survival amid famine caused by war, preserving hope within his community. – 7 minutes 54 seconds – Documentary.

2. I Am Canadian – A young Iranian immigrant in Canada struggles with cultural displacement and identity. – 6 minutes 54 seconds – Fiction.

3. Journeys of Hope – A powerful narrative spanning history, where mothers make the painful decision to send their children away in search of safety. – 7 minutes 31 seconds – Fiction.

4. Same Difference – Set in a time of racial discrimination, two individuals form a bond through shared experiences of prejudice. – 14 minutes 39 seconds – Fiction.

5. Stigmatized – A sharp commentary on bias, exploring how AI systems can reflect and amplify racism. – 12 minutes 39 seconds – Fiction.

6. The Emulsion of Time – A filmmaker retraces his grandfather’s immigrant journey through photography, uncovering identity and memory. – 13 minutes – Documentary.

7. Tumpengan (One Dish Short) – A mother struggles with identity, family, and mental health while preparing a traditional Indonesian dish amid growing pressure. – 12 minutes 59 seconds – Fiction.

Selected Films 2026 - Posters

Selected Films - 2025

Home Is Distant Shores - Poster

Poster Artwork By Sampada Kodagali Agarwal

We are interested in wide variety of stories such as migration journey, border security, education, employment, documented and undocumented immigration, community integration, family separation, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), resettlement of refugee and asylum seekers etc. We encourage various storytellers to share their work with almost 800,000 immigrants who reside in North Carolina state and beyond.