
By Samuel Tucker
2025 has started strong and a new year means a lot more than new movies at IPH: The cinema has a new auditorium, is looking for a new community and education manager — and is the new host of a Carolina filmmaker monthly meetup, named the Carolina Independent Film Collective. The group drew a huge crowd to its first meetup at IPH on Jan. 7. Those attending saw several presentations and an incredible Q&A with Charlotte native and feature-film director Rory Karpf.
The meeting was a resounding success. There was a great feeling of community and tons of participation from everyone there, which included people inside the industry and outside it (like your humble writer). We had a blast socializing in the brand-new multipurpose room before taking our seats in the giant auditorium that IPH recently opened. I can tell you that it is a true experience, with fantastic seats and great projection. A movie like Nosferatu looks great in this space. I can’t wait to see the movies that will be shown there this year.
During the announcements, we saw several IPH members — including the fantastic young actress from the pre-film IPH bumper! Following that was a fun screening of the short film Everybody Don’t Electric Slide by Rodney Stringfellow, a lecturer in film studies at UNC Charlotte, IPH board member and part of a growing artist collective. His short film took on a case of missing identity through a unique device — a “haunted” typewriter. Obviously a short film can be easily spoiled, so the less said here the better. Stringfellow and his lead actor took the stage for a fantastic Q&A, taking questions about their personal experiences in film, production trivia and more.
We also enjoyed the Q&A with Rory Karpf, whose debut feature, Grace Point, starts its run at IPH on Friday, Jan. 17. Karpf has an interesting history, getting his start directing Dale, a wildly successful documentary about race car driver Dale Earnhardt. He transitioned to an incredible run of ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries, including one of my personal favorites, Nature Boy, about wrestler Ric Flair. He discussed his career, including his five steps to film success:
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
- Create your own opportunities
- Use your own network
- Anything worthwhile takes sacrifice
- There is no tomorrow
Before the Q&A, I had a chance to talk to Karpf, and some things he said really hit home with me. Originally from Philly, he now calls Charlotte home. When asked about the challenges of production in a smaller town compared with Los Angeles, New York or Vancouver, he told me:
I think it’s easier here. There’s not as much red tape. There’s also an appreciation of when you’re filming, especially when you get a little bit away from the city. … [When] we filmed Grace Point in Laurinburg, North Carolina, they rolled out the red carpet. They were just so happy to have us.
Which personally gives me hope, knowing that anything that is possible in a bigger city can be done right here in Charlotte!
So in this new year, as always, head over to IPH, turn off your phone and enjoy a nice beverage while viewing cinema of every kind and participating in a one-of-a-kind location.
Don’t miss Rory Karpf’s new film, Grace Point!
To learn more about the next Carolina Independent Film Collective meetup, click here!