The Cucalorus Film Festival kicks off its 30th year on Wednesday.

The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday at Jengo’s Playhouse, Thalian Hall and other downtown venues.

“This year’s festival feels like a reunion of sorts. We have some of our favorite performers like Shirley Gnome, Roxana Barba and Alexandra Tatarsky coming to share new work in the cabaret-style Filmmakers Lounge. Many of the shorts blocks will screen on the main stage at Thalian Hall, a throwback to the first festival where we screened 16 short films," said Dan Brawley, Cucalorus's chief instigating officer, in a news release. "And the lineup of features is really outstanding, including the Friday Night feature, Operation Taco Gary’s, which was shot last year here in North Carolina and stars Simon Rex, who will be joining us for the festival."

Dance-a-lorus will be held Thursday at Thalian Hall with short dance works by Wilmington’s top choreographers like Linda Larson and Kevin Green, the release stated. Also Thursday, brother and sister duo Ashley and William Tyner "tackle the impact of George Floyd’s murder in The People’s Way, a powerful documentary about inner healing and Black liberation," according to the release.

The award-winning, "bizarre, experimental comedy" Universal Language will be shown Friday. The film "turns ordinary-day Winnipeg into something special and screens on the main stage at Thalian, along with an all-star list of narrative features like Messy, Lone Wolves, Lady Parts, and Duino," the release stated.

According to the release, Michael Premo’s award-winning film Homegrown "tells the stories of three men caught up in the frenzy of support for Trump’s 2020 stolen election lies." They’re Here, a comedic documentary that explores human connection and perception with alien encounters, shows on Saturday afternoon.

"In keeping with the theme of the 30th anniversary (celebrated with a pearl), this year’s shorts blocks are aptly named after oysters," the release stated. "Check out Sugar Shack shorts for the weirdest and most absurd films, Blue Point shorts for animation and Coffin Bay for comedy."

Ticket and pass prices for Cucalorus and a full schedule of films are available online.