Cosmic Rays Foundation

“Our Primary Exempt Purpose: The Cosmic Rays Film Festival is an annual exhibition of non-commercial short films, live-cinema, and extended reality projects. Our aim is to give audiences in the Triangle region of North Carolina and across the Southeastern U.S. access to media artwork that expands our idea of what film is and what it can be.”

“Part III, Line 28, Program Service Accomplishments: The Cosmic Rays Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that presents the annual Cosmic Rays Film Festival. Our mission is to support and celebrate experimental films and digital media art created by regional, national, and global media artists; and to provide a venue in Orange County, North Carolina where a diverse range of audiences can have access to this vital and expanding area of the arts.”

“Part III, Line 28, Program Service Accomplishments: During our 7th edition which took place from March 21-23, 2025, Cosmic Rays presented 32 films selected from 462 submissions from around the world. During our three day festival, some 300 people attended our five screening blocks at the Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill; participated in post-screening conversations with eight visiting filmmakers; and attended an afternoon of artist talks with visiting filmmakers Alison Kobayashi, Rebecca Barten, and David Sherman at Fatwood Studio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.”

“Part III, Line 28, Program Service Accomplishments: Each year, Cosmic Rays invites a distinguished film scholar to curate a special program of films. Thanks to a grant from the Orange County NC Arts Commission, this year Cosmic Rays was able to invite New York-based film scholar Genevieve Yue to curate a program of films titled MOVING IMAGES. Yues program featured work by four filmmakers-of-color who deploy a variety of formal techniques to explore the ways Black and Brown bodies navigate online and offline space.”

“Part III, Line 28, Program Service Accomplishments: In order to expand the reach of our festivals programming, Cosmic Rays launched a Touring Program in 2022. Each year, we select a program of films from our latest edition to send on a tour of screening venues around the United States. Our 2025 touring program is entitled You Dont Know Me, a program of ten experimental films about the roles our bodies play, the data they generate, the avatars they adopt, and the traces they leave behind.”

“Support non-commercial filmmakers.; Arts; Grants to filmmakers less: than $5,000 each., , , ; , 3510.”

“Travel airfare 1437.”

“Travel: filmmaker lodging 1000.”

“Insurance 1515.”

“Advertising/marketing 809.”

“Festival afterparty/brunch 516.”

“Travel: vehicle rental 280.”

“Supplies and materials 219.”

“Travel: taxis and shared rides 81.”

“Office expenses 80.”

“Corporate compliance 69.”

“Merchant account fees 25.”

“Adjust beginning Paypal Balance 82.”