ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The 2nd annual Asheville Film Festival ran from Aug. 21-23, 2026, at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. Read a review of our favorite festival films below.

There was a lot to enjoy at this year’s Asheville Film Festival. There were delights like “Settlement,” whose 13-year-old director made an appearance on Friday night, and “Toxic Tampons,” a brief, informative and acid-tinged confection. I also reveled in “Holidays with Catfish,” which was not only hilarious but can also be found in three parts on YouTube, for those of us tuning in from home. Check it out here.

The shorts at the tippity-top of the best-of pile, however, were the following five.

5. “Whole”

Director: Cameron J. Voris

Genre: Horror

“Whole” is a brisk, effective bit of visual storytelling. The film deploys close-up shot after close-up shot, ensuring its eerie atmosphere gets as claustrophobic as possible, while deliberate voice-over propels it to a deliciously dark conclusion. It looks gorgeous, even when it gets really gross. It is impressive how much it does with such a scant runtime. The film is over before you know it, but not before delivering a “wholly” satisfying horror story.

4. “Houdini II: A Beautiful Day to Die”

Director: Daniel John

Genre: Documentary

Short documentary is its own art form inside of the short film apparatus. Finding the perfect subject for a bite-sized doc necessitates the ability to cut the vastness of real life down into laser-focused story structure. It’s more difficult than it sounds: many short documentaries wind up scattershot or undercooked, either trying to cover too much or lacking a subject worth filming. “Houdini II: A Beautiful Day to Die,” meanwhile, pulls off the balancing act of the best of the medium. Its depiction of Houdini II, a self-styled African-American successor to the famed escape artist, is terrific, blending character study and history lesson with stylish élan. It is inventive, colorful and fresh, like all the best documentary shorts should be.

3. “Fairy Tale”

Director: Ann Heatherington

Genre: Comedy/Drama

The heroine of “Fairy Tale” has a lot in common with that of “Anora,” Sean Baker’s Best Picture-winning dramedy about a New York sex worker. However, this character finds herself in a much sunnier scenario. The film stars Anisa Dëma as its titular character, a burnt-out sex worker mistaken for a fairy by a little girl looking for a magic wish. It’s a sweet story of unexpected connection, complete with the conflict of romantic comedies like “Pretty Woman,” but lacking the romance. That is not to say it is without heart. “Fairy Tale” is about two women who find solace in sparkly wings, and in doing so, remind each other of the magical healing properties of imagination. It’s adorable, heart-warming and witty stuff.

2. “Imago”

Director: Ariel Zengotita

Genre: Horror/Comedy

Perhaps the most technically-proficient film at AFF this year, Ariel Zengotita’s “Imago” is a bombastic body horror short. The movie stars Didi Romero as Ana, a young Latina woman obligated to spend her birthday navigating her complex relationship with her mother, who is turning into a gigantic bug. It’s resonate, revolting and very funny, and undoubtedly the most superbly shot and thematically rich film to feature nasty insect puppet legs I’ve seen all year. According to a festival Q&A with Zengotita, a feature is on its way. Good. “Imago” deserves the movie theater treatment.

1. “UN-DEAD”

Director: Bo Webb

Genre: Horror/Comedy

Just when I think I’ve seen every variation of what a zombie movie can be, “UN-DEAD” comes along with a brilliantly simple premise. You know how when a zombie bites you, you turn into a zombie? Well, “UN-DEAD” posits that if a human bites a zombie, they turn back into a human. If someone has done it before, sue me, but for my money, this is an original twist on the zombie genre. It helps that the film is well-acted and filmed with an eye for kinetic action. When the zombie effects look this good and the jokes land this well, such a fresh take on the freshly deceased could only be my favorite flick of the 2nd annual Asheville Film Festival.