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The Charleston Film Festival is returning to Terrace Theater on James Island for the first time in seven years, and owner Paul Brown said he expects it to be one of the best versions yet.

The festival’s hiatus was largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood writers' strikes, which Brown said made it difficult to curate a group of films that met his standards. It was only in the past year that he felt he was able to develop a lineup strong enough to warrant having a festival.

“Patience pays off, as they say," Brown said.

The three-day-long event will be held Oct. 15-18 and celebrate local and international films across genres. Attendees can choose which films they'd like to see and purchase individual tickets for each screening.

It's tradition for the festival to kick off with a locally made short film, and this year it will begin with a screening of "Summerville 1970," a 15-minute short written and directed by David Boatwright and produced by Brown.

Boatwright, best known for his paintings and many murals around the Charleston area, attended film school in Los Angeles. Some of his scripts got attention, but none of them made it onto the screen, he said. Eventually, he pivoted to visual art but never lost his love of filmmaking.

"Summerville 1970" is based on a chapter of "Today, Oh Boy," a 2023 novel by Wesley Moore III. Logan Marshall-Green, a James Island native who recently appeared in "The Odyssey," plays a Vietnam War veteran in the film.

Boatwright said he appreciates that the film festival will expose community members to projects outside of the mainstream, such as "Summerville 1970."

“Having this thing, it opens up venues for stuff you wouldn’t normally see, even on streaming," he said.

Storytelling from around the world

Kyle Perritt, a Charleston-based writer and director, will also have a short film in the festival.

"Robbie Ain't Right No More" will be one of five horror and horror comedy short films presented in a one-and-a-half-hour block.

Perritt said that when his film debuted, he felt like it was screened everywhere except in Charleston. The festival will allow the cast and crew who worked on the film to see it in theaters for the first time.

“When they work on independent films for very little money, it’s usually a kind of passion project for them. So, you know, they get something out of it, being able to see it on a big screen at home," he said.

The festival will also serve as a networking opportunity for cast and crew members to meet others in the film industry, he added.

In addition to local, independent films, the festival will feature "splashier" movies such as "La Bola Negra," a Spanish film which earned the People's Choice Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and the Best Director award at Cannes Film Festival.

“It's nice to share storytelling from all over the world with people who really care about it," Brown said.

Those who catch the film at the Charleston Film Festival will see it about a month before the film's release.

The festival will also include a screening of "Wild Horse Nine," starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey ahead of its official release.

For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit terracetheater.com/now-playing. General admission tickets cost $13 per film, and College of Charleston students and faculty members can get tickets for $10.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — “Bugs try to land on me but they slide right off!” “I’ve been in saunas cooler than this.” “You can stand next to me if you promise not to talk about the heat.” These were among the comments we heard on our summer trip to Charleston. (OK, we’re lying about the last one. That’s from the 1981 noir classic “Body Heat,” one of the sultriest film experiences ever. Those sweaty lovers Kathleen Turner and William Hurt? So hot.)

Even when its cobblestone streets are sizzling, Charleston is, well, Charleston. It’s number two on Travel +Leisure’s list of favorite US cities, and has reigned as tops for a dozen years. Called the Holy City because of its 400 churches, this coastal city offers an unbeatable blend of history, architectural gems, inviting waterfront, Lowcountry cuisine, and great shopping. Just 20 or so minutes away are beautiful beaches. It’s got a yacht-y, preppy vibe, style-wise: “It’s the southern version of Nantucket,” a visitor from Watertown said.

If you can’t handle the heat, go now. “Fall typically brings lower humidity and cooler temperatures, offering beautiful weather for outdoor activities, beach visits, and exploring the Charleston region,” says Chris Campbell of Explore Charleston (www.explorecharleston.com). It’s a quieter vibe, but there’s plenty happening, including the third annual Food + Wine Classic in Charleston, Nov. 13-15. (For more, visit www.charlestoncvb.com/events.) And there’s a bonus: Lodging prices trend slightly lower in fall compared to spring, and airfares dip from their summer peak, especially if you travel midweek. We found fares for just over $200 for nonstop Saturday-Tuesday flights.

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Our real find, though: The Inn at Middleton Place (from $161; www.theinnatmiddletonplace.com). Now, this one isn’t downtown — it’s part of a 110-acre complex on Plantation Row along Ashley River Road. Unlike the cheek-by-jowl pastel-hued mansions in the city proper, Middleton Place is pure South Carolina countryside, tucked under live oaks swathed in curtains of Spanish moss. The property, a National Historic Landmark, has hosted Founding Fathers, statesmen, and diplomats. And you, if you choose to overnight in one of the inn’s 55 rooms.

The main house was originally built as the Middleton family residence in 1705; that, and a northern flanking building, was burned by Union troops in 1865 and leveled by an earthquake in 1886. A south-flanking house, built in 1755, became the family’s residence after the Civil War. It is now a museum. The House Museum currently holds an exhibit dedicated to the American Revolution, including a rare silk copy of the Declaration of Independence.

The most stunning element of Middleton Place is the historic gardens, a lush wonderland of crepe myrtles, tea olives, and some of America’s oldest camellias, with floral allées, ornamental butterfly-shaped lakes, terraced lawns, and sunken gardens, dotted with statuary. Animals share the property, heritage breeds including sheep, goats, and guinea fowl. At the equestrian center, guests can sign up for trail rides.

Given all this, you might expect the guest rooms at the Inn at Middleton Place to be ‘ye-olde/quaint,’ but no — they’re situated in design-forward buildings on the riverside. Floor-to-ceiling windows have retractable cedar shutters, flat-screen Roku TVs, Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and cushy king- or queen-size beds. Not to mention air conditioning and wood-burning fireplaces for cooler months. Hammocks and Adirondack chairs add to the pastoral vibe. There’s an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the river — unheated, but Mom Nature takes care of that. The only downside is, you’re a 20- or 30-minute drive from downtown Charleston. Ride shares are readily available, but you may want to spring for a rental car, especially if you plan to go to the beach.

But we were happy to enjoy the city by day and then escape to the country. And we liked the value-added complimentary amenities at the Inn at Middleton Place: admission to the museum and gardens, happy hour at The Lodge, and a hearty breakfast at the Lake House. Dinner at the Restaurant at Middleton Place is a must for exquisite Lowcountry dining.

The Restaurant at Middleton Place isn’t bargain-priced, but there are several places around town that offer an excellent taste of Charleston that aren’t wildly spendy. Charleston Crab House (www.charlestoncrabhouse.com) offers shrimp and grits in two versions. The entrée-size portion, with shrimp, smoked sausage, and peppers ($25.95), is big enough for sharing; add a house salad ($8.95). Open Monday-Saturday, Legend Deli (legenddeli.com) has quickly become a favorite thanks to overstuffed sandwiches with punny names, like Ham-Ela Anderson ($16) and all-day breakfast. For brunch, Gabrielle at the Hotel Bennett, downtown (www.hotelbennett.com) is worth a splurge; they offer a fun spin on grits, Nashville Hot chicken and grits ($29) featuring stoneground grits, pickles, Brussels sprouts, bacon, pea tendrils, and of course, spicy chicken.

All of the Charleston-area beaches are free, although you’ll pay to park. We chose Isle of Palms, a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, a lovely long stretch that invites a beach walk. Before you go, grab picnic fixings at Get Carried Away Southern Market (www.getcarriedaway.com). Their chicken salad and Brookies (brownie-meets-cookie) are worth the trip. If you’re still around IOP at dinnertime, pop into Islander 71 Fish House (www.islander71.com) at the marina, a local favorite where you can watch dolphins at play as you dine on crab dip, fresh seafood, and banana pudding that will transport you to childhood. Our waitperson, Buffy, from Plymouth, N.H., has happily decamped to Isle of Palms. “I mean, look at this!” she said, pointing to sunset on the sparkly harbor. We get it, girl.

What else belongs on your summer agenda? The Charleston Museum ($15; www.charlestonmuseum.org), founded in 1773, tells the stories of the South Carolina Lowcountry in a compelling way, including its natural history. The Charleston Tea Garden (www.charlestonteagarden.com) offers free tours of America’s only tea factory and tea farm. The harvesting and production processes are in full swing in summer. We truly loved the South Carolina Aquarium (scaquarium.org); it is massive and beautifully done, with a 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank, the deepest in North America. We wish we could tell you that it’s cheap; it’s not. But they use dynamic pricing, so if you plan a visit for, say, a Tuesday afternoon, you might get lucky and snag an adult ticket for $35.40.

Overlooking Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River, 10-acre Joe Riley Waterfront Park is a perfect place to catch a welcome breeze, watch the boats pass by, and pay your respects to the city’s famous Pineapple Fountain. Still hot? Hop onto the Charleston Water Taxi (all-day pass $17; charlestonwatertaxi.com) to get to popular landmarks, spot dolphins, or simply cool off.

Next time we visit, we’re taking one of those nighttime ghost tours. You’ll get a sense of the city’s dark side at Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (www.oldexchange.org), but there’s more to the story — Charleston is considered to be one of the most haunted cities in America.

Now that’s chilling.

www.explorecharleston.com.

For recommendations on free and low-cost events in Charleston during your stay, follow @chsforless on Instagram, run by bargain queens Riley Davis, Alyssa Driggers, and Grayson Taylor. We asked them to share some of their best, general tips for visitors. Here’s a peek at some we love.

Free museum: The Gibbes Museum of Art (www.gibbesmuseum.org) is free on Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 p.m. The first-floor exhibit area is always free to visit.

Happy hour: Baba’s Apertivo Hour (three locations: 11 Cannon, 804 Meeting, and 115 Wentworth streets; babascharleston.com ) offers free “elevated European-style” snacks with the purchase of a cocktail or glass of wine on Friday and Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Cheap eats: Wednesday nights from 5 to 9 p.m., take advantage of $10 smash burgers at hip/chic Park and Grove restaurant (www.parkandgrovechs.com).

Affordable stay: The retro ‘60s Starlight Motor Inn (www.starlightchs.com) in North Charleston offers poolside double-bunk rooms for under $100 per night. At just $25 per person, it’s a great choice for the bachelor/bachelorette crowd or budget-minded families. They’ve got a swingin’ lounge too.

Lowcountry Lowline: Coming in 2027, this free 1.7-mile linear park, a former railway corridor, will connect downtown Charleston to West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant, and North Charleston.

CHARLESTON — A “critical” flash flood warning is in effect for Berkeley and Charleston counties the night of Oct. 4.

The National Weather Service extended the warning until at least 1 a.m., after earlier extending it from 11 p.m. to midnight.

“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the NSW warning stated. “Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”

More than a dozen downtown streets are closed in certain places, according to the city’s TideEye website. There are two high-water vehicles deployed to help motorists, and the Charleston Fire Department had responded to nine submerged vehicles by 10:30 p.m., city spokeswoman Deja Knight McMillan said in a release.

“Do not drive downtown unless it is an emergency,” McMillan said.

Around 11 p.m., streets south of downtown Charleston's medical district were covered after upward of 3 inches of rain fell, according to local weather monitors. Streets around Ashley Avenue were knee-deep in stormwater that flowed like a river near Cannon Park. A handful of stranded vehicles could be seen around low spots, and a few motorists in SUVs plowed through deep water on Calhoun Street.

An alert just before 9 p.m., which pinged cell phones across the area, came as rain pounded parts of the Lowcountry, including West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and downtown Charleston.

“Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area,” the warning read. “Between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”

The agency’s Charleston forecast for Oct. 4 showed showers all day, resulting in a proactive cancellation of two major local events.

North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, downtown Charleston, Daniel Island, James Island, West Ashley, Johns Island, Hollywood, Charleston Naval Complex and Charles Towne Landing might have experienced flash flooding, according to the warning.

When encountering flooded roads, the weather service is warning drivers to turn around, as most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Streets reported flooded and closed include:

Check the city’s TideEye website for exact locations and further updates.

Tony Bartelme, Teri Errico Griffis and Jason Cato contributed to this report.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Charleston County Public Library will open a temporary downtown location on Oct. 5 to serve patrons while the Main Library undergoes renovations.

Main at Morrison, located at 1142 Morrison Drive, will offer about 6,300 square feet of public space and many of the core services previously available at the Main Library.

The building is the former International Longshoremen’s Association union hall.

Services will include:

Hours will be:

The Main Library closed Aug. 1 to begin the final phase of the referendum-funded project approved by Charleston County voters in 2014. The project is funded by a $108.5 million referendum and the Main Library is the last branch to be upgraded under that referendum. Renovation work is expected to take about 18 months.

The project will relocate children and teen services to the same floor and include refreshed public spaces and enhanced programming areas, library officials said.

Charleston County Public Library Executive Director Angela Craig said the library system has also opened a temporary location for the South Carolina Room.

“We have, about a few weeks ago, opened up our temporary location for the South Carolina Room on Camp Road. That has gone over wonderfully well,” Craig said.

Craig said the library specifically sought a peninsula location with parking, accessibility and on a bus line.

“We were looking for a space that was on the peninsula, that had parking, that was accessible, that we wanted to maintain a presence here with our patrons, but also that we could have a small collection, as well as the ability to have holds and also light programming. And this checked all those boxes. We were very, very lucky to get it,” Craig said.

Craig said the library has turned the Main Library building on Calhoun Street over to contractors to begin renovations.

“Right now, we have turned the main library on Calhoun over to our contractors, and so they are now going to start their renovations. That will probably take 18 months to two years, and so we will be here during that time. When the building renovations start winding down at Main, then we will work on a timeline for shutting down this building and then going back to Main on Calhoun,” Craig said.

Craig said Main at Morrison includes an upstairs room for programming.

“We do have a space for light programming. It is upstairs. So, the way the building is, is the downstairs location is for our patrons. We have a children’s team, an adult collection, we have computers, and we have seating available. We also have librarians here to help you with anything you need. Upstairs, we do have a programming room where we can do story time. We can do light programs and we have that also for different age groups as well,” Craig said.

Craig said the library system has an October lineup of events which will also take place at Main at Morrison.

“It is October. We have a lot of spooky and fun programs all over in our 18 library locations. Main at Morrison being one of them,” Craig said.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Community leaders, educators and service providers gathered in downtown Charleston Monday to discuss homelessness and housing instability across the Lowcountry and how organizations can work together to help families reach long-term stability.

The inaugural Dear Charleston Forum, hosted by Star Gospel Mission at the Francis Marion Hotel, kicked off a series of events leading up to World Homeless Day on Oct. 10.

Rev. Dr. Marion Platt III with Star Gospel Mission said homelessness intersects with a number of issues, including housing, employment, healthcare, transportation and family support. He said addressing those challenges requires cooperation among organizations that may encounter people experiencing housing instability at different points in their lives.

“Really, what that is, is an appeal for organizations, agencies, city government, school systems, everyone who has an interest in folks remaining housed coming together,” Platt said.

One of the systems represented at Monday’s forum was education.

Abría Pryor, a McKinney-Vento facilitator with the Charleston County School District, works to identify students experiencing homelessness or housing instability and connect their families with available resources.

Pryor said CCSD identified 446 students as part of families experiencing homelessness last year. So far this year, she said about 200 students have been identified.

“Homelessness is not going away, but once identified, especially in my program, we are able to refer them to resources that would help create stability within the home,” Pryor said. “We are able to connect families to resources that make sure those barriers are addressed.”

Platt said part of addressing homelessness is also changing perceptions about who can experience it.

“A person experiencing homelessness could be the person who is serving you at your favorite restaurant,” Platt said. “Your next door neighbor could be one crisis away from homelessness.”

According to Platt, that crisis can stem from rising housing costs, reduced hours at work, a medical emergency or the loss of a family or social support system. He said communication and collaboration among organizations can help close gaps in services and prevent a temporary crisis from turning into long-term homelessness.

The goal, Platt said, is to make homelessness “something that they can move through rather than becoming trapped into.”

The Dear Charleston Forum begins a week of events hosted by Star Gospel Mission ahead of World Homeless Day.

Beginning Thursday, the organization will host “Conversations on a Bench,” a 24-hour livestream featuring one-on-one conversations with people from across Charleston. The week concludes Saturday with Star Gospel Mission’s World Homeless Day Gala at the Charleston Gaillard Center.