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A film about Corolla’s wild horses took top honors at The Equus International Film Festival.

“The Secret of Corolla is the story about the wild Banker horses found only on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and how they have made those islands their home for more than 500 years,” stated a press release from the filmmaker.

The film debuted in the fall of 2021 and has been making the rounds on the independent film circuit and consistently winning awards, inclugint The Foothills Film Festival in Shelby, NC’s Award Of Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking, The Equus Film and Arts Festival in Ocala, Fla.’s runner-up for Best Film Overall and The Beaufort Film Festival in Beaufort, NC.

The release stated that these wins were a precursor to entering the most prestigious festival of them all: The Equus International Film Festival in Montana. “Upon submitting the film for the festival, the expectations were high, as well as the competition,” stated the release. The Secret of Corolla won multiple awards: first place for Best Music Score and the top honor the film has been pursuing, first place for Best Documentary Short.

“The film is a story about perseverance,” stated the release. “Not just by the horses but also by the people who call this extraordinary place, the Outer Banks, their home. Jerry Thompson is honored to share the unique culture of the Outer Banks with a broad and international audience.

“Through devastating hurricanes, swarms of biting flies, increasingly hot temperatures, and the constant threat of developing the islands into prime vacation property, these horses and the locals continue to share the island,” the release continued. “They have found a way to live together in a most uncommon accord and have created an incredibly remarkable and uniquely wondrous place. Jerry Thompson has brought Corolla’s horse/human delicate balance to the silver screen.”

 “Thank you for giving us this amazing film! You truly told the story of the horses like it was meant to be told,” said Meg Puckett, herd manager for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. “We are so proud of you, Jerry, and the way you’ve told their story to the world.” 

To view the film’s trailers, go to thesecretofcorolla.com/. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the film goes to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

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