UNC Asheville to Screen “Gunfighter Paradise” by Emmy Award-Winning Alum Jethro Waters
The University of North Carolina Asheville will host a screening of “Gunfighter Paradise,” a surreal, darkly comedic independent film written and directed by Emmy Award-winning UNC Asheville alum Jethro Waters ’13, on Friday, October 23, from 7–9 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room of Highsmith Student Union.
A still of Jethro Waters in “Gunfighter Paradise.”
A still from “Gunfighter Paradise” with critics' reviews.
A still from “Gunfighter Paradise.”
A still from “Gunfighter Paradise” with critics' reviews.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — October 14, 2026 — The University of North Carolina Asheville will host a screening of “Gunfighter Paradise,” a surreal, darkly comedic independent film written and directed by Emmy Award-winning UNC Asheville alum Jethro Waters ’13, on Friday, October 23, from 7–9 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room of Highsmith Student Union. The screening is free and open to the public.
Event Details:
- What: Free screening of “Gunfighter Paradise,” written and directed by Emmy Award-winning UNC Asheville alumnus Jethro Waters ’13, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
- When and where: Friday, October 23, 7–9 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union, UNC Asheville
- About the film: A surreal, darkly comedic story set in North Carolina that follows a hunter whose return home after his mother’s death leads to mysterious encounters and unsettling visions.
- Local connection: Nearly all of the film was shot around Asheville, Swannanoa, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Piedmont region.
- Sponsors: UNC Asheville Alumni Association and Department of Mass Communication.
Set in North Carolina, “Gunfighter Paradise” follows a hunter who returns home after his mother’s death and encounters mysterious visitors, unsettling visions, and a reality that begins to unravel. Blending dark comedy with psychological unease, the film offers a distinctive portrayal of the rural South and the forces that shape human behavior.
Following the screening, Waters will take questions from the audience about the film, his creative process, and his work as a filmmaker. The event offers audiences an opportunity to engage with a UNC Asheville graduate whose work spans documentary filmmaking, narrative film, and television.
“‘Gunfighter Paradise’ is an exploration of the modern American south and a critique of the religious psychosis that dominates the culture. It is also a love letter to the beauty and poetry of the south, particularly the parts of North Carolina that I grew up in,” said Waters. “Nearly all of the film was shot around Asheville, Swannanoa, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Piedmont region.”
Waters graduated from UNC Asheville in 2013 with a degree in International Studies. He received a Midsouth Emmy Award in 2021 for “F11 and Be There,” a documentary exploring the life and artistic legacy of photographer Burk Uzzle, known for his work with Life magazine and Magnum Photos.
As a filmmaker, Waters has worked across directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, NPR, and other national publications.
Learn more about “Gunfighter Paradise” and watch the trailer.
The screening is sponsored by the UNC Asheville Alumni Association and the Department of Mass Communication. Campus visitors are required to register to park on campus.
About UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville is North Carolina’s public liberal arts and sciences university of the future, marked by technology-driven solutions, hands-on learning, a student-centered focus and career and professional readiness. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 60+ academic programs, including a dual degree in Engineering/Mechatronics with NC State, the University provides free tuition and fees to eligible students through its Access Asheville program as well as merit scholarships to all first-year students. In the US News & World Report 2026 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #10 in Top Public Schools, and No. #12 in Princeton Review’s 2026 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: unca.edu.
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