Black stories are foundational to Southern culture. They shape our music, our foodways, our labor movements, our faith traditions, and our collective imagination. To understand the South is to understand the lived experiences, resistance, creativity, and brilliance of Black stories across the region. At Southern Documentary Fund, we are proud to support documentary filmmakers who are preserving, interrogating, and celebrating these stories in all their complexity.

The following works-in-progress reflect the depth and diversity of Black life in the South. These films spotlight Black experiences, honor legacy, and challenge us to see the region more honestly and more fully.

Supporting these projects means investing in a more truthful and expansive understanding of the South, it’s history and current state. 

Celebrate Black stories by checking out our in progress films below: