Southern Doc Fest Screening

Experience the diversity of Southern storytelling through the Reel South Shorts Block, a curated collection of short documentaries presented in partnership with the acclaimed PBS series Reel South. Showcasing emerging and established filmmakers from across the region, these compelling films capture the people, places, and cultures that define the South through fresh perspectives and unforgettable storytelling.

From intimate personal portraits to timely explorations of community, history, and identity, the Reel South Shorts Block offers audiences the opportunity to discover a variety of voices and stories in a single screening. Whether you're a longtime documentary fan or new to Southern cinema, this collection celebrates the creativity, resilience, and richness of the region one powerful story at a time.

Always Looking explores the work of photographer Titus Brooks Heagins and the challenging questions his photos pose about the systemic neglect of society’s most vulnerable communities of color. Humanizing yet confrontational, Titus’ photographs document the overlooked: people who, through some intersection of poverty, race or gender/sexual identity, exist as outsiders.

This film dives into Titus’ world, shedding light on the strength it takes to be a marginalized Black photographer capturing the lives of other marginalized folks.

Always Looking also probes the question of “who can tell whose story?” while directing a spotlight on an overlooked, but richly deserving, artist.

Director: Olympia Stone

Humble in the Jungle follows the remarkable journey of Mike "Mike Gee" Smalls, a rapper who rose to Hip Hop success before reinventing himself as a licensed plumber after relocating to North Carolina. Along the way, he forms an unlikely friendship with fellow plumber and filmmaker Ricky Kelly, whose passion for storytelling helps bring their shared experiences to the screen. Through their lives as tradesmen, artists, family men, and community leaders, the documentary explores themes of race, class, creativity, resilience, and the dignity of vocational work.

Following the screening, audiences are invited to stay for a special post-screening Q&A with filmmaker Ricky Kelly, offering an inside look at the making of the film and the stories behind it. The evening will conclude with a live performance by Mike G, bringing his music from the documentary to the stage for an unforgettable festival experience.

Director: Ricky Kelly