Reel South Shorts Block
2026-10-10 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham, NC, United States
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: Titus Brooks Heagins
2026-10-10 15:30 - 17:00
Always Looking, directed by Olympia Stone, offers an intimate portrait of photographer Titus Brooks Heagins, whose powerful images challenge viewers to confront the systemic neglect of marginalized communities. Through photographs that are both deeply humanizing and unflinchingly honest, Heagins documents the lives of people often pushed to society’s margins by poverty, race, and gender or sexual identity.
As the film explores Heagins’ artistic journey, it also examines the challenges of being a Black photographer telling stories from within marginalized communities and asks the timely question: Who has the right to tell whose story? Both a celebration of an extraordinary artist and a reflection on representation, Always Looking invites audiences to consider the power of documentary storytelling to foster empathy, visibility, and social change.

Humble In The Jungle
2026-10-10 18:30 - 20:30
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
