South Arts Southern Circuit to screen films across Southeast

Presbyterian College returns as partner venue


South Arts announces the lineup of 16 Screening Partner organizations and 18 films and filmmaking teams selected for the 2020-2021 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers.

During their tours, filmmakers will present screenings of their films with screening partners between September 2020 and April 2021 and participate in post-screening Q&As with audiences to discuss film subjects and the filmmaking process.

To prioritize the wellbeing and flexibility of screening partners, filmmakers, and audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 Southern Circuit season will feature a hybrid of in-person and online screenings. Additionally, this season includes a shift to exclusively presenting documentaries, renewing the program’s focus on real-life stories and issues; previous seasons included a mix of documentaries, narrative features, and experimental work.

“Access to independent documentary filmmaking is more important than ever. We have taken steps to ensure that our audiences and filmmakers can share these essential conversations, regardless of the circumstances,” said Teresa Hollingsworth, program director for Film and Traditional Arts. “Through Southern Circuit, audiences interact with filmmakers directly, learning about the art of filmmaking and engaging with issues relevant to their community through a new lens.”


Earlier this year, screening partners reviewed and selected the films for this season from a roster of invited documentary films. From September 2020 through April 2021, each screening partner will present five films and filmmakers, and many will further engage filmmakers in adjunct activities such as workshops and class visits.

The first event of the series features a screening of Coded Bias followed by a Q&A discussion with director Shalini Kantayya. The screening and live Q&A will be presented online Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET for all screening partners and their audiences. A recording of the program will be streamed on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. ET.

Presbyterian College in Clinton (Laurens Co.) returns as the partner venue for South Carolina.

Films / Filmmakers

  • Big Fur – Dan Wayne, Director
  • Cane Fire – Anthony Banua-Simon, Director
  • Code of the Freaks – Salome Chasnoff, Director
  • Coded Bias – Shalini Kantayya, Director
  • Cured – Bennett Singer & Patrick Sammon, Co-Directors
  • Fandango at the Wall – Varda Bar-Kar, Director
  • Far East Deep South – Larissa Lam, Director
  • Hurdle – Michael Rawley, Director
  • Mr. Handy’s Blues – Joanne Fish, Director
  • Narrowsburg – Martha Shane, Director
  • Overland – Elisabeth Haviland James & Revere La Noue, Co-Directors
  • Picture a Scientist – Sharon Shattuck & Ian Cheney, Co-Directors
  • Picture Character – Martha Shane & Ian Cheney, Co-Directors
  • Reggae Boyz – Till Schauder, Director
  • Socks on Fire – Bo McGuire, Director
  • Waging Change – Abby Ginzberg, Director
  • Warrior Women – Christina D. King & Elizabeth A. Castle, Co-Directors
  • and a special preview screening of Thumbs Up for Mother Universe: Stories from the Life of Lonnie Holley – George King, Director

A full listing of all screening dates, times, and locations will be posted later this summer on the South Arts website, as well as each screening partner’s website.


These events are made possible through the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a South Arts program. Since its inception in 1975, Southern Circuit has brought some of best independent filmmakers and their films from around the country to communities throughout the South. The program is made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.