It’s Hard to Talk About: Stories of Incarceration in Maine
Documented Freedom & Captivity’s tour of Downeast Maine. In this film, five justice-impacted storytellers perform narratives from individuals who are currently or formerly incarcerated, as well as their friends and family, and other people affected by and working in and around the criminal legal system. This powerful performance challenges oversimplified public narratives about crime and punishment by highlighting paths of transformation and growth.
Small Batch
A short documentary about two women (Katie Smith and Stephanie Batty) who carve a space for themselves in the craft beer and whiskey industries. The film was shot at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC and New Riff Distilling in Newport, KY, as Victoria De Leone’s documentary thesis for her M.A. in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi.
Sour, Sweet, Spicy: Making Home in Oxford, Mississippi
Rasita Palawan is the owner and chef at Zaap Thai Kitchen in Oxford, Mississippi. Despite experiencing loss and hardship in Mississippi, she holds a deep gratitude for her new home, and the opportunity to share the food of her youth with her community. Directed and produced by Victoria De Leone as part of the 2017 Southern Foodways Alliance Film Internship. Featuring Rasita Palawan of Zaap Thai Kitchen.
Part Of It
Joseph Hosey has always lived in Jones County, Mississippi, and he’s always gathered wild foods to supplement his diet. More than just a film about foraging, this short documentary is a meditation on place and belonging, and a request for us all to sit still long enough to see the value around us. Directed and produced as the final project for Documenting Southern Foodways Spring 2017. Official Selection, 2018 Oxford Film Festival.