DURHAM — The Southern Documentary Fund will host the 2026 Southern Documentary Convening, a gathering of filmmakers telling powerful Southern stories, June 5-7 in Durham.

Over three days, filmmakers and industry professionals will come together with one shared goal: to strengthen and grow the Southern documentary landscape. Attendees can expect workshops, roundtable discussions, insightful panels, and opportunities to connect and build lasting relationships.

This year, the Convening will welcome keynote speaker Christalyn Hampton, an award-winning director and producer. Known for producing “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks,” a Peabody Award-winning documentary that helped redefine the public narrative of an iconic civil rights figure, Hampton continues to shape the documentary landscape through powerful, character-driven storytelling.

This year’s programs highlight the depth, creativity and impact of Southern storytelling. Darcy McKinnon will be honored with the Southern Lens Award, recognizing her impactful contributions to documentary filmmaking and her commitment to telling bold, socially resonant stories. A New Orleans-based filmmaker, McKinnon’s work spans acclaimed projects including Natchez, ROLEPLAY and Commuted, with films featured on major platforms and at leading festivals, solidifying her as a vital voice shaping the documentary landscape.

The Convening will feature panels and workshops led by industry partners including Cucalorus, DAWG, IDA, ITVS, Kinema, PBS NC, Reel South, The New York Times, Vision Maker Media and Working Films, with several also participating in the industry roundtables. These sessions create space for direct connection with industry leaders, offering insight into the evolving documentary landscape while helping filmmakers build meaningful relationships to support the development and distribution of their work.

The program also includes a featured screening of ROLEPLAY, which follows a group of college students as they build an immersive performance confronting sexual violence and the realities of campus life. ROLEPLAY blends vérité footage with the emotional vulnerability of the rehearsal process to explore identity, healing and the roles individuals inhabit as they grow.

This screening highlights the growing partnership between Southern Documentary Fund and Reel South. The film’s inclusion as part of Season 11 of Reel South underscores the power of this partnership to elevate Southern stories and connect them with broader public media audiences.

The Southern Documentary Convening is designed for filmmakers, documentary enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the stories shaping the South. The event continues to serve as a vibrant space for connection, creativity and collaboration across the Southern documentary community.

To learn more about the Southern Documentary Fund, visit SouthernDocumentaryFund.org.

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