Through a Different Lens Documentary Film Series

The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) and Berry College are partnering to bring a series of documentary films, entitled Though a Different Lens, to Floyd County to help encourage open, collaborative conversation among community members about issues of importance throughout the South, particularly within Northwest Georgia. This new partnership came about when RIFF was awarded a grant from South Arts, a unit of the National Endowment for the Arts, to bring six films and filmmakers to Floyd County under their prestigious and long-running Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers.

“RIFF is known for our popular and fun film festival every year,” said Leanne Cook, executive director of the non-profit. “But this is our 20 th anniversary, and we believe that now is the time for RIFF to expand our reach to bring more year- round programming to Northwest Georgia through the emotional power of film as an impetus for continued community conversations around important issues. We were elated when the grant was awarded to us, and we sought the right community partner to help thoughtfully bring not just the films, but also the discussion and leadership, around these discussions. Because of Berry’s unique position as a leading academic voice in this region and their strength of community connections in Floyd County, we approached them to help widen the audience and appeal for the series.”

Berry College has long been committed to diversity internally and a policy of being a good neighbor in the wider community. Recently Haley Smith was named as the first Chief Diversity and Belonging Officer in the college’s history. “Haley Smith is the right leader for Berry’s efforts to support a diverse community committed to a culture of belonging,” said Berry College President Dr. Stephen Briggs. “She and her team facilitate partnerships within the Berry community and are extending these efforts beyond the campus in cooperation with other local and national organizations, including RIFF. This film series is part of our desire to help engage Northwest Georgia in crucial conversations about issues we face locally, and in imagining and talking together about what our future can look like as we resolutely work together.”

According to Smith, “Berry was already invested in using film and digital media as one of the ways we bring groups together around important issues. We know from years of international research that when people watch emotional films together, they become more open to collaborative conversation and ideation about how to successfully engage. Berry had already chosen a few films for this effort when RIFF was awarded the grant and reached out to us about helping shape the Q&A events after the Southern Circuit films. Both partners quickly saw the potential for more positive community impact by combining our efforts, and we created the Through a Different Lens series,” said Smith.

Films will be spread throughout 2023 and 2024 so that each topic can have the best opportunity to reach the academic and wider Floyd County community. Other partners that have agreed to help bring the series to the community include the DeSoto Theatre, The Rome City Auditorium, Georgia Highlands College, and One Community United. Additional groups are in conversation with RIFF and Berry to help present films and discussions around topics of special interest. Potential focus areas include race, literacy, anti-Semitism, efforts to preserve the Cherokee language, and prison reform.

About South Arts:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. Our mission: advancing Southern vitality through the arts. In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs. South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process. For more information, visit www.southarts.org.