Second Annual Sedalia Film Festival Set for November 21
The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum (CHB) at the Historic Palmer Memorial Institute (PMI) will host the second annual Sedalia Film Festival on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is free to the public and is designed to celebrate the legacies of Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown and PMI by showcasing films that reflect themes of legacy, heritage, and education. The museum is managed by the Division of State Historic Sites within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Celebrating Resilience Through Film
The Sedalia Film Festival aims to honor the rich history of CHB and PMI by utilizing the medium of film to embody the spirit of resilience and determination. This year’s festival will present a lineup of six short films and one feature-length film, providing an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to engage with each other. Musical performances inspired by the films will be offered by the Piano and Music Club from North Raleigh Christian Academy. Awards will be distributed for categories including Best Film, Best North Carolina Filmmaker, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Attendees can expect a detailed program featuring film synopses and biographies of the creators on the day of the event.
Featured Films at the Festival
The films showcased at the 2026 Sedalia Film Festival will include:
- “Alone Now,” directed by Blake Martin
- “305 Fishkill Avenue,” directed by Ramel Westry
- “Figaro, Figaro,” directed by Tyler Schwartz
- “Through Their Eyes,” directed by Amyna Price, Shronda Major, and Marcus January
- “PARAGRAPHS of a PAIGE,” directed by Isaac Yowman
- “Broken Promises,” directed by Joseph Giitter
- “A Class of Her Own,” directed by Boaz Dvir
Acknowledging Contributions to Film
Dr. Eric Winston, the founder of the Sedalia Film Festival, will receive the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum’s Trailblazer Award. A graduate of PMI from the class of 1959, Winston is also the founder and executive director of the Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival. His career in film began in 2013, and he has produced several documentaries, including “Taking Park City” and “The Correct Thing: Palmer Memorial Institute,” the latter of which will be screened during this year’s festival.
Leadership and Vision for the Festival
Eboni Price serves as the creative director for this year’s event. An award-winning director and writer, Price has a notable track record of highlighting authentic narratives of Black life. She has collaborated with prominent companies such as Bad Robot and Shondaland and has worked on popular series like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridgerton.” With over 80 projects to her name, including the feature film “Free,” Price is a distinguished graduate of Howard University and the Netflix Series Director program.
Source: N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
