Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) has announced the launch of Southern Doc Fest, a documentary film festival dedicated to celebrating Southern storytelling. The inaugural festival will take place on October 10, 2026, at the Durham Arts Council in Durham, North Carolina.
The event is intended to highlight stories shaping the American South through screenings, conversations with filmmakers, and immersive experiences. This year’s inaugural edition will focus on showcasing the culture, history, and identity of Durham, where SDF is based. Southern Doc Fest is meant to elevate Durham’s local voices while celebrating stories emerging from across the South. In addition to feature-length film screenings, the festival will include live music and a block of shorts curated by the PBS series Reel South.
Clint Jukkala, executive director of SDF, tells Documentary:
For more than two decades, SDF has championed Southern documentary filmmakers by providing the resources, support, and community they need to bring important stories to life. The Southern Doc Fest builds on that legacy, creating the opportunity to highlight SDF-supported projects, put filmmakers and audiences in conversation, and celebrate the amazing makers and stories of the American South.
SDF brings Southern stories to global audiences with the intention of educating and creating change through documentary storytelling. The organization supports Southern filmmakers with grants, fiscal sponsorship, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. With the Southern Doc Fest, SDF seeks to build connections between filmmakers and audiences by creating an accessible, community-centered festival. In addition to filmmakers, SDF expects attendees to include students, educators, artists, and community members from both Durham and the broader region.
“We are excited to launch a festival that reflects both the spirit of Durham and the richness of Southern storytelling,” Jukkala noted in a prepared statement.
Additional programming announcements, film selections, and ticket information will be released in the coming months. Passes go on sale on July 22.
