Annual Mitchelville Film Series Returns to Hilton Head

The stories, voices, and creative legacies of Black culture will take center stage when the Annual Film Series returns to Hilton Head Island on October 22 and 23, 2025. Hosted by Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, the two-night event will be held at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Hilton Head campus and promises a dynamic mix of film, conversation, and community.

This year’s theme, The Labor of Culture Keeping, focuses on the artists, chefs, scholars, and storytellers who preserve traditions through creativity and lived experience. Each evening begins with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by documentary screenings and guided discussions with filmmakers and cultural leaders.

Opening night features All on a Mardi Gras Day: Big Chief Demond of the Young Seminole Hunters, a vivid look at the Black Masking tradition of New Orleans. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Big Chief Demond Melancon, whose artistry and storytelling keep that legacy alive. On the second night, audiences will explore the historical and culinary roots of the South Carolina Lowcountry through When Rice Was King, a documentary that traces the enduring African influence on rice cultivation and regional foodways.

Panel guests will include heritage rice grower Marion “Rollen” Chalmers, chef BJ Dennis, and pitmasters Ed and Ryan Mitchell, who will share how ancestral practices continue to shape contemporary Southern cuisine.

“The Annual Film Series is more than entertainment—it’s about connection,” said Joyce Wright, Director of Programming at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. “These films give audiences a way to understand history through the people who are still living it and shaping it today.”

Tickets are available for single nights or full two-day passes. Seating is limited, and early arrival is recommended. For residents and visitors alike, the Annual Film Series is one of the most distinctive cultural events on Hilton Head Island—a space where history, art, and identity meet on screen and in conversation.