Southern Documentary Project

Southern Documentary Project SouthDocs is an institute of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi. We teach the next generation of storytellers.

MA-Documentary Track
MFA-Documentary Expression

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff....
06/18/2026

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff.

In Vol. 2, we focus on S ST 534 Documentary Photography, taught this spring by Assistant Professor of Practice in Doc Expression Shiraz Ahmed. “This group of budding photographers turned their lenses on the places and people that made them feel at home again in such strange times. While "among ourselves' is a phrase often used to indicate that a discussion is meant to remain confidential and secret to a particular group, these photographers have chosen to reveal the inner lives, joys and truths of these communities to the greater public of Barnard Observatory. Entrusting us with these peeks into the worlds that make up the university and Oxford, this work showcases how the overlapping, intersecting and vibrant scenes that make up this region can only ever be held still for a fraction of a second, enough time for the light to enter and the picture revealed.”

Follow the link in our bio to learn more about Smith’s work and others from our Documentary Showcase.

"The South on Every Plate" is a short documentary that explores the work and philosophy of Chef Erika of Sola. The film ...
06/16/2026

"The South on Every Plate" is a short documentary that explores the work and philosophy of Chef Erika of Sola. The film follows her inspiration, creative process, and personal journey into becoming a chef, framing cooking not just as a skill, but as an evolving artistic expression.

To watch the film, follow the link in our bio or visit https://southdocs.org/mississippi-creates-visual-art/.

Deja Samuel is a photographer and first-year southern Studies graduate student from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Her work sits at the intersection of documentary practice, everyday ritual, and the search for the sacred within the mundane. Before entering graduate school, she developed a body of work that grew far beyond the classroom, photographing weddings, family histories, and intimate moments that often unfold in the quiet spaces between major milestones. She is drawn to small gestures: the held breath during a vow, the stillness between contractions, the way light transforms an ordinary room into something reverent.

Samuel is interested in visual narratives that marry the sacred and the mundane, exploring how faith, identity, and community shape the Southern experience. Her current research and creative work examine spiritual life within q***r communities, using photography as a way to honor presence, truth, and the complexity of belonging. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her documentary practice across regions and cultures, contributing to global storytelling platforms while remaining rooted in the people and places that first shaped her vision.

Mississippi Creates: Visual Art is a collaborative project between the Southern Documentary Project, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Mississippi, and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff....
06/11/2026

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff.

In Vol. 2, we focus on S ST 534 Documentary Photography, taught this spring by Assistant Professor of Practice in Doc Expression Shiraz Ahmed. “This group of budding photographers turned their lenses on the places and people that made them feel at home again in such strange times. While "among ourselves' is a phrase often used to indicate that a discussion is meant to remain confidential and secret to a particular group, these photographers have chosen to reveal the inner lives, joys and truths of these communities to the greater public of Barnard Observatory. Entrusting us with these peeks into the worlds that make up the university and Oxford, this work showcases how the overlapping, intersecting and vibrant scenes that make up this region can only ever be held still for a fraction of a second, enough time for the light to enter and the picture revealed.”

Visit https://southdocs.org/showcase/ to learn more about Kabore’s work and others from our Documentary Showcase

06/09/2026

Check out the trailer for "Kira Cummings: Against the Grain," by Amanzi Arnett Dowdy.

This documentary spotlights the Jackson, Mississippi-based artist Kira Cummings. The film explores the idea that powerful art emerges through vulnerability. Beneath a performance of what is palatable, profitable, and most acceptable, deeper expressions persist, breaking through even the most opaque facades.

To watch the full film, follow the link in our bio or visit https://southdocs.org/mississippi-creates-visual-art/.

Amanzi Arnett Dowdy is a multidisciplinary artist based in Memphis, TN. Their work focuses on place-based Black cultural memory and the preservation of Black and q***r community spaces in the South. Amanzi was awarded the Indie Memphis Screenwriting Fellowship, during which they completed a feature-length film screenplay "I’ll Fly Away."

A trained composer, they presented Songs of Cabin and Field, a concert of their compositions at the historic LeMoyne-Owen College featuring the Memphis area PRIZM Ensemble. Amanzi also wrote and scored their first short film "Shine On: The Story of Tom Lee," which premiered on PBS in May 2025. Amanzi is currently a first-year MA student at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Mississippi Creates: Visual Art is a collaborative project between the Southern Documentary Project, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Mississippi, and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

“Kira Cummings: Against the Grain” is a short film by Amanzi Arnett Dowdy. This documentary spotlights the Jackson, Miss...
06/09/2026

“Kira Cummings: Against the Grain” is a short film by Amanzi Arnett Dowdy. This documentary spotlights the Jackson, Mississippi-based artist Kira Cummings. The film explores the idea that powerful art emerges through vulnerability. Beneath a performance of what is palatable, profitable, and most acceptable, deeper expressions persist, breaking through even the most opaque facades.

To watch the film, follow the link in our bio or visit https://southdocs.org/mississippi-creates-visual-art/.

Amanzi Arnett Dowdy is a multidisciplinary artist based in Memphis, TN. Their work focuses on place-based Black cultural memory and the preservation of Black and q***r community spaces in the South. Amanzi was awarded the Indie Memphis Screenwriting Fellowship, during which they completed a feature-length film screenplay “I’ll Fly Away.”

A trained composer, they presented Songs of Cabin and Field, a concert of their compositions at the historic LeMoyne-Owen College featuring the Memphis area PRIZM Ensemble. Amanzi also wrote and scored their first short film “Shine On: The Story of Tom Lee,” which premiered on PBS in May 2025. Amanzi is currently a first-year MA student at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Mississippi Creates: Visual Art is a collaborative project between the Southern Documentary Project, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Mississippi, and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff....
06/02/2026

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff.

In Vol. 2, we focus on S ST 534 Documentary Photography, taught this spring by Assistant Professor of Practice in Doc Expression Shiraz Ahmed. “This group of budding photographers turned their lenses on the places and people that made them feel at home again in such strange times. While "among ourselves' is a phrase often used to indicate that a discussion is meant to remain confidential and secret to a particular group, these photographers have chosen to reveal the inner lives, joys and truths of these communities to the greater public of Barnard Observatory. Entrusting us with these peeks into the worlds that make up the university and Oxford, this work showcases how the overlapping, intersecting and vibrant scenes that make up this region can only ever be held still for a fraction of a second, enough time for the light to enter and the picture revealed.”

Visit https://southdocs.org/spring-2026-documentary-showcase/ to learn more about Hicks’ work and others from our Documentary Showcase.

🎉 Congratulations to Samson Oklobia for successfully defending his MA Thesis, “Should I Go or Stay?: Food, Place, and th...
06/01/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Samson Oklobia for successfully defending his MA Thesis, “Should I Go or Stay?: Food, Place, and the Emotional Geography of Brain Drain in the American South.” Samson is pictured here with his committee: (left to right) Dr. Katie McKee, Dr. Andy Harper (Chair), and Dr. Ellie Palazzolo. Samson will also be joining our MFA in Documentary Expression program in the fall to continue his work!!!

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff....
05/26/2026

“Within the Frame” aims to highlight the documentary photography work created by SouthDocs students, faculty, and staff.

In Vol. 2, we focus on S ST 534 Documentary Photography, taught this spring by Assistant Professor of Practice in Doc Expression Shiraz Ahmed. “This group of budding photographers turned their lenses on the places and people that made them feel at home again in such strange times. While "among ourselves' is a phrase often used to indicate that a discussion is meant to remain confidential and secret to a particular group, these photographers have chosen to reveal the inner lives, joys and truths of these communities to the greater public of Barnard Observatory. Entrusting us with these peeks into the worlds that make up the university and Oxford, this work showcases how the overlapping, intersecting and vibrant scenes that make up this region can only ever be held still for a fraction of a second, enough time for the light to enter and the picture revealed.”

Learn more about Falkner’s work and others from our Documentary Showcase at https://southdocs.org/showcase/

Address

Oxford, MS

Telephone

+16629155917

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Documentary Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Southern Documentary Project:

Shortcuts

Share