Family Tree: A Documentary

Family Tree explores sustainable forestry in North Carolina through the stories of two Black families fighting to preserve their land and legacy. Family Tree’s cinéma vérité approach reveals the vast task of maintaining the land while navigating challenging family dynamics, unscrupulous developers, and changing environmental needs. The forest itself and the beauty of its changing seasons become a primary character in this family drama.

Welcome to LAC Shorts, where we celebrate the creative talents of independent filmmakers. The Lawrenceville Arts Center is excited to showcase a diverse range of short films by local filmmakers, providing a platform for their voices and visions to reach audiences in Lawrenceville and the greater metro-Atlanta area. Each of our screenings will kick off with a selection of shorts, offering unique perspectives and stories, followed by a feature Southern Circuit film for the evening. This is more than just a screening; it’s an opportunity to connect, inspire, and engage. After the evening of films, we invite all selected filmmakers to join a talkback session with the audience, giving us a chance to dive deeper into the artistry and passion behind the projects. Together, let’s make Gwinnett County a hub for creativity, storytelling, and collaboration.

The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers connects independent filmmakers with communities throughout the South for screenings and conversations around stories, important topics, and the art of filmmaking. Since Southern Circuit’s inception in 1975, hundreds of filmmakers from around the country have toured, sharing their work and perspectives with over one hundred Screening Partner communities across the South. 

Southern Circuit Screening Partner organizations host touring filmmakers and present screenings with Q&As and other engagements such as class visits, meet-and-greets, and workshops. Screening Partners include universities, community arts centers, municipalities, historic cinemas, places of worship, and more, serving diverse audiences of all ages.