FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES NEW SLATE OF DOCUMENTARIES

Films include “The Great Cover Up,” which goes behind the scenes of an annual musical extravaganza at a beloved venue in Raleigh.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 7/21/2025 — PBS North Carolina announces its summer roster of local documentaries. Sloane: A Jazz Singer (August 7) spotlights Carol Sloane, once called “the greatest living jazz singer” by the Washington Post, as she prepares for a swan song performance. The Great Cover Up (August 21) showcases an annual celebration of cover songs at Kings in downtown Raleigh. Our Movement Starts Here (August 28) examines how a rural NC community ignited the environmental justice movement. Purple Dreams (September 4) follows a Charlotte high school as it puts together an inspiring production of the musical The Color Purple. 

All films will air on PBS NC as well as stream online and on the free PBS app. 

“PBS North Carolina is thrilled to partner with talented local filmmakers and share this collection of documentaries that celebrate hope, resilience and togetherness,” said James Mieczkowski, program development producer. “From the vibrant energy of a concert hall to the birth of an environmental justice movement, these stories showcase the beauty and strength of North Carolina’s communities.” 

To celebrate the release of The Great Cover Up, PBS North Carolina will host a free screening event at the Rialto Theater in Raleigh, on Wednesday, August 27, at 7 PM. Check soon for more details at pbsnc.org/events. 

As a statewide network reaching over 14 million viewers, PBS North Carolina is the third largest PBS station in the U.S. Each year, PBS North Carolina provides more than 3,000 hours of locally produced content on its over-the-air channels and streaming platforms, from award-winning shows like NC Weekend and My Home, NC to documentaries by independent filmmakers. 

“PBS North Carolina is always looking to partner with independent producers to share compelling content that resonates with our audiences across the state,” said Mieczkowski. “We work with film and TV producers in a variety of ways: from licensing a completed project for distribution to in-depth collaboration on all phases of development, production and distribution. If you’re working on a North Carolina story about art, culture, food, history, nature or travel, we’d love to hear about it.” 

To learn more about PBS North Carolina’s content submission process, visit pbsnc.org/submissions. 

Broadcast Schedule 

Visit pbsnc.org/schedule for the most up-to-date information. 

A Sacred Thread 
Thursday, July 31, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC 
This film follows the Snowbird Cherokee of western North Carolina as they fight to preserve their language, customs and ancestral traditions before they disappear. A Sacred Thread is a PBS NC Original Production funded in part by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. 
Watch trailer. > 

Sloane: A Jazz Singer 
Thursday, August 7, 9:30–11 PM, on PBS NC 
In this portrait of artistic resilience, jazz singer Carol Sloane prepares at age 82 for one final show in New York. She reflects on her extraordinary career, from touring with Ella Fitzgerald and befriending The Beatles to performing in nightclubs in North Carolina. 
Watch trailer. > 

The Great Cover Up 
Thursday, August 21, 9:30–10 PM, on PBS NC 
A musical community comes together through the power of cover songs to raise money for charity at Kings, a beloved venue in downtown Raleigh. 
The Great Cover Up is a Window Music film presented by Myriad Originals.
Watch trailer. > 

Our Movement Starts Here 
Thursday, August 28, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC 
In 1982, a rural community in Warren County, North Carolina, mobilized to fight plans to place a toxic landfill in their county. This landmark action, the first to articulate the concepts of environmental racism and environmental justice, brought together civil rights activists and environmentalists to fight for a common goal. 
Watch trailer. > 

Purple Dreams 
Thursday, September 4, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC 
This inspiring film explores the transformative power of arts education, particularly for at-risk students. It follows Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina, as it embarks on an ambitious and heartfelt endeavor to mount a production of the musical The Color Purple. 
Watch trailer. >

Always Looking: Titus Brooks Heagins 
Thursday, September 18, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC (rebroadcast) 
This film examines the work of Durham-based photographer Titus Brooks Heagins and the challenging questions his photos pose about society’s most vulnerable communities of color. 
Watch trailer. > 

A Binding Truth 
Thursday, October 2, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC 
Charlotte high school classmates from 1965—Jimmie, the school’s first Black football star, and De, a white student who respected him from afar—reconnect decades later after a shocking discovery changes their lives. What unfolds is a deeply personal yet profoundly American story—one that reveals the legacy of slavery, the complexities of race and privilege and, ultimately, the power of truth in their journey toward healing. 

Making Sense Backwards: The Nick Bragg Story 
Thursday, October 9, 9:30–10:30 PM, on PBS NC 
After completing 25 commissioned murals, NC artist and founding executive director of Reynolda House Museum of American Art Nick Bragg (now retired) embarks at age 87 on a new journey: painting his own story. He grapples with his creative muses and the darkness within himself as he seeks to make sense of his life by looking at his past. 
Watch trailer. > 

About PBS North Carolina 

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

-PBS NC-

Media Contact 
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications 
PBS North Carolina 
press@pbsnc.org