FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 3/13/2025 — PBS North Carolina announces that the acclaimed PBS docuseries Reel South will premiere its milestone tenth season Thursday, April 10, at 10 PM, on PBS NC. Called “A Decade of Connection and Triumph,” the season will feature an inspiring collection of films that explore the resilience and cultural richness of the South, with a special focus on the transformative power of human connection. All episodes will be available for streaming online and on the free PBS app.
“It’s incredible that Reel South has brought 10 years of insightful stories about the Southern experience to the forefront. All this is only possible through the collective efforts of all the PBS member stations who have come together with a shared vision to spotlight films from this region,” said PBS Plus Director of Programming Michael E. Tang.
Season 10 of Reel South kicks off with 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime, which dives into the heart-wrenching aftermath of the 2015 murders of three Muslim American students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The film chronicles their families’ powerful journey from trauma to advocacy as they fight for justice for their loved ones. Additional films with North Carolina ties include The Voice of Bamboo, a short about a Japanese man who finds refuge in the mountains of North Carolina; and Called to the Mountains, which follows one of Japan’s first bluegrass bands as it tours the Appalachian South.
Reel South airs Thursdays at 10 PM on PBS NC. Visit pbsnc.org/schedule for the latest scheduling information. Info and graphics for each film can be found in the Season 10 Press Kit.
36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime
Thursday, April 10, 10 PM
This emotional documentary follows the families of three Muslim American students who were killed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as they fight for justice after their loved ones’ deaths are dismissed as the result of a parking dispute. The film explores themes of resilience and the power of community advocacy.
How to Sue the Klan/I’m Still Here
Thursday, April 17, 10 PM
In How to Sue the Klan, five Black women from Chattanooga take on the Ku Klux Klan in a landmark 1982 civil case that brings justice and accountability to the notorious hate group.
In I’m Still Here, survivors of Birmingham’s civil rights era bombings reflect on their experiences, transforming the city’s painful past into a symbol of hope and healing.
Black Godfather of Scuba/The Voice of Bamboo/Ishak
Thursday, April 24, 10 PM
Black Godfather of Scuba tells the inspiring story of Dr. Albert “Doc” Jones, who, through his work as a Black scuba diver, has helped uncover lost histories, including the recovery of the Henrietta Marie, the first discovered slave ship.
In The Voice of Bamboo, a Japanese elder shares his journey of moving from Japan to become a bamboo farmer in the mountains of North Carolina, where bamboo gave him refuge and taught him how to live.
In Ishak, a young filmmaker is tapped to learn the ways of her elders and carry on their sacred traditions as the next chief of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation, making her the second woman to lead the tribe since 1771.
Small Town Universe
Thursday, May 1, 10 PM
This fascinating documentary takes viewers to Green Bank, West Virginia, home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned. The film explores how scientists search for signs of extraterrestrial life while the town’s residents navigate moments of profound personal and collective discovery.
Called to the Mountains
Thursday, May 8, 10 PM
Called to the Mountains follows Bluegrass 45, one of Japan’s first bluegrass bands, as they bring their unique musical style to the Appalachian South. Through their journey, the film explores the cultural bond that unites people across continents and how music can bridge seemingly disparate worlds.
Reel South is a PBS documentary series that showcases authentic and inspiring stories that unearth the spirit of the South today. With every film, the series explores the multifaceted layers of Southern life across themes of social justice, cultural experience, environmental challenges and more. Reel South aims to leverage our region’s rich storytelling tradition as a catalyst for positive change and deeper understanding in the American South and beyond. Reel South is coproduced by PBS North Carolina, South Carolina ETV and Louisiana Public Broadcasting and produced in association with Alabama Public Television, Arkansas PBS, South Florida PBS, Tennessee Public Television Council, VPM and WABE. For more information on Reel South, visit reelsouth.org.
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 Contacts
Nicolas Price
Series Producer
nick@reelsouth.org
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications
PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org
Relevant Links
Press Kit
Season 10 Trailer