Appalachian Media Institute Kicks Off 35th Annual Summer Documentary Institute

Appalshop's Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) is thrilled to be kicking off our 35th annual Summer Documentary Institute (SDI) next week. As you may know, we normally host youth interns from throughout Appalachia for eight weeks. We teach them how to produce media and help them explore the complex region that is Central Appalachia. With these skills, they have all they need to tell their own stories—the story of their home—culminating in a finished documentary.

Luckily, you don’t have to wait until our summer ends to watch some new, youth-produced media. The award-winning SDI 2022 films are now all available to stream for free on our YouTube channel. We are so proud of our interns and these films. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any new content!

SDI 2023 will look a little different than previous summers. Rather than bringing in a new cohort of interns, we are working with previous interns as they navigate the realities of loss and healing almost one year after the devastating July 2022 flood. We’re excited to be collaborating with Appalshop’s Roadside Theater to work with our interns on a live production that we’ll be able to share with the community later this summer.

AMI is also very pleased to announce we are the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host film screenings across the region in celebration of our 35th anniversary. We are grateful for their support as we continue our work of uplifting the voices of Appalachian youth.