Join us for our Summer Documentary Institute film screening!

You're invited to join us in celebrating our 2022 Summer Documentary Institute interns and their documentaries July 29th!

Read on to hear a short message from our Appalachian Media Institute Director, Jessica Shelton. You can click here to RSVP to the film screening!

​

Dear Appalshop community,

Some of you may already know me, but others may not, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Shelton, and I’ve been working at Appalshop for almost three years now. When I first came onboard I was working in our Development Department, but in January of this year I was hired as Director of the Appalachian Media Institute.

Since I can remember I’ve been interested in storytelling and making media. I grew up in Floyd County, KY, just a little north of Whitesburg. In high school I took any opportunity I could to get a camera in my hand, whether it was to take pictures for the school newspaper or to shoot video at a sporting event. When I went to college I pursued a degree in Media Arts and that path led me to job opportunities across the country, but I always knew I wanted to come back home.

If you’d told 16-year-old Jessica that she could spend a full summer gaining media skills and making her own documentary only an hour from home she wouldn’t have believed you. Now I’m part of a staff that gets to train young folks to do just that right here in Central Appalachia. 

I’ve watched our interns grow and mature into responsible media makers and thought leaders over the past four weeks. Just today a couple of our interns had their work published by Ohio Valley Resource. I’m so thankful that we’re able to offer these kinds of opportunities to young people in our region.

We’re at the halfway point in the summer and, after four weeks of training, our interns are now producing their own documentaries. On July 29th we’ll be premiering three youth-produced documentaries at the Richardson Theater at Appalshop, and we’d love for you to join us, click here to RSVP. The event is free, but we’ll also be accepting donations at the door to help continue and strengthen the legacy of the Appalachian Media Institute, which will be celebrating its 35th year next summer.

After two years of virtual screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we view this event as a celebration, a celebration of storytelling, community, and the power of media.  

I sincerely hope to see you there!

Jessica Shelton

Director, Appalachian Media Institute