Paper Towns, a documentary directed by Jeremy Seifert (Sacred Planet: The Heart of the World, The Devil We Know) and co-directed by Benjamin James Roberts, will premiere at the Mountain Film Festival on May 22nd.
This documentary chronicles the sudden closure of a 100-year-old paper mill in the Appalachian town of Canton, North Carolina, destroying the town’s economy and forcing its residents to face the loss and rediscovery of their common identity.
Musician Dave Matthews wrote an original song titled “Papertown” for this doc. This song features Sierra Ferrell on vocals and Nickel Creek’s Sarah Watkins on fiddle.
“This movie is great. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s still very hopeful. It’s hopeful despite this class system where power is in the hands of people far away. It’s so wrong,” Matthews said.
The 115-year-old paper mill that defined Canton, North Carolina, unexpectedly announced its closure, starting a tumultuous three months that destroyed the town’s economy and shook its identity, according to the logline. This documentary moves with the community in real time, from the impact of the announcement to the final whistle at the factory. Anger and betrayal deepen as details emerge of executives profiting from stock trades in the days before the news, causing confusion and heartbreak as rumors spread and questions go unanswered.
“We were committed to this story, documenting the experiences of paper mill workers and the community just days after they learned of the mill’s closure,” Seifert said. He added, “We were a community of local filmmakers fueled by a shared belief that this chapter in Appalachian history is important. This is a story about people and community, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”
The film was made possible by the Ford Foundation, Catapult Film Fund, and Mountain Film, and produced by Chris Pruett, Seifert, and Colby Sexton. Ryan Suffern will serve as executive producer.
