Natchez Documentary Wins Acclaim at Literary Cinema Celebration

Experts unpack how the award-winning film confronts slavery, heritage tourism, and the South's unresolved past.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The 2026 Natchez Literary Cinema Celebration featured a special screening of the acclaimed documentary about Natchez, Mississippi and its complex history. The film, directed by Suzannah Herbert and produced by Darcy McKinnon, has won numerous awards at film festivals across the country for its exploration of slavery, heritage tourism, and the South's unresolved past. Attendees, including figures featured in the documentary, gathered to discuss the film's impact and significance.

Why it matters

The Natchez documentary provides a nuanced and thought-provoking examination of how a historic Southern town grapples with its legacy of slavery and the ongoing challenges of heritage tourism. As the film gains wider recognition, it sparks important conversations about confronting the South's difficult history and charting a path forward.

The details

The documentary, filmed in 2023, features interviews with local figures like Marsha Colson, a past president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and owner of Lansdowne, who speaks openly about her ancestors as plantation and slave owners. Kathleen Bond, the director of Natchez National Historical Park, also appears in the film and sponsored the special screening at the Natchez Literary Cinema Celebration. The film has won numerous accolades, including Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Charlotte Film Festival, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, and the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.

  • The documentary was filmed in 2023.
  • The Natchez Literary Cinema Celebration took place in 2026.

The players

Suzannah Herbert

The director of the Natchez documentary.

Darcy McKinnon

The producer of the Natchez documentary.

Marsha Colson

A past president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and owner of Lansdowne, who appears in the documentary and speaks about her ancestors as plantation and slave owners.

Kathleen Bond

The director of Natchez National Historical Park, who appears in the documentary and sponsored the special screening at the Natchez Literary Cinema Celebration.

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What they’re saying

“They came to her for a special use permit to film on National Park properties including Melrose and Forks of the Road. Bond never imagined then how wide the project would reach or how it would be received.”

— Kathleen Bond, Director of Natchez National Historical Park (natchezdemocrat.com)

The takeaway

The Natchez documentary's critical acclaim highlights the power of storytelling to confront the South's complex history and the ongoing challenges of heritage tourism. As the film continues to gain recognition, it sparks important dialogues about how communities can reckon with their past and chart a more inclusive and equitable future.