Student Film Imagines Dystopian Appalachia

Low-budget indie movie 'Days of August' shot in Virginia, not Maine

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:23pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring jagged black silhouettes of barren trees and mountains against a stark red background, conceptually representing the dystopian Appalachian setting of an independent student film.A student-made indie film explores a dark, speculative future in the Appalachian region through striking visual metaphors.Charlottesville Today

A student film production company called 1716 Digital has created an independent movie called 'Days of August' that imagines a dark, dystopian future in the Appalachian region, despite being filmed in Charlottesville, Virginia rather than the actual Harpswell, Maine setting.

Why it matters

The film represents a growing trend of young filmmakers using low-budget, independent productions to explore speculative fiction and social commentary, even if the actual filming locations don't match the intended setting.

The details

The film 'Days of August' was shot on a shoestring budget over 2022 and 2023 in Charlottesville, Virginia, rather than the coastal Maine town of Harpswell that serves as the fictional setting. The student filmmakers used the Appalachian region as inspiration for their imagined dystopian future, despite the actual filming taking place hundreds of miles away.

  • The film was shot over 2022 and 2023.
  • It premiered at a regional film festival in April 2026.

The players

1716 Digital

A student film production company that created the independent movie 'Days of August'.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to explore themes of economic decline and environmental degradation, and the Appalachian region provided the perfect backdrop, even if we couldn't film there directly.”

— Samantha Wilkins, Director, 1716 Digital

What’s next

The film is expected to continue screening at regional and independent film festivals throughout 2026.

The takeaway

This student-made dystopian film highlights how young filmmakers are using low-budget indie productions to tackle complex social and environmental issues, even if the final product doesn't perfectly match the intended setting.