Just outside of Jackson, Mississippi, sits The Piney Woods School, one of four remaining historical Black boarding schools in the U.S. and the country’s largest. Piney Woods serves students in grades 9-12 and sends 98% of its graduates to college.

Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story comes from Andscape, Disney and ESPN’s Black-led multimedia brand, and it marks the directorial feature debut of J.J. Anderson. It’s executive produced by Andscape’s Kelley L. Carter along with Anderson, Marc Jordan and Jason Aidoo. It’s produced by State of the Art’s Mecia Hollar and LAura Avila Tacsan, both PGA members. It premieres on Hulu on Sunday, February 23 as part of the platform’s Black History Month slate of programming.

The film follows several Piney Woods students and staff members, capturing the emotional, physical and mental tolls required to be young, Black and educated in America.

Ahead of its premiere on Hulu, Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story will screen as an official selection at the 32nd Pan African Film Festival on February 10 in Los Angeles. The festival was founded by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover, the late Ja’Net DuBois and Ayuko Babu, who serves as executive director.

“I am honored to be partnering with Andscape to bring Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story to audiences. From the illuminating experiences shared by the historical institution’s young voices to the devoted labor put forth by crew members— this film is a heartfelt testimony of love, community, and culture. We are overjoyed to share it with the world,” said Anderson, whose credits include Home/Free, Positive Space and Jonah, in a statement.

Tags: andscape black history month disney espn hulu


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