We visited nearly every corner of the state in 2025. From the coast to the Piedmont region, GPB wanted to share stories that connected with Georgia's communities and left a lasting impact. Let's reminisce as we head into 2026!

Winter 2025

The year begin with our monthly PBS Kids Story Time with the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. We enjoyed seeing many young visitors and homeschooled residents in this program that ran until May. 

Following this, we held two powerful POV film screenings that both address and examine life in under represented communities–Hummingbirds and The Body Politic. During our screening and discussion of Hummingbirds, we had the privilege of listening to Isidore Bethel, the editor and co-producer of the film, share his insights and experiences working on the documentary about two friends residing in a border town in Texas. The Body Politic screening allowed us to explore the impact of local public safety efforts with the help of the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative and  H.O.P.E. Hustlers (Healthy Outreach for Positive Empowerment) in an enriching panel.

We also began our Indie Lens Pop-Up film screenings and community events in Athens with a showing of Free for All and a discussion with State Librarian Julie Walker. The film provided a holistic view of the history of libraries in this country. 

As we wrapped up the winter at the end of February, we culminated Black History Month with a A Community Celebration for Great Migrations: A People on the Move. This celebration was like no other and featured Burundi Drummers, performances by the Caribbean Association of Georgia and Indra Thomas. Visitors also had the opportunity to share their story as part of the Everybody Comes From Somewhere Community storytelling project.  

Our final event of the month hinted at the theme we would emphasize in the upcoming spring season: health. GPB partnered with the Healthcare Ethics Consortium (HEC) and Emory's Center for Ethics and The Primary Care Consortium at Emory's School of Medicine to present The Only Doctor. Following the screening, we were joined by Dr. Karen Kinsell and filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi in an engaging panel on the access of healthcare in rural communities. 

Spring 2025

In the spring, we got active! The first week of March, we participated in an 18 mile bike ride as part of the Indie Lens Pop-Up film Bike Vessel. When March Madness was in full effect, we partnered with the Lovb Volleyball team to host a screening of Home Court, a film that traces the ascent of Ashley Chea, a basketball prodigy whose life intensifies amid recruitment, injury, and triumph throughout her high school years. 

In late April, we decided to go on a treasure hunt in Savannah! For the first time in nearly 15 years, Antiques Roadshow stopped in Georgia. Interested in seeing highlights from the event and some behind the scenes footage? Join us at this event on January 17th for a special screening.

We concluded our Indie Lens Pop-up and POV screenings on health in April and early May. These screenings featured Is There Anybody Out There in Cartersville and Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s in various locations across the Fulton County Library System. We collaborated with New Disabled South, the Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled for Is There Anybody Out There, and the Alzheimer’s Association for the screening of Matter of Mind. 

Summer 2025

As the summer got started, we wanted to continue to focus on health as the weather heated up. We partnered with NOVA and Emory's Rollins School of Public Health to feature a screening and panel on Critical Condition: Health in Black America. The documentary investigates the dramatic health disparities in the US and reveals the factors behind the health crisis facing Black Americans.  

Mental health is a key component to overall physical health and we made sure to have dialogue about this as well. Through our Journey of Hope Screening and Discussion with the Georgia Department of Behavior Health and Developmental Disabilities, we were able to have engaging and necessary discussions around the mental health crisis we face in this country. If you need support, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' Family Support Services can be a great resource in your time of need.

For many of us, including myself, music can be a form of therapy that helps improve our mental health. So, we turned up the funk! We went to the Godfather of Funk's hometown in Augusta to screen WE WANT THE FUNK! Partnering with the Augusta Museum of History, we were able to show the history of the funk movement and even showcase some James Brown artifacts in his exhibition. 

Summertime was also a time to focus on caregiving. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and our population grows, the need for caregivers will increase. We addressed this issue with the film Caregiving, executive produced by Bradley Cooper. The film offers an intimate look at the lives of paid and unpaid caregivers across the U.S., weaving their personal stories with the history of caregiving to reveal its challenges and importance. We dedicated a week of reporting on just caregiving and partnered with the Beyond Dementia Coalition in September to show clips from the film. Check out this webpage to access all of the caregiving resources on GPB's website!

As summer drew to a close and school started up again, we threw a few fun events to get the little ones excited about learning once more! In August, we partnered with MARTA and Page Turners Make Great Learners to host Reading & Riding Family Day at the Decatur Marta Station. For our really young learners under 5, we partnered with PNC Grow Up Great to host the Mobile Learning Adventure in late August. The MLA, a traveling exhibit, offers parents and caregivers a fun way to learn about early childhood education.

One of our last events of the summer had us feeling like nomads even though we were right here at GPB! We hosted Creative Mornings Atlanta for their monthly speaker series. We prepared a special watchlist around the "nomad" theme. Check it out!

Fall 2025

We kicked the fall off by visiting some of our old friends at Highclere Castle for the last time (*sheds tear). In September we held an early screening of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. We enjoyed seeing everyone celebrate this great franchise and event participate in our costume contest!

As October arrived, our primary focus shifted to empowering the youth and shaping the future leaders of our world. It started on October 11th with the City of Atlanta's 2025 International Day of the Girl Celebration. We partnered with the the Mayor's Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion to celebrate and honor young women across Atlanta. The theme was a  "A Girl’s Vision For the Future", so we asked them see themselves in their favorite PBS character as part of the day's festivities. A few weeks later, we traveled down to Albany, GA to partner with Albany State University for a screening and discussion of Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect. This networking and panel event provided students with an opportunity to connect and learn from judges, attorneys, and civil rights activists about creating a more equitable world. We wrapped up the month with a neighbor who’s as kind, caring, and compassionate as they come—Daniel Tiger! We teamed up with Compassionate Atlanta for Be My Neighbor Day, which teaches young learners about being a great neighbor and taking care of others. 

Last November, Ken Burns’ documentary about Leonardo da Vinci was the talk of the town. However, this November, Ken Burns’ film, American Revolution, took center stage. Over the course of late October and November, we screened American Revolution in Cartersville, Rome, Morrow, and Hinesville. Each screening provided GPB the opportunity to engage with local communities about Revolutionary war history, it's local connections, and how "the revolution that changed the world" 250 years ago still impacts us today. 

Our final event of the fall was a live-taping of the Narrative Edge Podcast. GPB’s Orlando Montoya interviewed author Lorissa Rinehart about her new book, Winning the Earthquake. This is the first major biography of Jeannette Rankin, a trailblazing suffragist, activist, and the first woman elected to Congress. Check out the episode here!

Wow, you made it to the end—give yourself a gold star! Thanks for sticking with us through this whirlwind tour of 2025. If you’re ready for more adventures, stories, and events that connect Georgia’s communities, join us next year for what’s coming up and let’s make 2026 even more unforgettable! Check out future events here!