Paul Grant is producing a three-part oral history and documentary film series, EAST OF THE RIVER, about generational transitions within the predominantly African American communities located East of the Anacostia River–specifically in Ward 7. Each film will each explore a significant generational moment through the personal narratives of District residents who lived, experienced and were catalyst for the change in this overlooked area. The series is generously supported by Humanities DC and the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities. More info here.
The first installment, WE ARE PENN BRANCH is a feature length film that shares the stories of the first generations of African American families to integrate the Penn Branch neighborhood of roughly 500 single-family homes in Southeast DC, from 1962 through1971. Their heartful stories illustrate the power of finding community wherever you are. The film will be ready for a limited festival run in 2027.
Beyond his films, this fall Paul Grant is launching the Southeast Cinema Society, Inc. (SECS) a nonprofit organization that hosts curated film screenings, lectures and other cultural events in communities East of the Anacostia River where there are no active movie theaters or cultural performance spaces for over 70,000 adults, who live in 28 neighborhoods in the District of Columbia.
