Evidence of Our Existence is a short documentary rooted in the living landscape of Holly Springs, Mississippi, where history is not only remembered but embodied. Through the work of community members who animate the Behind the Big House program, the film reveals the depth of knowledge, skill, and cultural expertise held by enslaved Africans, knowledge that shaped the very foundations of Southern life.
As interpreters demonstrate traditional practices such as blacksmithing, foodways, agriculture, and craft, they do more than recreate the past. They reclaim it. Each act of interpretation becomes a form of resistance against historical erasure and a declaration that these stories, and the people within them, matter.
At its core, Evidence of Our Existence is about what it means to tell the truth in community. It traces how reclaiming suppressed histories can open pathways for connection, reflection, and collective healing. In centering the voices and practices of those who carry this work forward, the film invites audiences to witness history not as something distant, but as something alive, held in the hands, memory, and spirit of a community determined to ensure it is never forgotten.
Creative Team
Castel V. Sweet, PhD
Producer & Director
Castel Sweet is a community builder, embedded sociologist, and documentary filmmaker whose work lives at the intersection of race, place, and collective memory. As founder of Sweet Soil Narratives, she uses storytelling to preserve cultural memory, honor ancestral wisdom, and amplify stories often left out of the historical record. Her work explores the ways memory and place can be used to build bridges between the past and present toward a more just and liberated future. A native of Memphis, Tennessee and based in Mississippi. Her background in community engagement informs a filmmaking approach that is grounded in relational practice and collaboration with communities. With Sites of Memory, Castel brings together her commitments to storytelling, justice, and community care, inviting viewers into a shared journey of truth-telling, healing, and reimagining.
Antonio Tarrell
Producer
Antonio Tarrell is a filmmaker hailing from Bruce, Mississippi, whose expansive skill set spans producing, directing, and cinematography. Known for his ability to craft visually captivating images that advance narratives and resonate deeply with audiences, Tarrell has a unique talent for creating films that impact viewers on a subconscious level. His dedication to storytelling is evident in his varied body of work, which includes feature films, documentaries, and commercials. Tarrell’s films often explore themes of justice, memory, and social change, aiming to provoke thought and inspire action. Antonio Tarrell Films, under his guidance, has also made significant contributions to television, working with major networks on productions. Each project showcases Tarrell’s flair for engaging with complex topics through powerful visual storytelling, establishing him as a prominent voice in contemporary filmmaking.
Partners & Supporters
