Jeremy S. Levine | Director, Producer, and Educator
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The Panola Project

Am I Next is a documentary short following the pivotal political awakening of teenager Shane Flowers during the early days of the Ferguson protests. Shane weaves through the protests—demanding accountability for the death of black teenager Michael Brown, shot and killed by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb—attempting to let his voice be heard and fight for change with darkness slowly falling on Florissant Avenue. As he moves through the crowds, he hears differing opinions from other protesters on the best ways to fight for change.

Am I Next was featured on Time Magazine’s home page, Upworthy, and Dazed Magazine. The short was selected as a Vimeo Staff pick and received over 500K combined views.

THE PANOLA PROJECT

Directed by Jeremy S. Levine & Rachael DeCruz | Music by Jermaine “Maineframe” Fletcher | Re-Recording Mixing by Dominic Bartolini + Eric Masunaga | A New Yorker Documentary Film

 
“☆☆☆☆½ The Panola Project is on a different spectrum, bringing hope to a world that... needs it now the most.”
— Federico Furzan, Movie-Blogger
“Seeing Dorothy Oliver bring vaccines to her town and persuade people to take them in this short film is extraordinary and beautiful.”
— Atul Gawande, Staff Writer at The New Yorker

The Panola Project highlights the heroic efforts of Dorothy Oliver to keep her small town of Panola, AL safe during the pandemic. Dorothy runs a makeshift Covid vaccine coordination center from the convenience store she runs out of a mobile home. Today, nearly 99% of adults in her town have received the shot in a state with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. The Panola Project illuminates how an often-overlooked rural Black community comes together in creative ways to survive.

The Panola Project was an official selection of over 35 festivals including Sundance, Hot Docs, and the DOC NYC Shortlist. The film received seven Special Jury Awards, three Audience Awards, and two Grand Jury Prizes, including the Oscar-qualifying Best Documentary Short Award at the Florida Film Festival. The Panola Project was released with The New Yorker, featured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and The Last Word, and written about in over 50 publications including USA Today, The Boston Globe, Insider, and People. Following the film’s release, Dr. Anthony Fauci thanked Dorothy and said that her work can serve as a model for the country and Dorothy received a letter of appreciation from Vice President Kamala Harris.

 
 
“In its 16-minute run time, ‘The Panola Project’ packs a punch. It’s not a tale of pandemic despair or struggle, but one of joy…Dorothy’s energy is captivating.”
— Hannah Keating, The Daily Utah Chronicle
“☆☆☆☆ Decruz and Levine’s documentary is upbeat, positive and doesn’t shy away from making its point that there are glaring failings within all of America’s systems, but knows to keep its focus on the hero of this particular piece – Dorothy Oliver.”
— Clair Fulton, Loud and Clear Reviews

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winner of 7 Jury Awards, 3 Audience Awards, & 2 Grand Jury Awards

  • Official Selection of over 35 festivals including: Sundance, Hot Docs, DOC NYC Shortlist, Full Frame, Palm Springs ShortFest, & BlackStar

  • Humankind Award, Dorothy Oliver, USA Today

  • Vimeo Staff Pick

  • Short of the Week

  • A New Yorker Documentary Film

  • Featured on MSNBC: Morning Joe, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, and Velshi and BNC: PRIME with Charles Blow and Amplified with Aisha Mills

  • Broadcast on Fox Soul’s Screening Room with Vivica A. Fox

  • Highlighted in over 50 press outlets including USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Market Watch, Insider, The Boston Globe, and People

  • 200K+ views on Instagram, 100K+ likes on Twitter, 25K+ Likes on Facebook, 20K+ upvotes on Reddit

“What an extraordinary accomplishment Dorothy.”
— Dr. Anthony Fauci
“America needs more Dorothy Olivers.”
— Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC
“Panola, AL may be a small town but Dorothy Oliver is one big time hero!”
— Doug Jones, former AL Senator 
“Excellent...The Panola Project stands out as something new...One of the great films playing at Sundance.”
— Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
We are looking back at all of the love and joy Miss Dorothy Oliver and @thepanolaproject spread this year! From our launch on @newyorkermag to guest appearances on @lastwordmsnbc with @lawrence_odonnell, @morningjoe, and @velshimsnbc which spread lik