J.J. Anderson and Dr. Bertice Berry featured at free November 17 screening
and discussion at The Learning Center
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Los Angeles-based filmmaker J.J. Anderson will join Savannah audiences for a free screening of her short film Sometimes I Feel Like I Am Almost Home on Tuesday, November 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Learning Center of Senior Citizens, Inc., 3025 Bull Street. A panel discussion with Anderson and Savannah sociologist, author and storyteller Dr. Bertice Berry will follow the film. The event is open to the public, and registration is required.
Set in Columbus County, North Carolina, where Black residents were historically excluded from the public pool, the film weaves together new footage, archival imagery and personal stories from across generations. Water runs throughout these stories, connecting a history of racial exclusion with moments of healing and joy.
At the heart of the film is a concept Anderson calls a “return to self,” the sometimes painful journey of reclaiming the freedom and sense of possibility associated with childhood. Her work asks audiences to consider how family stories and the places we return to shape our understanding of home.
“This film asks us to think about the stories we carry and what it means to feel at home,” said Roger Smith, director of The Learning Center. “Bringing J.J. Anderson and Dr. Bertice Berry together gives our audience an opportunity to explore those ideas with two gifted storytellers.”
A self-taught filmmaker, Anderson explores culture, community and healing across generations. Her work includes the feature documentary Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Sometimes I Feel Like I Am Almost Home was featured in her debut solo museum exhibition at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles in 2025.
Joining Anderson for the discussion is Dr. Berry, a sought-after public speaker and founder of the Institute for Story. Berry holds a doctorate in sociology and serves as a deacon at Christ Church in Savannah.
To register for the free screening and discussion, visit seniorcitizensinc.org/the-learning-center or call 912-236-0363.
ABOUT SCI
Senior Citizens Inc. (SCI) has been helping people in coastal Georgia age successfully since 1959 through a variety of programs including Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Health Centers, The Learning Center, and much more. To learn more about SCI and its services, please visit www.SeniorCitizensInc.org or call 912-236-0363.
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