Papertown, a poignant new documentary, turns its lens toward the shutdown of a 115-year-old paper mill in an Appalachian town, capturing the profound shift in a community’s identity. The film, which features a new title song by Dave Matthews, offers a raw look at the human cost of industrial decline.
Reflecting on the project, Matthews shared his admiration for the film’s emotional depth. “The movie is stunning,” he noted. “It’s heartbreaking, but still so hopeful. It’s full of hope, in spite of this class system where the power sits in the hands of far away people, which is so wrong.”
Directed by Jeremy Seifert, the documentary is set to make its World Premiere at the MountainFilm Festival in Colorado on May 22. The film provides a real-time account of the turbulence that followed the unexpected announcement of the mill’s closure in Canton, North Carolina.
When the 115-year-old paper mill that defined Canton, North Carolina unexpectedly announced it would shut down, it set off three turbulent months that would gut the town’s economy and shake its identity. This documentary moves with the community in real time, from the shock of the announcement to the mill’s final whistle. We witness the confusion and heartbreak as rumors spread, questions go unanswered, and the company, Pactiv Evergreen, remains silent. As details emerge of executives profiting from stock trades just days before the news, anger and betrayal deepen. Through it all, we stay close to the workers, families, and neighbors who must reckon with the loss of the industry that shaped them for generations, and the uncertain future that lies ahead.
The trailer for the film, which includes a preview of the title track “Papertown,” is available for viewing below.
