Documentary Honors Charleston Shooting Survivor Polly Sheppard
The Charleston Gaillard Center hosted a screening of Be Still & Know featuring Polly Sheppard's account of the 2015 shooting.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Documentary
The Charleston Gaillard Center recently hosted a special screening of the documentary Be Still & Know. The film honors Polly Sheppard, who survived the 2015 tragedy at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church.
Why it matters
The documentary preserves the personal testimony of survivors to commemorate the lives lost in the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church. It serves as a permanent record of the event through the eyes of those who experienced it.
The screening drew an estimated crowd of 250 people. The film honors the 9 victims who were murdered during the shooting, which left only 5 survivors.
The players
Polly Sheppard
She is a survivor of the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church who shares her story in the documentary.
Marquis Bell
He is the director of the documentary Be Still & Know.
Carolyn Murray
She is a journalist who interviewed Polly Sheppard on stage following the documentary screening.
Trudy Lucas
She contributed to the production of the documentary film.
The details
Directed by Marquis Bell with production contributions from Trudy Lucas, the film centers on Polly Sheppard's first-hand account of the June 17, 2015, attack. Following the screening, journalist Carolyn Murray conducted an on-stage interview with Sheppard to reflect on her experiences.
Timeline
June 17, 2015: The shooting occurred at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church.
October 22, 2026: The documentary was screened at the Charleston Gaillard Center.
Industry Dynamics
This documentary reflects a growing trend in the film industry to use long-form storytelling to preserve the personal accounts of historical tragedies. It follows the precedent established by the 2015 Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooting and serves as a vital tool for institutional memory.
The screening at the Charleston Gaillard Center provided local residents with a public forum to view the film and engage in discussion. Future availability of the documentary remains unconfirmed for those who could not attend.
The takeaway
Documentaries provide a necessary medium for survivors to document their experiences and provide historical context. Attendees often find that witnessing these accounts firsthand helps in local efforts to process and remember significant community events.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest projects in our Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCBD 2 - Charleston.
