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Welcome to the official website for Freedom Lost: Restoration, a new Black History documentary. This is a life changing film about bringing healing and restoration through history and teaches us that "the best way to know where you're going is to know where you've come from."

             Watch the preview:     

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(This Harper's Weekly illustration above portraying slaves seeking refuge from the Union Army in James City appears courtesy of the New Bern Craven County Public Library)

FREEDOM LOST: RESTORATION is not just a documentary, but part of a larger project that has potential to expand to a docudrama/feature film and a series of documentary shorts. The focus of the project is the historical and present day issues of African Americans in a community that one time had a reputation for being a city of refuge for Free Blacks. We will continue making documentaries for this series if there is an interest from the public.

Freedom Lost: Restoration is a documentary short film about a North Carolina community seeking restoration from a painful past. The documentary brings remembrance to the rich African American history of James City and New Bern (the Colonial Capital of North Carolina that is now celebrating its 300th Anniversary). Ante Bellum New Bern had a strong Free Black presence in North Carolina. But when the city was occupied by Federal Troops during the Civil War, it became a city of refuge for numerous runaway slaves. After the war, Federal Troops left the area and the newly freed slaves were left to the devices of the former slave masters. By the end of the 19th century, freedom was lost for free blacks and former slaves. 300 years later, this same community longs for restoration by raising up a memorial to honor their forgotten history. Restoration is upon us.

Freedom Lost: Restoration features interviews with 3 African American leaders who are making a positive impact in their community by bringing remembrance to New Bern and James City's rich African American heritage.

Cast and Crew

Starring Sharon Bryant, Bernard George, and Ben Watford; Executive Producers: Scott Nunnally and Tom Swift; Co-Producers: Angela Swift and Dan O'Connell; Produced by Bill Hand; Written and Directed by Tom Swift