Longleaf Studios at Jax State Wins Two Southeast Emmys for Documentary Films

06/16/2025

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Longleaf Studios at Jacksonville State University brought home two Southeast Emmy Awards on Saturday night, continuing a remarkable streak of national recognition for its documentary work. 

Honored during the 51st annual Southeast Emmy Awards in Atlanta, the studio earned wins in two competitive categories: Documentary – Historical for Defending Freedom: The Arthur D. Shores Story and Documentary – Topical for Riding Through History: The Barber Collection. The projects were produced by Longleaf Studios in collaboration with Joel Evans and Rebekah Hall of Illuminate Films and produced for Alabama Public Television (APT). 

The latest awards mark seven total Southeast Emmy wins for Jacksonville State, a milestone that reflects not only the talent of its professional team but also the contributions of the university’s students. Film, art, and communication students at Jax State played integral roles in the productions, gaining hands-on experience in research, cinematography, post-production, and storytelling. 

“These films reflect the power of collaboration between professionals and students,” said Seth Johnson, Director of Longleaf Studios, Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, and Distinguished Professor of Art and Design at Jax State. “Our mission is not only to tell meaningful stories but to prepare the next generation of filmmakers by involving them in every stage of the process. These awards are a testament to the entire Longleaf team's creativity, dedication, and hard work.” 

APT Executive Director Wayne Reid applauded the ongoing partnership. “The partnership between Longleaf Studios, Jacksonville State University and Alabama Public Television exemplifies the power of collaboration in telling Alabama's most compelling stories," Reid said. "Through films like Defending Freedom and Riding Through History, we're not only preserving history but bringing it to life. We're proud to help share this incredible work with audiences across the state and beyond." 

The Emmy-winning documentaries are part of an expanding slate of content from Longleaf Studios and APT. Upcoming projects include documentaries on Alabama music legend Randy Owen, the history of the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), and a new film showcasing Alabama’s trails. 

All Longleaf Studios documentaries produced for APT are available to stream at aptv.org/watch-page.