MORE THAN A FILM
GERMAN SOUL IS A LIVE DOCUMENTARY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSIC, FOOD AND ALL YOUR ANCESTORS.
GERMAN SOUL
A LIVE DOCUMENTARY EXPERIENCE with JUSTIN ROBINSON
GERMAN SOUL is a live documentary experience that radically re-examines the origins of Southern food and Black identity. Driven by a lifelong "sensitive stomach" and a nagging family mystery, Grammy-winning musician and ethnobotanist Justin Robinson embarks on a personal quest for culinary truth. His journey shatters assumptions, as he discovers West African food soothes him while a DNA test uncovers a surprising German ancestor, revealing dishes like country-fried steak are far from uniquely Southern.
This multi-sensory performance blends film, live narration, and music to pose a profound question: was “soul food” born of creativity or culinary coercion? Justin grapples with the implications, confronting family resistance and the emotional weight of enslaved ancestors severed from their own foodways as a means of survival. From the Carolinas to West Africa and Europe, Justin seeks the true genealogy of his family recipes, transforming the history of food into a path for reconnection with his ancestors and his body. His arc is one of discovery and redefinition, empowering audiences to question cultural myths and reclaim agency over their identity and food choices.
CREATED BY JUSTIN ROBINSON, D.L. ANDERSON
PRODUCED BY D.L. ANDERSON, REBEKAH FERGUSSON
SCREENINGS
BISCUITS & BANJOS FESTIVAL - 30min. SDF Work-In-Progress Presentation
SUPPORT
HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL - Pitch Participant
FILMED IN N.C. Fund - Grant Recipient
WANT TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TODAY?
GERMAN SOUL is fiscally sponsored by the Southern Documentary Fund and all donations above $250 are tax-deductible.
Want to be A More substantial part of this unique, live DOCUMENTARY SERIES?
GERMAN SOUL is seeking philanthropic donors, partners, and investors.
We are midway through a development phase and seeking major donors, organizational partners and investors to sponsor events to further workshop and reach people hungry for stories that nourish a bolder sense of self and community health. Fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch.