Films with a focus on the arts, environment and social justice

Hal Jacobs brings a career in freelance writing and developing written and video resources for higher education into film work that focuses on arts, social justice and the environment. He lives in Decatur, Georgia, with his wife, Alicia Macbeth Jacobs, a former elementary school librarian and executive producer for film projects.

Henry Jacobs is a photographer, filmmaker and musician. He is also deputy director for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and in 2020 was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s “40 Under 40” list. He lives outside LaGrange, Georgia, with his wife, Robin, who is a Nurse RN, BSN.

Both Hal and Henry are Fellows of the Hambidge Center for the Arts & Sciences.

Hal with Sarah Higinbotham, co-founder of Common Good Atlanta

SELECTED AWARDS/RECOGNITION

2023 Top 10 films, Global Feminine Film Festival (Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence & Common Good Atlanta)

2021 Jack Spadaro Documentary Award, Appalachian Studies Association (Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence)

2020 Best Full-Length Documentary, Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival (Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence)

2020 “Best Georgia Made,” Macon Film Festival (Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence)

2019 Georgia Center for the Book Award of Recognition (Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence)

2017 Best Documentary, Southern Shorts Awards (Mary Crovatt Hambidge)

2012 Staff Creativity & Arts Award, Emory University

SELECTED MEDIA

Hal Jacobs explores Southern topics with homegrown documentaries, Candice Dyer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 26, 2024.

“Survivors of Klan terror in Murray Hill share their story with Jacksonville leaders 60 years later,” Jax Today, Will Brown, February 25, 2024.

“It wasn't just another bombing. They survived and, 60 years later, returned to Jacksonville.” Florida Times-Union, Mark Woods, February 23, 2024.

Documentary film celebrates women who saved Atlanta’s Chattahoochee, Bo Emerson, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 25, 2024

The storied past of of Atlanta's 'Most exquisite blues dive': Northside Tavern, Peter Biello, GPB News, December 26, 2022

The legend of the Northside Tavern lives on through film, Sammie Purcell, Reporter Newspapers, December 23, 2022

Film about Northside Tavern, Atlanta’s legendary blues bar, draws applause and tears, John Ruch, Saporta Report, December 14, 2022

Documentary on Northside Tavern honors the mostly true legacy of the blues, Candice Dyer, ArtsATL, December 9, 2022

Northside Tavern, Atlanta’s ‘exquisite dive bar,’ celebrates 50 years, Bo Emerson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 6, 2022

BLUES & BEYOND: Documenting Atlanta Blues, Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing, December 1, 2022

Radio interview on WABE’s “City Lights” with Lois Reitzes, September 19, 2022

Channel 11 news coverage of screening held at Plaza Theater on May 18, 2022

Common Good Atlanta” documentary shows how lit liberates Georgia inmates, Candice Dyer, ArtsATL, May 17, 2022

Documenting Good, Ray Glier, Georgia State University Magazine, February 2022

Inside the catawampus world of “wild man” sculptor Michael Murrell, Candice Dyer, ArtsATL.com, June 9, 2021

Appalachian Center, Lewis Honors College to Host Screening, Discussion of ‘Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence’; College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, March 15, 2021

Decatur fest documentary revives fighting spirit of author and activist Lillian Smith, Donna Mintz, ArtsATL, August 28, 2019

“Breaking the Silence” to shed light on the life of Georgia author and activist Lillian Smith, Donna Mintz, ArtsATL, December 19, 2018

Client List

Atlanta Music Festival
Carlos Museum of Emory University
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy
Common Good Atlanta
Emory Dance Company
Fayette County Library
First Congregational Church of Atlanta
Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry
Georgia Humanities
Georgia State University
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)
Georgia Water Coalition
glo
Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences
Latin American Association
Modern Atlanta Dance Festival
Meridian Herald
Shiloh-Rosenwald School (Notasulga, Ala.)
Staibdance
Step Ahead Scholars
The Nature Conservancy
Troup-Harris Library System
West Georgia Hospice
Zion Church Restoration (Talbotton, Ga.)