As the deadCenter 2021 Film Festival begins to wind down, we’re highlighting some of our favorite gems from this year’s schedule. Among the huge array of short films playing is a documentary titled “Sardis,” a story preserving a forgotten piece of Oklahoma history.

If you’re from Oklahoma and have never heard of the town of Sardis, you’re not alone. Similar to the Tulsa Race Massacre(until recently), the tragic story is rarely discussed in state history classes. To learn more about what inspired the short film and why it’s an essential piece of Oklahoma history, we spoke with the short film’s writer/director, Colleen Thurston.

Tune in to today’s conversation and check out “Sardis” at the deadCenter virtual cinema before the festival concludes tomorrow evening.

More information about Thurston’s upcoming “Drowned Land” can be found at redfordcenter.org.

Special Guest

Colleen Thurston, writer/director of “Sardis”

The official deadCenter 2021 synopsis describes “Sardis” as:

Deep in the Choctaw Nation, a picturesque lake hosts an unusual sight: an island populated by rows of headstones. This cemetery floating in a man-made lake is the last relic of what was the town of Sardis, Oklahoma.

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