New Canaan High School graduate and filmmaker Theo Avgerinos’s documentary, Rising Hope, will premiere Tuesday at the Playhouse on Elm Street (tickets here).
Screenings at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. will be followed by a Q&A with Avgerinos.
“Rising Hope” has won multiple awards, including Best Documentary at the LightReel Film Festival in Washington, D.C., and both Audience Award and Best Mississippi Film at the Oxford Film Festival. It tells a powerful story of resilience and hope in the impoverished Mississippi Delta. Next week’s special screening is presented by Stand Together Against Racism (S.T.A.R).
We put some questions to Avgerinos. Our exchange is below, followed by the official trailer:
New Canaanite: Congratulations on “Rising Hope,” Theo. How did this project come to you?
Theo Avgerinos
Theo Avgerinos: Thanks! The inspiration goes back to my senior year in college, when I joined the Congregational Church Youth Group’s mission trip to Indianola, Mississippi in 2000. The people we met and their stories left a lasting impression. What struck me as a young film student was the paradox of the Delta—an economically struggling region, yet filled with community leaders determined to keep hope alive, especially for the youth. In 2017, I returned with the same group to explore if there was a larger story, and there certainly was—it just took five more years to unfold!
What, if anything, did you know about the people of the Mississippi delta prior to making the film?
Coming from suburban Connecticut, I didn’t know much beyond the blues. As a guitar player, I admired B.B. King, who’s from Indianola, so I had some sense of the hardships that gave rise to the music. But beyond that, I had a lot to learn—and several stereotypes to challenge.
“Rising Hope” has won multiple awards. Talk about its reception. What feedback has surprised you the most?
The most surprising feedback has been the genuine connection from audiences who knew nothing about Mississippi but asked, “How can I share this with my friends, family, or children?” The film’s emotional impact comes from the raw personal truths being shared, and seeing participants answer questions about their stories in front of an audience has been a dream come true from the start.
There are so many memorable people in this film. Which of them has made the most indelible impression on you?
It’s too hard to choose—they’re all dear friends now, so I can’t pick a favorite. But if I had to think about who’s had the longest impact on me, it would be Herron Wilson. I met him back in 2000 when he was the focus of my student Youth Group documentary, and his influence has stayed with me ever since.
What would you say to New Canaanite readers who are on the fence about attending a screening on Tuesday night?
I truly believe it’s one of the most inspirational films you’ll see this year—without a doubt. It highlights our moral obligation as communities to connect across economic and racial lines. While it explores the darker chapters of Mississippi’s history and the unjust policies that continue to impact areas of rural poverty, it’s ultimately an American story of grit, kindness, and the spirit of resilience that will leave you with a genuine sense of hope.