Dearly Beloved: Premiere at Atlanta Documentary Film Festival
- ecbalazs
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Come to that place in your heart
- Prince, Paisley Park, 1985
I have exciting news to share with you.
Dearly Beloved—a short documentary that tells my personal Prince story—has been accepted to the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, screening March 19-22, 2026. The story is told over a visual chronological pilgrimage through all of Prince's houses in Minnesota, filmed over 9 years.
The film was the first production of The People's Museum for Prince. I hope it's the first of many, as film is such a powerful way to share stories, and these days it's easy to access the tools needed.
Dearly Beloved
Dearly Beloved is a 6-minute film about my journey after Prince died. It's about what I was looking for when I went to Minneapolis for Prince, and what I found instead. It's about grief, about place, about how we try to get close to someone we've lost. I filmed it mostly on my iPhone. It took time to be ready to tell it, then more time to help it find its true form. Then even more time to actually decide to share it.
The People's Museum Invites You
The People's Museum gathers our stories—written words, paintings, photographs, quilts, sculptures—all the ways people express what Prince means to them. The museum is founded on the belief that personal stories matter and an artist's legacy is formed not only in the official records of their estate and their accomplishments, but also in the hearts of their audience.
As curator, I understand not everyone is ready to share their story immediately. It can take time and care to shape it into a form that feels right and communicates its message effectively. As educator, writer and filmmaker, I know that gathering with others to shape our stories can help tremendously—giving us courage to share our voice and experience. I understand what it takes to share a personal story, to decide to allow it out from its secret place in the heart and tentatively offer it out to others.
Extended Deadline: April 30
Given the upcoming 10th anniversary of Prince's passing, when so many hearts and minds will turn to Prince, we've extended our submission deadline to April 30, 2026Â to allow maximum participation.
This gives time to join a workshop, write your story, make your film, create your art.
Prince Film Program
We've already received short films from around the world: Christopher Hall in Sheffield, UK, created the experimental film All The Silence. From My Prince Vinyl (2026), a meditation on silence and loss. Minnesota-based filmmaker Kish Daniels shot the joyful When Doves Cry: An Homage to Prince (2025) featuring a luscious performance by Jojo Ventus Ninja on one roll of 16mm film. And Bobby Huntley II's heartbreaking Sometimes It Snows In April (2016) documents fans in Atlanta in the wake of Prince's passing. It begins: "Some got a chance to witness the last concert performed by Prince. And some did not."
We're planning a special screening program for June as part of the museum's offerings. We'd love to include more films.
Workshops to Help Shape Your Story
With this in mind, we're offering storytelling workshops where anyone can share and explore their Prince story. Some are standalone sessions where you can workshop ideas and leave with something meaningful for yourself or for the museum's June exhibition.Â
For those wanting to commit to deeper work over time, for April we'll offer a 4-week Story to Screen intensive supporting a small group to develop their Prince story from concept through completion—either as a polished written piece or a 2-3 minute short film.
Details and registration: peoplesmuseumforprince.org/workshops
"Admission is easy, just say you believe.. " -Prince, Paisley Park, 1985
Like all museum activities, workshops are free to participate. The museum is a labor of gratitude in honor of Prince. We welcome volunteers who'd like to help in any way.
Atlanta Screening of Dearly Beloved on Sunday March 22
The Atlanta Documentary Film Festival runs March 19-22, 2026. Dearly Beloved screens on Sunday, March 22 at 5pm as part of the "Still Here"" program. I won't be able to attend from Australia, but if you're in the area and interested in going, please reach out—I'd love to connect you with the festival and it would be wonderful if some people from the Prince community could be there for the screening.
An Invitation
Your story about Prince matters. Whether you share it in a few paragraphs, a photograph or a 3-minute film. A drawing or a song or a dance. Whether you've been thinking about it for years or it just surfaced yesterday.
Come to that place in your heart, where Prince dwells within you.
The People's Museum for Prince
Opening June 7, 2026
Roberts Gallery, North Minneapolis
Submissions open through April 30, 2026
Submit your contribution: