Kristina Cunningham Honored for Documentary About "Books By The River"
At the NextLens Film Festival, produced by South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV), student filmmaker Kristina Cunningham was honored for her documentary “Behind The Show: A Books By The River Documentary."
Held each spring, the NextLens Online Film Festival showcases talented aspiring filmmakers from South Carolina. Honorees are selected from S.C. high schools, colleges and universities. "Behind The Show" is Cunningham's first work to be showcased in a film festival. She received her award on March 4.
“I’m so proud to share this project with the USCB community and I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse behind the show," she said.
Shot during her time at the University of South Carolina Beaufort as a student production assistant for "Books By The River," Cunningham's 45-minute documentary takes viewers inside the making of this national television program.
Produced by USCB Interdisciplinary Studies Associate Professor Dr. Caroline Sawyer and hosted by Holly Bounds Jackson of ETV Lowcountry, “Books By The River” features in-depth author interviews. It has won a Southeast Emmy nomination, a Silver Telly Award, and multiple Communicator Awards. The show is carried by 76% of all public television channels in the U.S.
Cunningham's film reveals what makes the program unique—demonstrating how students help produce the show and create content to promote it, how their skills grow as they gain experience, and how each episode inspires viewers to appreciate Southern storytelling. The film follows 10 USCB students as they work side-by-side with faculty and industry professionals.
“This project highlights the creativity, collaboration and even quick problem solving
that has to take place on a television set,” Cunningham said. "I'm grateful to USCB
for supporting real-world learning opportunities like this.”
A Bluffton native, Cunningham discovered her passion for filmmaking and storytelling
at a young age.
"I remember using my iPad as a camera and editing small movies of myself and my siblings,”
she said.
Over the past decade, that curiosity has grown into a dedicated pursuit, with Cunningham
producing videos for school projects, her tennis team, clients, and even her first
internship at her church. She continues to refine her craft, drawing inspiration from
documentaries, music, and other art forms.
She is now a sophomore studying media arts at USC Columbia and plans to pursue filmmaking as her career.
- USCB -
EM 03/18/2026