John Mills photographed alongside the descendants of Reverend Isaac J. Hill, who served as a soldier in the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment during the Civil War.
John Mills stands in Old Norwichtown Cemetery located in Norwich, Connecticut.
Following national festival acclaim, Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten brings Connecticut’s overlooked African American history to the big screen.
BLOOMFIELD, CT, UNITED STATES, August 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The award-winning documentary Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten, created by Connecticut historian, author, genealogist, and filmmaker John Mills, has been chosen as an official entry for the 2026 Mystic Film Festival. It will make its Connecticut debut on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Mystic Luxury Cinemas, located at 25 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, Connecticut.
Right after the screening, Mills will take part in a live question-and-answer session with the audience, delving into the historical research, genealogy work, and preservation efforts that inspired the film.
Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten tracks Mills as he reveals the lives of African Americans whose stories have largely vanished from Connecticut’s historical record. Through years of genealogical research, gatherings of descendants, cemetery restoration projects, historical advocacy, and documentary storytelling, the film illustrates how bringing forgotten lives to light can reshape our view of Connecticut’s past and America’s shared history.
The documentary has garnered recognition on the national film festival circuit, earning Official Selection honors from the San Antonio Black International Film Festival, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, Twin Cities Black Film Festival, Columbia Maryland Film Festival, Grand Rapids Film Festival, and many others. It also received the Bronze Award for Editing at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles and was named a Semi-Finalist by Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival.
The film weaves together historical research with interviews and commentary from scholars, historians, museum professionals, public officials, and descendants. Featured voices include Dr. Jesse Nasta of Wesleyan University; Morgan Bengel of Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine; Kevin Johnson of the Connecticut State Library; Nicole Thomas of Connecticut Landmarks; U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal; and Primus Armes descendants Dawn Lathrop-Goode and Michael Lathrop.
Mills’ work reaches far beyond the documentary itself. Collaborating with professional artists, he has commissioned historically accurate portraits of formerly enslaved individuals, reimagined through extensive genealogical research and the facial features of their living descendants. These portraits act as visual introductions to many of the film’s subjects and are currently displayed in museums across Connecticut as part of the state’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Current exhibition venues include the Stowe Center for Literary Activism, the Museum of Connecticut History, Connecticut’s Old State House, and the Slater Memorial Museum.
A published author and nationally recognized genealogist, Mills has devoted his career to reconnecting descendants with their ancestral stories and restoring overlooked individuals to the public record. His research has produced books, museum exhibitions, commissioned portraiture, educational programs, descendant reunions, historical markers, and documentary films that continue to reshape the public’s understanding of Connecticut’s African American history.
“I’m honored that Reverence will have its Connecticut Premiere at the Mystic Film Festival,” said Mills. “The stories in this film happened here in Connecticut. My hope is that audiences leave the theater not only with a deeper appreciation for our state’s history, but with a renewed understanding that the people who helped build our communities—whether remembered or forgotten—deserve their place in our shared story.”
The Mystic Film Festival unites independent filmmakers and audiences through screenings, discussions, panels, and special events. The public is warmly invited to attend.
EVENT DETAILS:
– Film: Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten
– Event: Connecticut Premiere – Mystic Film Festival
– Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
– Time: 2:00 p.m.
– Location: Mystic Luxury Cinemas, 25 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355
Ticket information and additional festival details are available on the Mystic Film Festival website.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten is a 33-minute documentary following Connecticut public historian John Mills as he uncovers the forgotten stories of African Americans whose lives helped shape Connecticut and the nation. Through genealogy, historical research, descendant reunions, museum collaborations, commissioned portraiture, and preservation efforts, the film shows how recovering overlooked lives can transform our understanding of American history.
John Mills
Alex Breanne Corporation
john@alexbreanne.org
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Trailer – Reverence: Reclaiming the Forgotten
