Hillbilly

In HILLBILLY directors Ashley York and Sally Rubin show the evolution of the "hillbilly" stereotype in media and culture, linking it with corporate exploitation of Appalachia’s natural resources. The film examines the experience of rural voters and seeks to expand cultural understanding of the region by featuring diverse communities in Appalachia, including Appalshop's Appalachian Media Institute where young adults find community and refuge, and the Affrilachian Poets, a grassroots group of poets of color living in the Appalachian region. HILLBILLY seeks to challenge audiences' perception of Appalachia, offering people within the region a cinematic portrayal of which they can be proud, and opening up dialogue between urban and rural America.