The Only Doctor tells a contemporary story of rural healthcare in the United States as it centers on Dr. Karen Kinsell, who for nearly 20 years has been the only doctor in a Southwest Georgia county. The film begins when Dr. Kinsell comes to the realization that she can no longer afford to full-time volunteer as the only doctor in rural Clay County, Georgia. But ever committed to her community, she looks to forge a partnership with a medical university in order to keep her clinic open. After several options, a possibility emerges and so does disappointment. Then the pandemic creates new challenges, but also opportunities and new decisions. With production taking place from the beginning of 2019 through 2021, what’s captured is a rural healthcare experience before, during and after one of the greatest pandemics in history. Over this time, the film turns into a David and Goliath story, featuring a small town doctor and a powerful medical university, which reveals the inequities of rural healthcare and how money, politics and convenience determines who does and does not receive medical care.
Touring with the Film
Matthew Hashiguchi (Director) is a documentary filmmaker whose work explores the lives of America’s underdogs, often focusing on individuals trying to achieve the American Dream within oppressive or unsupportive systems. He is a recent recipient of a 2019 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund Award and 2021 American Stories Documentary Fund Award for his documentary, THE ONLY DOCTOR. His prior feature-length documentary, Good Luck Soup, was broadcast nationally on PBS World’s America ReFramed, received a 2016 Documentary Fund Award from the Center for Asian American Media and premiered at the 2016 Cleveland International Film Festival. In addition to traditional documentary film, he has created virtual reality films and web-based interactive media that has been presented at festivals throughout the world. In addition to filmmaking, Matthew is an Associate Professor in Multimedia Film & Production at Georgia Southern University.
Anjanette Levert (Producer) is a documentary filmmaker, producer, curator, coach and professor. She is a Senior Lecturer in Spelman College’s Documentary Filmmaking Program and the 2022 Presidential Teaching Award Recipient. Recently she added the podcaster title after creating the first season of "Future Forward" where BIPOC docmakers discuss futures with the opportunity opened by the pandemic. She is the Associate Producer for Black Voters Matter by Daresha Kyi, Producer Trevite Willis. She is an alumna of the Southern Producers Lab by the New Orleans Film Society and the Sundance Producers Intensive. She sits on the boards of Jezebel Productions (filmmakers Andrea Weiss and Greta Schiller) and MINT Gallery in Atlanta.
Schedule
Georgia Circuit with Anjanette Levert (Producer)
Sunday, October 8, 2023: Atlanta, GA - Plaza Atlanta and Fox Theatre, Atlanta
Monday, October 9, 2023: Roswell, GA - City of Roswell, GA
Tuesday, October 10, 2023: Lawrenceville, GA - Aurora Theatre
Thursday, October 12, 2023: Rome, GA - Rome International Film Festival and Berry College
Friday, October 13, 2023: Hapeville, GA - City of Hapeville
Alabama - Louisiana - Mississippi Circuit with Matthew Hashiguchi (Director)
Sunday, October 15, 2023: Jackson, MS - Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Monday, October 16, 2023: Alexandria, LA - Arts Council of Central Louisiana
Tuesday, October 17, 2023: Cleveland, MS - Bologna Performing Arts Center, Delta State University
Wednesday, October 18, 2023: Birmingham, AL - Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Thursday, October 19, 2023: Hanceville, AL - Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College
North Carolina - South Carolina Circuit with Matthew Hashiguchi (Director)
Monday, November 27, 2023: Clemson, SC - The City of Clemson Arts Center
Tuesday, November 28, 2023: Raleigh, NC - NC State University Libraries
Wednesday, November 29, 2023: Winston-Salem, NC - a/perture cinema
Friday, December 1, 2023: Wilmington, NC - University of North Carolina at Wilmington