Sahkanaga

Background and development

Summerour began working on the film script after learning that over 300 bodies had been dumped in the woods near the Tri-State Crematory instead of being incinerated by the operators. A 15-minute short film was adapted from the full script and shot in 2007. The short production cast local, non-professional actors as a "litmus test" to determine if local talent (many of whom were directly affected by the incident) could be used without resulting in awkward and exaggerated performances.

Full-length feature

Sahkanaga follows the story of Paul (played by Trevor Neuhoff), the son of the owner of a funeral home in rural Northwest Georgia. Paul stumbles upon a decomposing corpse near the local crematory and uncovers a scandal that shakes the foundations of his small town. As the ones entrusted with the care of the deceased, Paul's family is met with hatred and blame by their neighbors. The tragedy for Paul is complicated by his budding romance with the granddaughter of first corpse that he finds. Questions of sin, secrets, forgiveness, and faith are explored as the close community tries to recover.

Many of the actors from the short film returned to participate in the feature. The entire cast was made up of local, non-professional talent, many of whom had little or no experience. The film was shot in 21 days on a budget of $100,000. The filming was made possible by substantial community support and volunteers, though some locals disapproved of using the material as the subject of a film.

Screenings and awards

The feature film has enjoyed the following screenings and awards: