Tangier Island, VA — After six years on Tangier Island, the team behind Been Here Stay Here is bringing the documentary home to the community that inspired it. On Saturday, May 10th, the filmmakers will host two free public screenings—5:00pm and 7:30pm—on Tangier Island, honoring the people who trusted them with their stories. But to make it happen, they’re calling on the wider community for support.
A fundraiser is now live to raise $10,000 to transform the Tangier Island Rec Center into a one-night pop-up theater—complete with a 20-foot screen, professional sound, and theater-grade projection. All funds will go directly toward producing the event and making the screening free and accessible to all islanders.
Donate here: www.donorbox.org/tangierscreening
Tangier Island, one of the most iconic and endangered communities in the Chesapeake Bay, is at the center of a story about resilience, faith, and deep-rooted love of place. Been Here Stay Here follows island residents as they confront rising seas, economic shifts, and a rapidly changing world—all while holding tight to their heritage, values, and each other.
“This isn’t just a movie night—it’s a homecoming,” says David Usui, the film’s director. “It’s a community gathering and a celebration. We want Tangier to experience this film on the big screen—because it’s theirs.”
The team is also inviting local leaders, environmental advocates, and Bay nonprofits to attend the screening, using it as an opportunity to spark deeper conversations about the future of the Chesapeake and the communities that call it home.
Tangier is often seen as a symbol of climate change, but Been Here Stay Here reframes the conversation. The film doesn’t sensationalize the crisis—it uplifts the humanity behind it, offering a rare, intimate portrait of a place too often left out of the national narrative.
The fundraiser accepts tax-deductible contributions of any amount—$5, $10, $100—every dollar brings the team closer to creating a truly meaningful event for the islanders.
To donate and follow the journey:
- Donate: donorbox.org/tangierscreening
- Website: beenherestayhere.com
- Facebook: com/beenherestayhere
- Instagram: com/beenherestayhere
Let’s come together to honor a Chesapeake Bay community whose story speaks to all of us—about belonging, about change, and about what we choose to preserve.
