Papertown

When the 115-year-old paper mill that defined Canton, North Carolina unexpectedly announced it would shut down, it set off three turbulent months that would gut the town’s economy and shake its identity.

This documentary moves with the community in real time, from the shock of the announcement to the mill’s final whistle. We witness the confusion and heartbreak as rumors spread, questions go unanswered, and the company—Pactiv Evergreen—remains silent. As details emerge of executives profiting from stock trades just days before the news, anger and betrayal deepen.

Through it all, we stay close to the workers, families, and neighbors who must reckon with the loss of the industry that shaped them for generations—and the uncertain future that lies ahead.