Free Screening of Been Here Stay Here on Tangier Island
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.
For those of us who live around the Bay, Tangier is a name we all know. But this film lets us feel it. Told with quiet observation and deep care, Been Here Stay Here offers a rarely seen intimacy—inviting viewers into the daily lives, struggles, and enduring spirit of the islanders we’ve heard about for years but may have never truly met.
At a time when our divisions grow deeper, this is a story that brings us closer—to each other, to this place, and to what it means to hold on to home.
This event is part of a larger impact campaign designed to build awareness around the complex environmental and cultural issues facing Tangier and the wider Chesapeake region. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the production costs of the screening and help launch the next phase of the campaign.
We invite local press across Virginia, Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay to cover this homecoming event—and help share a story that belongs to all of us.
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/
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 space for healing and dialogue. 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:
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Website: www.beenherestayhere.
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Facebook: facebook.com/
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Instagram: 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.
