Cole: Bridge to Justice (2026)
1h 24min | English | Producer & Director: Antonio Tarrell and Castel V. Sweet
Cole: Bridge to Justice is about an expelled student activist returns to the University of Mississippi decades later as a beloved professor, reshaping the very institution that once turned him away—and transforming generations through education, mentorship, and justice.
Director's Statement
Cole: Bridge to Justice emerged from a desire to preserve an important story that reflects both the painful history and the transformative possibilities of the American South.
As a filmmaker from Mississippi, I have long been interested in how institutions remember — and sometimes avoid remembering — the difficult truths that shaped them. Dr. Donald Cole’s story represents a powerful intersection of personal sacrifice, institutional change, and the enduring pursuit of dignity and justice.
This documentary is not simply about one individual. It is about the emotional and political labor carried by Black educators, students, and leaders who were often asked to heal institutions that had historically excluded them.
The film seeks to create space for reflection and dialogue by examining how the past continues to shape contemporary conversations around race, education, and reconciliation. Through intimate interviews, archival materials, and cinematic storytelling, we hope audiences will not only understand the historical significance of Dr. Cole’s journey but also recognize the relevance of his experiences today.
At its core, Cole: Bridge to Justice asks a fundamental question: What does true institutional reconciliation require?
— Antonio Tarrell
Director / Producer
CREDITS
Production Company
Antonio Tarrell Films & Sweet Soil Narratives
Produced & Directed By
Antonio Tarrell
CastelV. Sweet
Executive Producers
Steven T. & Gay Case
Antonio Tarrell
Featuring
Donald R. Cole, PhD
Associate Producers
Donna Ruth Roberts
Kristian Joy Karlson
Cinematographer & Editor
Antonio Tarrell
In Order of Appearance
Steven Case, PhD
Donald R. Cole, PhD
Rev Duncan Gray lll
Ansley Abraham, PhD
Robert Khayat, JD
April Grayson
Fred Laurenzo
Maurice Eftink, PhD
Andrea (Andi) Cooper
Earnestine Sisk
Linda Cole Williamson
Lawrence Anderson
Ralph Eubanks
Linnie Liggins Willis
Theron Evans, Jr., MD
Curtis Wilkie
Robert E. Luckett, Jr., PhD Jerry Townsend
Kenneth Mayfield
John James
Patsy Brumfield Robert “Bob” Mozt
John Brittain, JD
Jackie Roberts Ammons
Vicki Roberts-Ratliff
Ethel Young-Scurlock,
Judy Meredith
Roselyn E. Williams, PhD
Murrell Godfrey, PhD
Latrice Johnson
James Reid, PhD
Morris Stocks, PhD
Scott Coopwood
Gloria Kellum, SLPD
Susan M. Glisson, PhD
Dan Jones, MD
Larry Martindale
Sound
Jordan Wadley
Audio Mixer
Antonio Tarrell Films
Additional Camera Operators
Castel V. Sweet
Darrell Doss
Production Manager
Steven T. Case
Location Acknowledgements
Burns-Belfry Museum, Oxford, MS
Coopwood Communications, Cleveland, MS
Council of Federated Organizations Civil Rights Education Center, Jackson, MS
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL
James H. Meredith Museum and Bible Society, Jackson, MS
Mayfield Law Firm, P.A., Tupelo, MS
Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta,GA
St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Oxford, MS
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS: Fulton Chapel, Lyceum, Barnard Observatory, Coulter Hall, Hume Hall, Lamar Hall, Main Campus
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Special Thanks
Andy Harper
Black Power at Ole Miss Task Force
Brad Gray
Brian Rutledge
Jo Ann O’Quin & Ken McGraw
Ralph Eubanks
Ronald L. Williams
Ryan M. Whittigton
Shelia Howard Baker
Wayne Andrews
Community Partners
Oxford Film Festival
Yoknapatawpha Arts Council
With Support From
Steven & Gay Case
Donna Ruth Roberts
Kristina Joy Carlson
R&B Feder Charitable Foundation for the Beaux-Arts
Helen Overstreet
Dr. and Mrs. Maurice Eftink
Dr. Roselyn Williams
Ron Baker
Marcia & Don Cole
Dr. Ansley Abraham
Dr. Gloria Kellum
Special Thanks To
Marcia Cole
FILM FESTIVAL SELECTIONS and AWARDS
OXFORD FILM FESTIVAL (2026)
THE HILLS AREA SCREENING TOUR (2026)
Opening Film
LIGHTREEL FILM FESTIVAL (2026)
Black Butterfly Awards Best Documentary Feature
Montgomery County Performance Arts Center, Winona, Mississippi
Square Theatre Community Theatre, Bruce, Mississippi
Oak Grove Life Center New Albany, Mississippi
The DepotHolly Springs, Mississippi
Columbus Arts Council Columbus, Mississippi
© 2026 Antonio Tarrell Films.
All Rights Reserved. No portion of this document or motion picture may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright owner.
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Press Links
New Documentary Chronicles Life, Legacy of Ole Miss Icon Donald Cole
Antonio Tarrell, Documentary Filmmaker
23rd Annual Oxford Film Festival Shares Stories from Mississippi and Beyond
New Documentary Chronicles Life, Legacy of Ole Miss Icon Donald Cole
Electronic Media Kit (EPK) Info