-SLOVAKTOWN, ARKANSAS; A TOWN LIKE NO OTHER-
Imagine arriving in the Arkansas Delta in 1894 with nothing but a dream of true freedom. That’s what happened when Slovak immigrants, led by Peter Rovnianek, left the coal mines and factories behind.
They didn’t want to be controlled by factory owners. They wanted to build a life where they were in charge owning their own land, shaping their destiny, and raising their families without losing their own Slovak values and traditions.
They chose the wild, swampy land of the Grand Prairie and transformed it into something extraordinary. Out of hardship, they built the rice capital of America. Their fields draw duck hunters from across the country. And they created something no one expected, a community where oysters and Slovak culture went hand in hand, celebrated at local feasts and festivals that became legendary in Arkansas.
Slovaktown is more than a small rural settlement. It’s a living example of resilience, innovation, and cultural pride, a place where Slovak folksongs ring out across prairie fields, where neighbors gathered for harvest dances, and where generations later, families still keep the stories and Slovak traditions alive.
Today, the people of Slovaktown are working with UpRooted Media to preserve and share their Slovak-Southern-American culture with the world. Already, the town has caught international attention: Slovak journalists, Radio Slovensko, and even the Slovak Ambassador to the United States have celebrated its legacy. Their true story deserves to go further to classrooms, museums, and film screens everywhere.
-FILM SYNOPSIS-
The documentary is envisioned as a feature-length film that explores the founding, cultural heritage, and present-day reality of this singular Slovak-Southern-American community. Its goal is to safeguard an important chapter of the Slovak migration story, one that holds profound meaning for the families connected to it, ensuring it is not forgotten, reduced to folklore, or confined to a passing mention on Wikipedia, but honored as a living and enduring legacy.
At the heart of Slovakia in the South are the voices of Slovaks themselves, descendants and current residents whose memories, photographs, and stories form the foundation of the film. Their testimonies ensure that the history of Slovaktown is not told from the outside, but preserved and shared by those who lived it and inherited it.
These lived experiences are enriched by the contributions of respected experts in their fields. Forbes Slovensko journalist Milan Čupka, author of the national bestseller “What is Huncút?”, places Slovaktown within the broader migration story.
Fara Foster of The Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie provides vital regional context, while Ashely Sides from Arkansas State Preservation highlights the importance of town’s place in America’s wider heritage. By weaving personal history with scholarly insight, the film safeguards Slovaktown’s legacy while situating it in both national and international heritage conversations.
This documentary underscores that communities like Slovaktown are not relics of history but living, evolving places with ongoing stories. Preserving cultural heritage is not about resisting change but about integrating the old and new in meaningful ways, creating something both authentic and enduring.
-MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM -
-FILM STATUS-
- Filming- Primary filming is complete. Through three production trips, we captured all key interviews and the majority of B-roll. This resulted in hundreds of hours of footage including testimonies, family stories, and community members, that form the heart of the film. Importantly, many of these interviews were completed just before several beloved community members passed away in the last two years, underscoring the urgency and irreplaceable value of this work.
- Editing Relaunch- In 2024, the editing phase stalled when our contractor failed to deliver, forcing us to end the agreement and return grant funds to the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad. While this was a setback, it also became a turning point. In May 2025, we relaunched editing in-house with a fully Slovak and Slovak-American volunteer team. By shifting funds into upgraded equipment, we gained creative control, stronger technology, and a committed team. Editing is now actively underway through a structured workflow: Story Build → Visual Build → Sound & Color → Final Review & Delivery.
- Outreach & Marketing- Even amid challenges, our cultural partners reaffirmed their confidence. Both the Slovak Embassy and the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad have encouraged us to apply for an extraordinary grant to support marketing and screenings, recognizing that earlier setbacks were beyond our control and that the film carries cultural significance at both national and international levels. Public relations contract was secured with The Peacock Group, led by Madeline Roberts, a descendant of Slovaktown’s Bednar family, who contributes much of her expertise pro bono. Still, additional funds are needed to cover her team’s services, media outreach, advertising, and festival submissions. Marketing is critical: the film’s true impact depends on how widely it is seen.
- Distribution Goals- The final step is ensuring the documentary is not only completed but also seen by the audiences it was created for. Our distribution goals include PBS broadcast in the United States and public broadcasting in Slovakia, bringing the story to both sides of the Atlantic. In addition, we plan to submit to international film festivals, as well as organize screenings in community centers, museums, and universities across the U.S. and Europe. These events will serve as cultural celebrations and educational opportunities, sparking dialogue on migration, heritage, and resilience.
- Momentum is stronger than ever- With filming mostly complete, editing well underway, renewed institutional support, and a strengthened team, the documentary is firmly on track. What we need now is support to meet our budget goals, ensuring that Slovakia in the South not only reaches completion but also reaches the audiences who most need to see it, preserving this legacy for generations to come.
-REASONS TO SUPPORT-
- Preserve Slovak-American Heritage – Slovaktown represents a unique chapter in U.S. immigration history. Supporting this project helps preserve the language, customs, and traditions brought by Slovak immigrants who built a thriving community in the American South.
- Celebrate Multicultural Roots – This story highlights how immigrants from Central Europe blended their Slovak identity with Southern American life, creating a cultural fusion that deserves national recognition and continued preservation.
- Honor Community Landmarks – Places like Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church stand not only as religious institutions but as cultural anchors for generations of Slovak-Americans. The documentary honors these spaces as hubs of language, music, food, storytelling, and identity.
- Highlight the Immigrant Experience – Slovaktown offers a powerful example of how immigrant communities contribute to the fabric of American society through hard work, resilience, and cultural pride. This film brings that story to light for all audiences.
- Educate and Engage – The documentary will serve as a resource for educators, cultural centers, and public programming introducing audiences to an overlooked yet meaningful part of American and Slovak history.
- Contribute to Cultural Preservation – With archival footage, personal stories, and historical context, this project is more than a film it's a step toward building a public archive, fostering tourism, and empowering the local community to preserve their story for the future.
- Leave a Lasting Legacy – Your support helps ensure that Slovaktown’s story isn’t lost to time. From local efforts to establish a museum to international recognition, this project is part of a growing movement to protect and share this unique cultural legacy.
- By supporting Slovakia in the South, you’re helping a small town with a big story take its rightful place in the broader narrative of American history, celebrated, remembered, and continuing to thrive.
-HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTION HELPS-
As a nonprofit dedicated to cultural preservation, we approach every expenditure with care and accountability, ensuring that funds are directed toward essential needs such as volunteer travel, equipment, and production expenses.
Our working budget is $85,000, which we have been able to keep below industry standards thanks to our volunteer team and in-kind support. While expenses may fluctuate as the project advances through post-production and distribution, any additional funds raised beyond the $85,000 will directly enhance the film’s quality and expand its reach to audiences in The Americas, Slovakia, and abroad.
-WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR-
- Our Mission is to promote multicultural awareness and representation in history and media. We preserve and share cultural heritage for the prosperity of the current and future generations.
- Our Vision is for a world where multiculturalism is encouraged, accepted, and represented in recorded history and public media for all cultures across generations.
-OUR VALUES-
- Diversity-Equity-Inclusion: We believe that inclusion of diverse perspectives can foster a more equitable future.
- Preservation: We believe that preservation of historical artifacts is crucial to sharing stories that cultivate understanding of diverse human experiences.
- Education: We believe that an educated population is key to a strong human experience and that by knowing the experiences of others allows for empathy and collaboration.
- Community-engagement: We believe that engaging community members creates opportunities for discussion & collaboration enabling self-sustaining, prosperous communities
-LEGAL DISCLOSURES-
- UpRooted Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oregon founded and run by Slovak-Americans. EIN# 92-3311816
- UpRooted Volunteer Board: Board President- Deah Partak, LCSW; Board Secretary- Amanda Villamil Saranie; Community Board Trustee- Jen Hopkins
- UpRooted Media is entirely volunteer-run, with all staff working unpaid. We hire professionals only when volunteers aren’t available, prioritizing Slovak and Slovak-American contractors. When that’s not possible, we work with Arkansas-based professionals to invest locally.
- UpRooted Media is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization; we do not support or oppose any political party, candidate, or political agenda. All programs, activities, and communications are intended solely for educational, charitable, and community purposes and are not affiliated with any political campaign or partisan initiative.
- Any and all information and images within this proposal are not to be reproduced or used without the written approval of UpRooted Media.
- No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
