Bucks County Community College canceled a community prescreening of the PBS docuseries "Bucks County, USA" two days before the event, offering no explanation to the filmmakers.
Director Robert May said in a written statement Monday, Sept. 14, that the college team told filmmakers they were "ordered to cancel the event, and our plea to speak with whoever made this decision was denied." The Bucks County Beacon first reported the cancellation the same day.
The canceled event was to feature a screening followed by a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by PBS NewsHour's Judy Woodruff. The panel would have explored political division, community and civil discourse. Audience members were to include people who appear in the documentary.
May said the filmmakers asked BCCC to hold off on canceling until they could discuss the decision. The college ignored that request and sent a cancellation email without further notice, according to May's statement.
No explanation followed.
"We know that this cancellation is most unusual and will likely draw national attention," May said.
No public statement from BCCC President Patrick M. Jones or Board of Trustees Chair Ronni Fuchs had appeared as of Monday, Sept. 14. The reason for the cancellation remains unknown.
What the docuseries covers
"Bucks County, USA" is a five-part series directed by May and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson, with co-producer Jason Sosnoff. The crew spent four years filming in Bucks County starting in 2020, according to Central Bucks Now.
The series centers on two Doylestown-area teenage girls, Evi and Vanessa, who were 14 and attending middle school in the Central Bucks School District when filming began. Their families held opposing political views, but the girls remained friends.
The docuseries covers the political battles that engulfed Central Bucks, including disputes over COVID-19 school policies, book bannings, LGBTQ+ rights and curriculum, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. In 2023, physical altercations broke out at Central Bucks school board meetings. The series features familiar locations including Central Bucks West High School and the district's board meeting room.
The first two episodes premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. All five episodes are scheduled to air on PBS beginning Sunday, Sept. 20.
Previous cancellation at BCCC
The Beacon also reported that a town hall for PA-01 Democratic congressional candidates Lucia Simonelli, Tom Taft, Michael Zeltakalns and Tracy Hunt was canceled at BCCC around March 9, about a week before its scheduled date, also without explanation.
May said the filmmakers are working to move the prescreening to an alternate location. No new venue or date had been confirmed as of Sept. 14.
The Bucks County Beacon said it is continuing to investigate the cancellation.
