The High Point Market Authority and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking are collaborating to produce at least one documentary film featuring High Point Market, the world’s largest biannual home furnishings trade event.
According to a news release, HPMA vice president of marketing and communications Ben Muller entered into the partnership with Deborah LaVine, dean of the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, who will be credited as co-producers. The productions will offer opportunities for UNCSA student filmmakers to participate in all aspects of the documentary filmmaking process as members of the crew.
“High Point Market has been an economic and cultural phenomenon in this region of North Carolina for over a century,” Muller said. “I’m excited to collaborate with Deborah and one of the nation’s top-ranked film schools to spotlight a genuinely unique and enduring community ecosystem.”
Two experienced filmmakers were tapped by LaVine and Muller to lead the project.
UNCSA alum Nathan Knox is an award-winning filmmaker and cofounder of Notable Human Films. Over the past decade, Nathan has created films for leading nonprofits and has earned numerous accolades and humanitarian awards, with selections at Oscar-qualifying film festivals, NBC’s Meet the Press Film Festival and North Carolina’s Riverrun, Reel to Reel and Beaufort International film festivals.
Alexis Brunnert is a filmmaker, documentary editor and multimedia storyteller with nearly a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. The cofounder of Notable Human Films, Alexis has collaborated with Cannes Golden Lion-winning directors, Grammy-winning musicians and organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, the South Korean Embassy, TERC, the National Science Foundation and other leading nonprofits.
The production team will begin its research phase at Fall Market in October. Its crew will include UNCSA School of Filmmaking students, with filming expected to take place during the Spring Market in April 2026, including interviews with industry professionals and area residents connected to the show. The completed documentary is targeted for release in late 2026, the news release said.
“The documentary will stand as a testament to what can be achieved when creative education and industry expertise come together,” adds LaVine. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our students to have hands-on experience in the production of documentary film. We plan to submit the film to festivals across the country that celebrate innovation, design and community impact, ensuring the story of High Point Market reaches audiences who can truly appreciate its influence.”
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