About this Event
A Special PBS North Carolina Screening & Filmmaker Conversation
PBS North Carolina and WUNC News present— A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story
Join us for a special screening of A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story, a compelling new documentary that uncovers the remarkable life, artistry and enduring legacy of Japanese-born photographer George Masa.
Set against the breathtaking landscapes of the Southern Appalachians, Masa’s story is one of mystery, reinvention, friendship and a deep devotion to the mountains he called home.
Following the screening, stay for a conversation with filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, moderated by Anisa Khalifa, host of The Broadside podcast on WUNC News, followed by an audience Q&A.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 6 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: North Carolina Museum of Art, located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC
FREE EVENT | Advance registration is required.
Reserve your seat(s) through Eventbrite. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
About the Film
A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story
A Japanese photographer’s passion for the Appalachian Mountains—and the mysterious story behind the man who helped preserve them.
Japanese-born photographer George Masa (1885–1933) devoted his life to documenting the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Through thousands of photographs, painstaking trail mapping and his close friendship with naturalist and writer Horace Kephart, Masa became an important—and often overlooked—figure in the movement to establish Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
But the story of George Masa goes far beyond his photographs.
A winding road and decades of research reveal the mysteries and unanswered questions that followed Masa to his grave in 1933. From tragedy in Japan and the Pacific Northwest to a reimagined life in Asheville, Masa's journey was an extraordinary artistic odyssey.
His photographs helped introduce the world to the grandeur of the Smokies, while his work alongside Kephart contributed to the movement that ultimately led to the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934, just one year after Masa's death.
Today, his legacy offers a fascinating window into the people, landscapes and stories that helped shape the preservation of the Southern Appalachians.
Who Was George Masa?
George Masa was a Japanese-born photographer, mountaineer and advocate for the preservation of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
He meticulously photographed the Smokies, documented trails and peaks, and helped improve maps of the region. His partnership and friendship with Horace Kephart placed him at the center of the movement to establish a national park in the Smokies.
Although his contributions were largely overlooked during his lifetime, Masa is now recognized as an important figure in the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the preservation of the Appalachian landscape.
Your Evening Includes
- Special screening of the full-length documentary A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story
- Filmmaker conversation with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, moderated by Anisa Khalifa, host of The Broadside podcast on WUNC News.
- Audience Q&A
- An opportunity to connect with fellow art, photography, history, music and public media enthusiasts
About the Filmmaker
Paul Bonesteel is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Asheville, North Carolina. His work explores history, landscape and the people who shape our understanding of both.
A childhood visit to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina, sparked his belief that history should feel lived-in and present—not static or preserved behind glass.
Bonesteel’s work includes The Day Carl Sandburg Died (2012), featured on American Masters; America’s First Forest (2017); Muni (2020), featured on Reel South; and the four-part series Shadow of a Wheel (2023).
His latest film, A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story (2026), explores the life and legacy of the Japanese photographer whose work helped bring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into existence.
Questions?
For questions about the event or registration, please contact Karen Nowak at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you at the North Carolina Museum of Art for an evening celebrating George Masa, the Appalachian landscape and the power of documentary storytelling.
Watch the Film
Can’t make the screening or want to experience the story again?
Watch , streaming now on YouTube and the PBS app. Find additional airtimes across PBS NC & the North Carolina Channel on our TV Schedules page.
A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story is produced by Bonesteel Films in association with PBS North Carolina.
Thank you to our event partner WUNC News.
Event venue & nearby stays
North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, United States
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