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“Soil and Soul: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley,” a documentary supported by the University of Illinois Springfield’s Sangamon Experience, has won Best Documentary Film at the 2025 Route 66 Film Festival. The film screened during the festival held Nov. 7-8 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield.
Produced by Long Nine Production’s Rich Saal and Noah Sabich, “Soil and Soul” tells the stories of 10 individuals who have spent their lives farming throughout the Sangamon River Valley, an area covering approximately 1,500 square miles in central Illinois. The film highlights the heritage of farming in the region, where knowledge and practices are passed down through generations and continue to shape the land and the people who work it.
“It is a huge honor to be recognized by our own hometown film festival, and I am grateful that they recognized the hard work we put into the project,” Saal said.
The UIS Sangamon Experience played an important role in making the film possible and hosted its pre-premiere event. Anne Moseley, director and curator of the Sangamon Experience, partnered with Saal and Sabich throughout the project as they documented the lived experiences of local farmers. The Sangamon Experience also created a digital exhibit that includes the full interviews with the farmers featured in the film and has made them available for the public to view.
“We are deeply honored to receive the Route 66 Best Documentary Film Award,” Moseley said. “This recognition celebrates the voices and stories that make central Illinois unique, especially those of the people who live, work and preserve its history. We are profoundly grateful to filmmaker Rich Saal of Long Nine Productions for his vision, dedication and collaboration in bringing these stories to life. Most of all, we thank the farmers and their families of the Sangamon River Valley for opening their homes, sharing their memories and trusting us to help preserve their legacy. This award belongs to them as much as it does to us.”
“Soil and Soul” is presented by United Community Bank, with additional funding from the Melvin Wing Charitable Trust and the Dan and Carolyn Dungan Family Fund.
The Route 66 Film Festival began in 2002 and has grown into a long-standing arts tradition in Springfield. Inspired by Roger Ebert’s film festival, it celebrates films of all lengths and genres and has showcased works from countries including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. Several films previously screened at the festival have gone on to receive distribution on major platforms and earn recognition at other festivals, including Oscar nominations for three short films.
Founded in 2020, the Sangamon Experience at UIS provides a broad perspective on the history of the Sangamon region through exhibitions and activities developed with local communities.
