Beaufort ‘elders’ meet weekly for breakfast. Here’s how they ended up starring in a film

A group of wise men, ranging in age from 84 to 101, gather weekly for coffee and breakfast at Blackstone’s Cafe, a popular spot in downtown Beaufort. Life lessons shared by these elders, who have survived wars, social change, personal triumphs and tragedy, are now chronicled in a new short documentary film titled “Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Life.”

“Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Time” is one of the 56 films in this year’s Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) but it’s generating buzz because of the strong local connection. The screening of the film is already sold out. But there’s always a chance for ticket cancellations and the director is working on getting it shown on SCETV, the state’s public educational broadcast network.

What is the BIFF?

BIFF, now in its 19th year, is a platform for filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals to showcase their work and compete with their peers while engaging with audiences in the historic city. Each day of movie screenings, which are not free but open to the public, attracts 300 people on average to the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts near the Beaufort River.

The festival is Tuesday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 23 but screenings are Wednesday through Saturday.

Directors from across the country and Canada, Great Britain, Denmark and Italy, who had films accepted in the festival, will attend along with film fans.

Here’s 10 things to know about the 2025 festival:

1. Locals star in ‘Breakfast in Beaufort’

This 29-minute film introduces the audience to a group of older men who meet Wednesdays at Blackstone’s Cafe on Scott Street, a restaurant that isn’t just known for its breakfasts and lunches. Each morning, patrons and employees recite the pledge of allegiance. But that’s just the setting that bookends the documentary. While many of the Beaufort men showcased in the film are veterans, the documentary is not collection of war stories, says director Raymond Smith of Blythewood, S.C.-based Modos Media, who makes films with his son, Andrew.

During interviews in their homes, the men speak about personal and societal issues and experiences that have touched their lives from segregation to war to technological and social changes to listening to advice they got from their “Daddy.”

“Their stories really touch a lot of American history and cultural change,” Smith told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.

Smith notes that the 11 men featured in the film — Pat Garret, Guy McSweeny, Skeet Von Harten, Mike Keyserling, Merle Mulvaney, Ray Stocks, Carter Swenson, Robert Deloche, Daryl Fergusen, Steve Lanier and Tom Mikell — have 980 years of lived experience and are worth listening to.

As he pondered their reflections on how the world has changed and the lessons they’ve learned, Smith was struck by their insights and the freshness of their memories as they recalled events that occurred so long ago. Older people have become less valued in western society, perhaps, he says, when they should be considered elders with valuable insights about life’s basics including not taking things for granted, listening and caring for each other.

“Listen to your elders,” the trailer says, “you just might learn something.”

The Smiths were approached to do a film on the Blackstone’s breakfast club by Richard Sribnick, the film’s executive producer. Scribnik, a doctor, lives part-time on Lady’s Island. “He came across these guys who have their breakfast every single Wednesday, rain or shine,” Smith says.

The original thought was to make a film about war stories. The men served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Sribnick contacted Smith because he enjoyed his films on Vietnam. But Smith, seeing the men as living history, thought the film could provide more than a series of interesting war stories although those experiences are part of the broader narrative.

The film will be screened a 9 a.m. Saturday. Tickets already are sold out, says Ron Tucker, president of the Beaufort Film Society and the festival director. But there may be cancellations so he recommends showing up for the screening and asking to be placed on standby. Smith also hopes to have the documentary shown on SCETV.

2. USCB makes Lowcountry ghost story

Directed by James Sidletsky and Bryanna C. Cantrell of the University of South Carolina Beaufort, “112 steps,” a 5-minute animation, also has some local intrigue. The film, which will be shown at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, is a Lowcountry ghost story of a lighthouse keeper and his daughter.

3. Beaufort couple behind film about Lakota land

Another film also has a local connection. It’s called Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku Pi (The Children Are Coming Home). Directed by Andy Wakeman, the 11-minute show features Mato Paha, now part of Bear Butte State Park in South Dakota, one of the Lakota Nation’s most sacred places. Access to Bear Butte was severed in the late 19th century, when the U.S. government seized the Black Hills and broke up the Great Sioux Reservation. In 2024, the nonprofit Cheyenne River Youth Project took a major step toward restoring that access when it purchased a nearly 40-acre tract of land adjacent to Bear Butte, which it calls Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku Pi. The producers are Richard and Heather Steinberger of Beaufort.

It screens at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

4. Orchestra will perform classic movie numbers

The Beaufort Symphony Orchestra will perform iconic movie numbers from films “Titanic,” ‘Schindler’s List,” “Lion King” and others during the opening night reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 called a “Classic Night of Music.” The cost is $70 for non members.

5. WWII documentary maker and Hilton Head resident will be recognized

Tim Gray, the founder of the World War II Foundation, will be presented the inaugural Legends & Legacies Award at BIFF 2025 in Sunday, Feb. 23. Gray, who has produced 40 WWII documentaries, has received six regional Emmy Awards. His films rank in the top five of most requested programs nationally by PBS affiliates. Gray, who owns a condominium on Hilton Head Island, is a frequent guest on FOX News’ national program The Story with Martha MacCallum, where he contributes to the network’s coverage of WWII events, issues, and stories.

6. How do I get tickets?

Tickets to the BIFF can be purchased online at beaufortfilmfestival or at the door, based on availability.

7. What’s the cost?

For all 56 showings, $299 ($350 for non members). But blocks of films can be purchased for $15. A block is when several films are shown back-to-back in the mornings or afternoons.

8. When are the films shown?

Wednesday, Feb. 19 through Saturday Feb. 22.

9. What kind of films are shown?

Feature films, short films, feature documentaries, short documentaries, animation films, student films, films about duty and honor. All manner of subjects and themes are covered. Go to beaufortfilmfestival.com and select official selections/trailers to see the full listing of films.

10. And the BIFF goes to?

Awards will be issued Sunday for best: comedy, actor and actress, director, ensemble and score/soundtrack.

This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM.

Karl Puckett

The Island Packet

843-256-3420

Karl Puckett covers the city of Beaufort, town of Port Royal and other communities north of the Broad River for The Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet. The Minnesota native also has worked at newspapers in his home state, Alaska, Wisconsin and Montana.