From Prince George’s County to Cannes: Celebrating Tia A. Smith’sThe Heir
The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) was proud to welcome audiences for a special screening of The Heir, the award-winning short film from writer and director Tia A. Smith and a project brought to life with support from PGAHC grant funding.
The screening was presented as a Prince George’s Film Festival (PGFF) Pre-Event, giving local audiences an opportunity to experience the film following an exciting international milestone: The Heir premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Best Short Film Award.
Through a deeply personal story, The Heir explores family legacy, grief, communication, inheritance, homeownership, and the complexities of preserving generational wealth. The film examines the difficult conversations families often face when determining not only what will be passed down, but how a family’s history and legacy will be protected for the next generation.
Following the screening, Smith joined the audience for a live talkback and Q&A, sharing the inspiration behind the film and reflecting on her journey as a first-time director. The conversation offered attendees a closer look at the experiences and ideas that shaped the project and the process of bringing the story from concept to screen.
For PGAHC, The Heir is also a powerful example of why investing in local artists matters. Grant support helps Prince George’s County creatives develop original work, tell meaningful stories, and take their projects beyond our borders. Seeing a PGAHC-supported project go on to receive recognition at Cannes makes this moment especially worth celebrating.
Congratulations to Tia A. Smith and the entire team behind The Heir on this remarkable achievement. PGAHC is proud to have supported the film’s journey from Prince George’s County to an international stage—and to welcome it home for our community to experience.
