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NATCHEZ — Church Hill film producer Tate Taylor has been recognized at the 37th Mississippi Governor’s Arts Awards ceremony for Excellence in Motion Picture, Mississippi Film Office announced.

The Governor’s Arts Awards each year highlights the vital relationship between government and the arts and recognizes individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to or achieved artistic excellence in Mississippi, the organization said.

The awards ceremony took place on Thursday in Jackson.

Also honored were:

Eddie Cotton Jr. – Excellence in Music
Walt Grayson – Lifetime Achievement
Jane C. Hiatt – Stephen C. Edds Patron of the Arts
Robert Poore– Excellence in Landscape Architecture and Visual Arts
Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band – Excellence in Traditional Arts

Taylor is a gifted filmmaker celebrated for bringing stories to life with vivid authenticity. Deeply shaped by his Southern upbringing, Taylor draws on his roots to craft compelling narratives for the big screen.

Best known for his acclaimed film The Help, Tate has remained passionate about fostering Mississippi’s creative potential and has intertwined Hollywood storytelling with Southern charm and authenticity. Taylor continues to spotlight his home state through his production company, Wyolah Films and has since filmed other movies in Natchez.

Taylor, with Executive Producer John Norris and in partnership with music producer and talent manager Jason Owen, recently opened Mississippi’s largest movie studio, the Crooked Letter Picture Company Stages on Liberty Road at the former Kelly’s Kids property.

Nestled near the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace, the state-of-the-art studio features the only two sound stages in Mississippi — one 75,000 square feet and the other 15,000 square feet — as well as 12,000 square feet of office space. A second green screen staged studio on High Street, now known as Little Crooked Letter, adds a space for post-production visual effects for filmmakers, creating a Natchez hub for the film industry, Norris said.