With exclusive access inside one of New York’s hardest hit hospital systems during the terrifying first four months of the pandemic, Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Matthew Heineman’s THE FIRST WAVE spotlights the everyday heroes at the epicenter of COVID-19 as they come together to fight one of the greatest threats the world has ever encountered.
In DESCENDANT, award-winning filmmaker Margaret Brown returns to her hometown of Mobile, Alabama to document the search for and historic discovery of the Clotilda, the last known slaving ship to arrive in the United States, which illegally carried 110 kidnapped Africans 52 years after the importation of enslaved individuals was declared a federal crime.
Directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is an epic, emotional and interconnected story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid overdose crisis, through her founding of P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now).
Anywhere there's people, there's power. Inspired by the true events, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH tells the story of Chairman Fred Hampton of the Illinois Black Panther Party, who was only 21 years old when he was assassinated by the FBI for daring to threaten the status quo of white supremacy. But they could not kill the Chairman’s legacy and, 50 years later, his words still echo… louder than ever: I am a revolutionary. Join today’s movement for liberation and equity for all people.
DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA, directed by Spike Lee, is a groundbreaking filmed version of the Broadway musical sensation that ran from October 2019 to February 2020. The performance seamlessly reflects on important themes ranging from immigration to racial justice through a joyful celebration of music and dance. The film is a call to action to engage as citizens in our democracy: an invitation to reimagine our own utopias. Join our journey to a more inclusive America. Let's start by using our vote.
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE tells the story of Congressman John Lewis, an American hero who has spent his life fighting for racial justice, equality, and voting rights. As he puts it, causing “good trouble.” He fought alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and helped get the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. However, since 2013, new voter suppression tactics like strict voter ID laws and shortened voting times have intentionally made it difficult for low-income communities and Black people to vote. But you can help. Make good trouble for democracy by helping protect the vote.
SLAY THE DRAGON shines a light on the timely and critical issue of gerrymandering. The film follows a handful of citizens’ groups, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally, as they battle operatives, special interests and an entrenched political establishment to fix a broken system. Through the commitment and bravery of the advocates in the film, SLAY THE DRAGON shows us that, living inside each one of us, is a dragon slayer ready to take back our democracy.
DARK WATERS tells the story of Attorney Rob Bilott, who uncovered one of the worst cases of environmental contamination in modern history. Upon discovering the devastating effects of PFAS on human health, Bilott forced corporations to be held accountable and still works today to ensure communities are able to protect themselves. Today, forever chemicals impact nearly 99% of Americans with our firefighters and men and women in uniform at an even higher risk of exposure. Our laws and public institutions are failing to protect us. But, together, we have the power to change that. Tell Congress to join the fight against forever chemicals.
A powerful true story, JUST MERCY follows a young Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard Law, he forgoes a lucrative career in order to defend the disenfranchised and wrongly accused. The film exposes the deep roots of racism and oppression that lie at the heart of the American criminal justice system – a system which routinely incarcerates people of color and convicts the innocent but poor. We all deserve equal justice. Be part of the conversation to reimagine the way we look at punishment and mercy for the most vulnerable.
AMERICAN FACTORY documents the revitalization of one long-shuttered factory while providing a startling glimpse into a global economic realignment now playing out in towns and cities across the country — and around the world. As work around the world continues to evolve, so does the need to spark a global conversation about what’s happening to workers and how we can shape a more equitable future of work. Join the community shaping the conversation today.
WHEN THEY SEE US tells the true story of the #ExoneratedFive - formerly known as the Central Park Five - five innocent Black teens from Harlem who in 1989 were falsely accused, coerced into giving false confessions, and subsequently convicted for a crime they did not commit. Kevin, Antron, Yusef, Korey and Raymond spent years fighting the convictions in an uphill battle against a biased criminal justice system that was built to oppress and control citizens. The four-part series invites viewers to examine the unjust institutions that make such overt brutality in America so heartbreakingly common.
FOSTER is a revealing look at the foster care system as seen through the eyes of those who know it best, with a focus on understanding the perspectives of children who have experienced foster care. The film takes an unprecedented look at an often-misunderstood world and upends some of the most enduring myths about foster care and those involved in the system. Today, there are more than 400,000 children and youth in foster care. Join the conversation around how we can do more for the safety and success of children, families, and the communities where they live.
Adapted from the bestselling book, THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND is the remarkable true story of 13-year-old William Kamkwamba from Malawi. Unable to afford school, he sneaks back into the library and finds an unconventional way to build a windmill to save his village from famine. The film is an emotional journey between father and son, demonstrating that when barriers to education are high, it can take extraordinary courage, determination and ingenuity to achieve a better life. Learn more about how you can help more kids like William have access to education and tools for innovation.
Inspired by the spirited true story, ON THE BASIS OF SEX follows young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg (“RBG”) as she teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of gender discrimination. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. Women still face workplace discrimination when it comes to pregnancy and parenting accommodations, paid family leave, and equal pay. It takes everyone working together to create real change. It’s time we all rise now and demand legislation that protects women’s rights.
ROMA delivers a vivid, emotional portrait of Cleo, a young domestic worker for a family in Mexico City’s middle-class Roma neighborhood. The film invites us to examine our own relationship with the women who care for our families and our homes: our nannies, house cleaners, and care workers — mostly women of color and immigrants. Despite their important roles, their work often goes unrecognized and their industry unregulated. There are 2.5 million domestic workers in the United States, 70% of which earn less than $13/hour. We need legislation that grants domestic workers basic labor protections. Take action and help us shift the narrative.
How does change start? With real talk. But we all need the courage to come to the table. AMERICA TO ME is an unscripted documentary series that opens the doors to a high school outside of Chicago, where students and teachers struggle to navigate complex and controversial issues, including the effects of race and privilege on education as seen through the eyes of young Americans on the precipice of adulthood. They're starting an important conversation. Join them by getting your own community, classroom, and family talking about disrupting racism.
A decade after AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH brought the climate crisis into the heart of popular culture, comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. Former Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight for international climate policy, pursuing the inspirational idea that while the stakes have never been higher, the perils of climate change can be overcome with human ingenuity and passion. Use your choice, your voice, and your vote to take part in solving the climate crisis.