| Director: | Roberto Minervini |
|---|---|
| Production: | Okta Film (Paolo Benzi), Pulpa Film (Denise Ping Lee, Roberto Minervini), Rai Cinema, Shellac Sud (Thomas Ordonneau), MYmovies.it (Gianluca Guzzo) |
| Running Time: | 123’ |
| Language: | English |
| Country: | Italy, USA, France |
| Main Cast: | Judy Hill, Dorothy Hill, Michael Nelson, Ronaldo King, Titus Turner, Ashley King, Kevin Goodman, The New Black Panthers Party for Self Defense |
| Editor: | Marie-Hélène Dozo |
| Sound: | Bernat Fortiana Chico |
Cinema
What You Gonna Do When The World’s On Fire?
Venezia 75 Competition
Synopsis
Summer 2017, a string of brutal police killings of young African American men has sent shockwaves throughout the country. A Black community in the American South tries to cope with the lingering effects of the past and navigate their place in a country that is not on their side. Meanwhile, the Black Panthers prepare a large-scale protest against police brutality. A blistering meditation on the state of race in America.
Director’s Statement
I have told stories of the American South which were unfolding before my eyes in unexpected ways. I have documented clusters of today’s America where the seeds of anti-institutional, reactionary anger (which gifted the country with Donald Trump as the new president) were already planted, but no one cared to notice. This time, I intended to dig even deeper into the roots of social inequality in America, by focusing on the condition of African Americans.
While preparing the film, we were able to establish deep bonds with several people, and gained access to neighbourhoods and communities that are off-limits to most. I soon realised that most of the people I met felt strongly about two dramatic events in Louisiana’s recent history: Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the killing of Alton Sterling (2016). Both events are the result of institutional negligence, of a socioeconomic divide between rich and poor, and of strong endemic racism. Moved by anger and fear, people wanted to get a chance to tell their stories out loud. I hope that this film can facilitate a much-needed discussion on race and the current plight of African Americans who, now more than ever, are witnessing the intensification of hate crimes and discriminatory policies.
Producers/Distributors
PRODUCTION 1: Paolo Benzi – Okta Film srl
Via Cesare Battisti, 23
34125 – Trieste, Italy
Tel. +39 3382904240
zero@oktafilm.it
PRODUCTION 2: Denise Ping Lee – Pulpa Film LLC
604 Cortlandt Street
77007 – Houston, United States
Tel. + 1 6462694017
denise@pulpafilm.com
OTHER COPRODUCTIONS:
RAI CINEMA
Piazza Adriana 12
00193 - Roma, Italy
Tel. +39 0633179601
bianca.giordano@raicinema.it
http://www.raicinema.rai.it
Thomas Ordonneau – Shellac Sud
41 RUE JOBIN
13003 – Marseille, France
Tel. +33 676412172
toma@shellac-altern.org
Gianluca Guzzo – MYmovies.it
Via dei Vecchietti, 6
50123 – Firenze, Italy
Tel. +39 055434853
live@mymovies.it
WORLD SALES: Michael Weber - THE MATCH FACTORY GmbH
Domstrasse 60
50668 – Cologne, Germany
Tel. + 49 221539709-0
info@matchfactory.de
ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION 1: Cineteca di Bologna
Via Riva di Reno, 72
40122 – Bologna, Italy
Tel. +39 0512194807
distribuzione@cineteca.bologna.it
ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION 2: Valmyn
Via delle Marmorelle, 91
00077 – Montecompatri (RM), Italy
+39 3932333885
alessandro.tiberio@valmyn.com
PRESS OFFICE Richard Lormand - FILM⎮PRESS⎮PLUS
www.FilmPressPlus.com
IntlPressIT@aol.com
tel. +33-9-7044-9865
ITALIAN PRESS OFFICE: Gabriele Barcaro
Tel. +39 3405538425
gabriele.barcaro@gmail.com
FRENCH PRESS OFFICE: Gloria Zerbinati
gloria.zerbinati@gmail.com
+33 (0)7 86 80 02 82 (also on whatsapp)
+39 338 12 00 517
