THEATRICAL RELEASE – “AMERICAN RECKONING” A FILM BY YORUBA RICHEN AND BRAD LICHTENSTEIN – LOS ANGELES LAEMMLE THEATRES – FEB 11; FRONTLINE PBS FEB 15; STREAMING PBS.ORG FEB 16

Posted by BK on February 7, 2022 in Arts, documentary, Events, film, premiere, Showcase | Leave a comment

THEATRICAL RELEASE – Beginning February 11, 2022 – for one week exclusive engagement in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center.
WORLD BROADCAST PREMIERE – February 15, 2022 – FRONTLINE/PBS – 10PM/9PM CT
STREAMING PREMIERE – Beginning February 15, 2022 –  pbs.org/frontline & in the PBS Video App
AMERICAN RECKONING is an extraordinary look at the civil rights era – the violence and resistance – through rare footage filmed more than 50-years ago in Natchez, Mississippi, and the still-unresolved killing of local NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson.

From acclaimed directors and producers Brad Lichtenstein (When Claude Got Shot, Messwood) and Yoruba Richen (The Killing of Breonna Taylor, The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show) the film examines Black opposition to racist violence in Mississippi,  spotlighting a little-known armed resistance group called the Deacons for Defense and Justice, woven alongside the Jackson family’s decades-long search for justice amid the ongoing federal effort to investigate civil rights era cold cases.

Interviews with filmmakers Richen and Lichtenstein are available now via phone or zoom.
Screening links are available for your editorial consideration.  We hope that you will join us in bringing this film to the forefront with your reviews, features, what to watch, mentions and other ideas that you may have in order to highlight the film and encourage dialogue.

For Your Screener and to Schedule interviews:

CONTACT:
Kim Dixon – kimdixon@tcdm-associates.com
David Magdael – dmagdael@tcdm-associates.com
Will Zang – Wzang@tcdm-associates.com
Vince Johnson – vjohnson @tcdm-associates.com

FRONTLINE/PBS
Presents

AMERICAN RECKONING

A FILM BY BRAD LICHTENSTEIN AND YORUBA RICHEN

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY RANEY ARONSON- RATH AND DAWN PORTER

THEATRICAL RELEASE 
Beginning February 11, 2022 
For One Week Exclusive Engagement in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center.

WORLD BROADCAST PREMIERE 
February 15, 2022 – FRONTLINE/PBS – 10PM/9PM CT

STREAMING PREMIERE 
Beginning February 15, 2022 – pbs.org/frontline & in the PBS Video App

FILMMAKERS YORUBA RICHEN AND BRAD LICHTENSTEIN ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

TRAILER:  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/american-reckoning/

ABOUT AMERICAN RECKONING:
AMERICAN RECKONING is an extraordinary look at the civil rights era – the violence and resistance – through rare footage filmed more than 50-years ago in Natchez, Mississippi, and the still-unresolved killing of local NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson.

From acclaimed directors and producers Brad Lichtenstein (When Claude Got Shot, Messwood) and Yoruba Richen (The Killing of Breonna Taylor, The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show) AMERICAN RECKONING examines Black opposition to racist violence in Mississippi,  spotlighting a little-known armed resistance group called the Deacons for Defense and Justice, woven alongside the Jackson family’s decades-long search for justice amid the ongoing federal effort to investigate civil rights era cold cases.

Drawing on intimate, archival film footage of the civil rights era — much of it never-before broadcast — from filmmakers Ed Pincus and David Neuman and made available through the Amistad Research Center, AMERICAN RECKONING offers a window into an untold story of a Black-led liberation and self-defense movement in Natchez, as well as the funeral of Wharlest Jackson Sr. and its aftermath. 

Combining verité footage from 1965 and 1967, profound interviews, extensive reporting, and rich archival material from the time of Jackson’s death, the documentary feature also taps into the groundbreaking reporting of the Concordia Sentinel journalist Stanley Nelson, who investigated allegations of the involvement of a Ku Klux Klan offshoot, known as the Silver Dollar Group, in Jackson’s murder. 

AMERICAN RECKONING is the latest component of FRONTLINE’s Un(re)solvedinitiative — which also includes a web-based interactive experience and traveling augmented-reality installation creatively directed by Ado Ato’s Tamara Shogaolu, and a podcast series hosted by podcast producer James Edwards. Un(re)solved is executive produced by award-winning filmmakers Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble, Gideon’s Army) and Raney Aronson-Rath (Executive Producer, FRONTLINE). The film is supported by Chasing the Dream, a public media initiative from The WNET Group that examines poverty, justice and economic opportunity in America.

We would like to thank David Magdael & Associates for the press release and artist profile.