“Ferguson Rises,” the story of a father’s grief and a small town’s defiance that helped spark the Black Lives Matter movement, premieres next week at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The June 15 premiere for the film — produced and directed by Mobalaji Olambiwonnu and executive producers Gigi Pritzker, producer and founder of Madison Wells Media; TJ Martin, Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Undefeated”; and Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center founder Sandra Evers-Manly — was announced this week by the BHERC’s “Films With a Purpose” initiative.
The film explores the explosive uprisings over the police-related deaths of Michael Brown Jr. and George Floyd — both at the hands of white officers — and highlights the diverse voices of community members, many of whom took to the streets in protest.
“By producing films that tell the stories that matter, we seek to inspire more artists to pursue their goals to share their vision,” Evers-Manly said. “Along with assisting filmmakers on their journey to create powerful films, at the same time, we give our filmmakers the tools they need to ensure their path to a promising future.”