First Look at Nate Parker's BIRTH OF A NATION; Foxlight to Schedule Release of Film in October 2
Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer for Nate Parker’s Birth of a Nation which won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The movie earned unprecedented raves when it made its debut at Sundance and netted a $17.5 million price tag, the largest deal at the film festival to date. Birth of Nation tells the true story of Nat Turner (Parker) who led a rebellion of black people in Virginia that left fifty white people and hundreds of black people dead. The trailer, soundtracked to Nina Simone’s “Strange Fruit,” is beautiful and gripping, and leaves us wanting more.
In talking about the film back in 2015, Parker was quoted as saying, "I kind of sold this project to investors and cast on legacy. I honestly think this is a film that could start a conversation that can promote healing and systemic change in our country. There's so many things that are happening right now in 2015 — 100 years after the original 'Birth of a Nation' film, here we are. I'd say that is what I hope sets my film apart, is that it's relevant now — that people will talk about this film with the specific intention of change."
The film, written and directed by Parker, is sure to be a major contender at next year’s Oscars. The movie is scheduled for release in October, and co-stars Aja Naomi King, Gabrielle Union, and Armie Hammer.
See the trailer here.
