THANK YOU!

The power of the people really came through for us to make this campaign a success! Now, we can continue documenting the movements of change happening in our country. Our sincere gratitude to all of our supporters!

As independent filmmakers, we rely heavily on the generous donations from those of you who share our belief in a free and equal democracy. We appreciate any additional support while we finish production on America Rise. Tax-deductible donations can be made at this link through our fiscal sponsor Northwest Film Forum, a 501(c)(3) organization.

THE STORY

This is a story of women leading the way as the voices of America demand change. It will take you into the many movements that are currently taking action for a better democracy. America Rise sends a message of resilience, determination, and optimism.

Born out of the Women’s March on Washington, America Rise is a documentary about the essential power of the people. As the Power To The Polls, Me Too and ENOUGH movements make dynamic shifts in the American societal landscape, this film will continue documenting this culture of change through the telling of personal stories. The directing duo, Sarah Kennedy and Brian Overholt are now documenting stories from Power To The Polls. They were in Washington D.C. for March for Our lives and covered the National School Walkouts on Friday, April 20th.

HOW IT STARTED AND WHY MILLIONS MARCHED

The Women's March on Washington 2017 is now recorded as the largest one day protest in U.S. history, with nearly 5 million marching. We were there in over ten cities to document this historical moment. For many Americans, it was hard to accept that the country had elected such a President in 2016. A man who had campaigned by uttering sentiments of hate, misogyny, racism and general bigotry about the very people he hoped to lead. Women who had been organizing for years, and also people who were taking action for the first time, used their voices and influence to say enough is enough. 

WHO WE ARE

Seattle based director Brian Overholt first became aware that hundreds of marches were happening that day in January 2017 when his Mom made the decision to march in Washington D.C. Its significance really hit home when she told him, “They recommend we bring a black sharpie to write our personal information on our arm before the march, in case of riots. It’s a little scary, but it’s physically impossible for me not to go. I have to march". Brian then felt inspired to do something himself. He called Nashville based filmmaker Sarah Kennedy who he had collaborated with in the past. They quickly decided to organize documentary coverage of multiple marches across the country.

Director Sarah Kennedy says, “My goal is to prove to myself and to other women and men that change is indeed possible if we can learn to understand and harness our own power, exercise our influence, and continue to persist against the patriarchy.” Co-director Brian Overholt adds, “Durng the march it felt like a historical movement was starting, we now know that to be the case. It opened my eyes to what people can really do when they decide to take action and that's the story we want to tell."

MEET THE ACTION TAKERS

FATHIA

Fathia Absie is a Somali-American filmmaker, writer and activist. Based in Seattle, Fathia brings people of different backgrounds together through her program Eat With Muslims. Through this community engagement, she works to demystify the “single story” that has been negatively attached to Muslims around the world.

ABBY

Abby is a Brooklyn based comedian and activist who volunteered for the march in NYC and is part of Lady Parts Justice League. An activist group focused on fighting for reproductive rights. Through her comedy, she helps to break abortion stigma, brings damaging legislation and lawmakers into the light, and advocates for reproductive freedom.

CAROLINE 

Caroline Mann organized the Knoxville Women’s March, which drew nearly 10,000 marchers. She had never been an activist or even participated in a protest before the January 21 march. Caroline says, “The election was such a shock to my system, I couldn't remain inactive. I couldn’t continue to be a passive bystander. I had to start working for change, for my kids and for my own sanity”.

CLEO 
Cleo Barnett, is the Program director for Amplifier.org. Amplifier is responsible for the We the People poster art campaign. These iconic protest signs were created by artist Shepard Fairey in collaboration with other artists and social activist leaders. Amplifier paid for nearly one million of these portable protest signs to go out with copies of the Washington Post the day of the march. Cleo drove to Washington in a van and passed many out herself.

Cleo says, "When the whole world is watching and how can we support this moment in time, through a very strong, cohesive storytelling project that could bring people together and it could act as a bridge for both sides. It’s not about left or right, it’s about, where are we as United States citizens, what do we stand for and what are our values"

KATELYN

Nine months after the march, the directors traveled to Detroit, Michigan to film the Women’s Convention. Here, over 5,000 women from all across the country came together to network, strategize, and unite. Over the weekend, the team happened to meet writer and trans-advocate Katelyn Burns.  During a honest and in-depth interview, Katelyn talks about her experience as a transgender woman at the Women’s March in Portland, Maine. The sea of pink pussy hats and vast ocean of uterus art was disorienting and off-putting for her as a trans woman. Katelyn goes on to explain that she had a change of heart when she experienced a profound connection with a fellow female marcher. She says, “We realized that we have a shared fight. We realized that womanhood could be less about the flesh and more about the fight. We are all fighting to have control over our own bodies."

PRODUCTION IN 2018: GAINING MOMENTUM AND POSITIONS OF POWER

America Rise had film crews present at the Women's March 2.0 in Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Knoxville, TN.  As this latest wave of feminism continues to gain momentum, so does the film's production. For Power To The Polls our focus will be on a couple key campaigns during this historic year of women running for office. March For Our Lives started after the tragic mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were 17 young lives were lost. We have been there to cover the school walkouts, the D.C. rally and the Town Hall for Our Lives. We will continue filming as these young activist take action for safer communities.

America Rise will be in production through 2018 midterms. During this time a number of short documentary pieces will be produced focusing on the key issues addressed in the feature film. These shorts will be used for screenings, outreach, and promotion while the feature is being finished. The documentary will be completed and will begin private screenings in late 2019. Festival and public screenings will begin in earlier 2020 and will continue through the election season.

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

#CaseForOptimism  

America Rise is taking action to show that it is possible to maintain optimism in a world where it's easy to be pessimistic. But, it takes an engaged active society to create a better democracy. Each person, in each of our communities, doing what we can when we can for positive change. Together, we can create the world that we want to live in. 

JOIN US BY SUPPORTING THIS FILM! THANK YOU!