History was made at Sundance Film Festival this week! African American actor and filmmaker Nate Parker sold his film ‘The Birth of a Nation’ for an astounding $17.5 Million to Fox Searchlight, the biggest sale ever at the festival.
Nate Parker, 36, starred in The Great Debaters and Beyond the Lights but took a break from acting to make the film. Using $100k of his own money then raising millions more, he wrote and directed the Birth of a Nation, a graphic and emotional portrayal of preacher and rebel Nat Turner’s rise as he fought for freedom, received standing ovations at each of the three screening at the festival and has started a conversation like no other movie at the festival could.
Parker, who stars in the film as Nat Turner, said in an interview with The Daily Beast that he couldn’t stop thinking about what it meant for America and people of color. With so much controversy surrounding Hollywood and the Oscar’s this win is a great move for the community and for African Americans aspiring to break into the industry.
Parker turned down a $20 million bid with Netflix because he wants the film to have a real release hit theaters. We can’t wait to see this piece of work and to support Nate Parker.
Source: The Daily Beast, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/01/28/the-birth-of-a-nation-meet-nate-parker-the-revolutionary-filmmaker-behind-the-sundance-smash.html
TSR Intern: Jalen M @jalenmosby on IG!
