St. Louis, MO—November 3, 2021—The documentary, Ferguson Rises, shines a spotlight on the town that inspired a new global civil rights movement and chronicles a father’s journey as he grapples with the pain of losing a son.
Ferguson Rises, winner of the Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award, makes its U.S. broadcast premiere on Independent Lens, November 8, at 9 pm, on Nine PBS. Viewers can join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #FergusonRisesPBS. The film will also be available to stream free after broadcast on the PBS Video App for a limited time.
The film explores the depths of the protests following Michael Brown Jr.’s killing in August 2014 through the eyes of his father, Michael Brown Sr., and other voices in the community: residents, police officers, business owners, and activists who took to the streets in protest for more than 400 straight days.
Strikingly different perspectives come to the forefront of the film. In interviews with both opponents of the Black Lives Matter movement and the activists leading it, audiences see a glimpse of the polarizing emotions that are still ingrained in justice reform conversations today. At the center of the documentary is Michael Brown Sr., who talks about his son’s death and the ways he overcame the pain that engulfed him and his family in the years that followed.
“I hope that through the stories of Michael Brown Sr. and the community of Ferguson, we can learn not to judge things and people on a surface level. And, perhaps most importantly, I hope the film reminds America of all that they can learn from Black people when it comes to resilience, strength, and faith. With this mindset, we can then stop harping on the pathologies of Black Americans and, rather, focus on honoring their contributions,” says filmmaker Mobolaji Olambiwonnu.
A virtual town hall with Michael Brown, Sr., director Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, and other changemakers will take place before the premiere on Monday, November 8, 6–7:45 pm, to explore our common humanity and shift entrenched narratives that stoke cycles of trauma. Registration is through Eventbrite.
About Nine PBS
As an essential community institution, Nine PBS exists to enable access to information, knowledge, and learning opportunities for all. We tell stories that move us. We meet people where they are the most comfortable consuming content. Nine PBS’s platforms include four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine PBS KIDS®, Nine PBS World, and Nine PBS Create), ninepbs.org, social media, the free PBS Video App, streaming services, live and virtual events, and the Public Media Commons. Since 1954, Nine PBS has accepted the community’s invitation into their homes, schools, and businesses.
About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights. The acclaimed series, with Lois Vossen as executive producer, features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS, Acton Family Giving, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation: facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.