Starz, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today announced the premium cable network has acquired the unscripted 10-part docuseries AMERICA TO ME ,created by award-winning filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters, Life Itself), and produced by Participant Media and Kartemquin Films.
"America To Me" follows students,
TEACHERS and administrators in suburban Chicago's Oak Park and River Forest High School, one of the country's most exemplary and diverse public schools, over the course of a year as they grapple with decades-long racial and educational inequities - in addition to the challenges that today's teenagers face. Digging deep into the experiences of a racially diverse student population, "America to Me" sparks extremely candid conversations about what has succeeded and what has failed in the quest to achieve racial equality and overcome bias in our education system. Part observational character story and part high school confessional, James captures critical moments within this vibrant high school ecosystem.
"We are thrilled to acquire this compelling docuseries from Participant Media and
Steve James who, as a filmmaker, is truly one of the best," said President of Programming for
Starz Carmi Zlotnik. "'America to Me' is extremely socially relevant and timely which exemplifies our diversity strategy. Steve's ability to bring the real and honest portrait of these students and the complex and compelling issues they face through this series is admirable."
Participant's CEO David Linde said, "As Participant continues to expand its global footprint with exciting new content opportunities, we are thrilled to announce this distribution partnership with
Starz bringing 'America to Me,' our first documentary television series, to audiences everywhere."
The docuseries will premiere in Fall 2018 on
Starz and will also be available for download or streaming via the
Starz app which offers subscribers access to more than 7,000 selections including
Starz Originals "Power," "Outlander," "American Gods," "Counterpart," among others; as well as movies and television series.
"America to Me" is Participant Media's first unscripted series which aligns with the company's overall mission of telling compelling and impactful stories across multiple platforms. The series and accompanying social impact campaign aim to spark and guide a national conversation around race, education, opportunity and agency.
"In creating 'America to Me,' we were encouraged every day by the kids and their families, some truly dedicated teachers, and so many others featured in the series. Their passion and insights inspired us and we believe their stories will resonate with people everywhere," said James. "I am so excited to have found a distribution partner in
Starz that shares the same dedication we have for this series and will help it finds its way into the world."
"Steve and his incredible team of field directors have created a series with extraordinary intimacy that shows the complexities and nuances of being a teenager in an American high school," said Diane Weyermann, President of Documentary Film and Television for Participant Media. "We are thrilled to partner with
Starz and look forward to audiences falling in love with 'America to Me' just as we have."
James directed and executive produced the 10 hour-long episode docuseries via his longtime production home, Kartemquin Films. The series is executive produced by Gordon Quinn (Hoop Dreams,The Trials of
Muhammad Ali, Unbroken Glass), Betsy Steinberg (Edith + Eddie, Keep Talking, Stranded by the State) and Justine Nagan (Minding the Gap, All the Queen's Horses, "P.O.V."), with Participant Media's Jeff Skoll (The Help, The Kite Runner, Lincoln) and Diane Weyermann (An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, Human Flow and CITIZENFOUR).
Kevin Shaw (The NFL Season: A Biography, The Street Stops Here), Rebecca Parish (Radical Grace) and Bing Liu (Minding the Gap) served as story directors. John Condne served as series producer, along with producer Risé Sanders-Weir ("Wrath of God", Biography, "American Justice), co-producer Janea Smith ("Chicagoland") and associate producer
Stephanie Smith. Film editing by Leslie Simmer (Raising Bertie, The Homestretch) and David E. Simpson (Life Itself); associate editor, Alanna Schmelter ("Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations," "Young Marvels," Live Free or Die"); and assistant editor, Rubin Daniels (Standing on Common Ground: New Orleans Ten Years Later).
Kartemquin Films received a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to contribute to the production of the docuseries.
"America to Me" made its world premiere with the first five episodes at the 2018
Sundance Film Festival in the new "Indie Episodic" category.
Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV and SVOD rights to the series. Lionsgate, which represents international rights to Participant's feature film and select documentaries, will retain all international and domestic distribution and home entertainment rights to the series as well.
Vice President of Original Programming
Patrick McDonald is the
Starz executive overseeing this docuseries. Negotiations were brokered by Brett Marottoli, Head of Program Acquisitions for Starz, along with Gabriel Brakin and Krista Wegener for Participant and Endeavor Content on behalf of Participant/Kartemquin.
"America to Me" docuseries is part of the previously announced unscripted programming added to the larger portfolio of
Starz Originals including the docuseries "Wrong Man," "Warriors of Liberty City," "In Fashion" and "The Field."
About
Starz Starz (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment company that provides premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the
Starz PLAY Arabia OTT service.
Starz is home to the flagship STARZ(R) brand and
Starz ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services, including the
Starz app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms,
Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including
Starz Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.
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