Writer/director David Midell (NightLights) is now poised for movement under international sales agent, Voltage Pictures, for his new film, The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain. The film made its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival in 2019, starring Frankie Faison (Do the Right Thing, Silence of the Lambs, Banshee) in the title role, based on the real-life police-involed incident that took place on November 19, 2011 in White Plains, New York.
The film’s acquisition was announced by Vertical President and COO Jonathan Decker, in partnership with Revelation Entertainment. Midell is producing along with Enrico Natale of Redbird Entertainment, with Revelation’s Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary and Gary Lucchesi, next to Sharad Chib, Chris Paladino, and Milan Chakraborty. Voltage will begin talks on the hot title, with buyers immediately.
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain tells the true story of the final hours of the life of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were sent to his home to check on him, when his medical alert device was mistakenly activated. Despite Kenneth informing the officers there was a mistake and he did not have an emergency, they were recorded taunting Kenneth, ridiculing his military service, howling racial epithets at him, and finally, the officers broke his door down and shot him to death.
The film rose to Freeman and McCreary’s attention after racking up a bevy of awards, starting with its debut at the Austin Film Festival where it won both the Jury Award and Audience Award. It also won the top narrative feature prize at the 24th annual Urbanworld Film Festival, a festival which celebrates inclusive, diverse filmmaking and attracted talent including 13th director Ava Duvernay, Lena Waithe as well as political figures Stacy Abrams and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.
“The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain is a visceral, confronting and necessary portrayal of the tragic death of an innocent man, as told by the fiercely talented David Midell,” said Deckter. “With the eyes of the world on the Black Lives Matter movement, we’re beyond honored to have been chosen to represent this special, pertinent film, and look forward to sharing it with our partners.”
“We are confident, that working with Voltage, this truly important film will get the wide audience this subject matter deserves. Once viewers see The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, the answer to the question of the imminent need for police reform is obvious,” said Freeman and McCreary.
“We felt it was important that the film asks critical questions about law enforcement’s treatment of people of color and people with mental health challenges: we’re excited to have Voltage on board to amplify that message.” said Natale.
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain joins the robust Voltage sales slate including the political biopic Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid, the action-thriller The Marksman starring Liam Neeson which released this week, the upcoming third and fourth installments of the After franchise and the horror-thriller The Seventh Day starring Guy Pearce.
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Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
