Nate Parker in ‘The Birth of a Nation’ (Photo by Elliot Davis)Fox Searchlight won the bidding war and snatched up The Birth of a Nation for theatrical release following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The awards buzz has been constant since the film won Sundance’s U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, and now those who didn’t catch a screening at the festival can watch the two-minute teaser trailer. Written, directed by and starring Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation features Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller and Jackie Earle Haley. The Birth of a Nation opens in theaters on October 7, 2016.
The Plot: Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates and uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
