Grantland has done such a great job producing “30 For 30” short documentaries in collaboration with ESPN Films that it only seemed natural for its production company to branch out into feature length films.
Under the banner of Grantland Features, its film production wing has produced a full-length documentary titled Son of the Congo. The film will debut March 14 at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas.
Son of the Congo will follow Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, recount his journey from his native Congo to NBA star and document his return to his homeland. The film will tell the story of Ibaka growing up amidst the war-torn country and depict the struggle youth continue to face in the Congo. Ibaka returns to the neighborhoods in which he played basketball, often without shoes, and spent many nights sleeping in empty lots.
After its premiere at SXSW, the documentary will be shown on Grantland in five parts, rolling out from March 23 to 27. Additionally, Son of the Congo will be aired on ESPN Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. ET.
The film is directed by Adam Hootnick, who helmed the “30 For 30” short Judging Jewell and Unsettled, a documentary about six young Israeli adults coping with their government’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival.
“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to show where I come from, my roots, and to be able to tell my story in a natural way,” Ibaka said in an official press release. “Having the film premiere at SXSW is very exciting, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment from Grantland and ESPN, director Adam Hootnick and Humble. Their passion and interest in telling my story in a genuine way so that I might be able to inspire someone with this film is my ultimate goal.”
Other films that will premiere at SXSW include documentaries about Russell Brand (Brand: A Second Coming) and singer Mavis Staples (Mavis!), and Ex Machina, a science fiction film directed by Alex Garland (who wrote The Beach, 28 Days Later and Dredd). The festival’s complete lineup will be announced Feb. 3.
As you might expect, Grantland editor-in-chief Bill Simmons is excited about showing a film at the conference, which also features a music and interactive festival during its 10-day run. SXSW is a hive of pop culture and technology that sets the tone for much of what we consume during the rest of the year.
“We always wanted Grantland to evolve into a multi-media destination that took big swings and worked with as many talented people as possible, but I can’t remember thinking that we’d ever premiere a feature at South By Southwest,” Simmons added in the press release. “It’s been a surreal experience and we are honored to present such a poignant documentary.”
Comments are closed.