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Ava DuVernay’s nonfiction sequel “14th” is set to world premiere as the closing-night film of the New York Film Festival on Friday, Oct. 9, and Variety can exclusively reveal that the film will feature a new original
song, “Makings of Tomorrow,” written and performed by Brittany Howard and Robert Glasper.
Netflix will mount an Oscar campaign for best documentary feature. DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Tammy Garnes and Paul Garnes produced the film.
“14th” follows DuVernay as she speaks with scholars, politicians and legal experts about the 14th Amendment, examining who gets to belong in America and the ongoing fight over birthright citizenship.
The film is a follow-up of sorts to DuVernay’s seminal documentary “13th,” which opened the New York Film Festival in 2016. That film examined the U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and argued that loopholes in the amendment helped pave the way for the mass incarceration of Black Americans. “13th” was released just weeks before Donald Trump was elected to his first term as president.
Nearly a decade later, “14th” turns its attention to the amendment that established birthright citizenship, due process and equal protection under the law. The film argues that those foundational principles — along with the amendment’s prohibition against those who engage in insurrection serving as heads of state — have come under unprecedented pressure in recent years.
Through interviews with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), legal scholars Sherrilyn Ifill and Robert Chang, Stacey Abrams, social commentators Donald T. Critchlow and Hasan Piker, and others, DuVernay explores the amendment’s history and contemporary implications.
Howard rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Alabama Shakes, earning 18 Grammy nominations and five wins, including best alternative music album. Glasper, an acclaimed songwriter, producer and musician, has received 13 Grammy nominations and five wins, most recently taking home the award for best R&B album in 2023 for “Black Radio III.”
“Creating this song came with great responsibility since it needed to capture the urgency and importance of the film,” Howard tells Variety. “We hope ‘Makings of Tomorrow’ will inspire people to stand up and fight for those whose rights are being taken from them unjustly. We are all in need of a better tomorrow.”
“Brittany has one of those voices that makes you stop what you’re doing and listen,” Glasper adds. “She brings so much soul and honesty to the music, and that gives me a lot of freedom as a collaborator. Creating this song together for Ava’s film ‘14th’ was an opportunity to put that connection into something with real purpose.”
DuVernay received an Oscar nomination for “13th,” which was nominated for best documentary feature at the 89th Academy Awards. Her other major credits include the films “Selma,” “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Origin,” as well as television series including “When They See Us” and “Queen Sugar.”
“14th” is set to be released Dec. 4.
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