Kamala Harris Doc Short From CNN’s Bakari Sellers to Hit Theaters Just Before Election (Exclusive)
A documentary short film focused on Vice President Kamala Harris is set to hit theaters weeks ahead of this year’s presidential election.
Filmmakers Samir Zakir and Gerard Pizarro co-directed Kamala, which aims to share untold stories behind Harris’ journey by using anecdotes, animation and interviews with prominent entertainers, family members, close friends and key politicians.
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The project does not yet have a publicly announced launch date but will get a theatrical run starting in October. Kamala will then be available via PVOD and SVOD prior to the presidential election taking place Nov. 5 that sees Harris facing off against Donald Trump.
It’s unclear how many theaters the short will play in, and its runtime was not revealed.
Bada Bing Pictures is handling distribution for the short film that hails from Illumin8 Entertainment and Pizarro Creative. Among the producers is CNN analyst Bakari Sellers, who was once the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and is friends with Harris. First-time directors Zakir and Pizarro are producing the short with Wendy Pizarro.
“This film is about more than Kamala’s political journey — it’s about her humanity. It’s about the joyous warrior she is, fighting for the well-being of all people,” Gerard Pizarro said in a statement. “As an underdog and new filmmaker myself, I’m honored to tell the story of another underdog — a Black and Indian woman who has broken barriers and inspired millions.”
Zakir is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the CEO and co-founder of Illumin8 Entertainment, which is behind projects focusing on mental health and holistic wellness. Gerard Pizarro is an advocate for social justice and a former trial lawyer who founded Pizarro Creative in part to focus on stories from underrepresented communities. Wendy Pizarro has also worked as an attorney and is a leader in health and wellness innovation.
Harris’ path includes serving as attorney general of California before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. She became the first African American and first Asian American vice president and accepted the Democratic presidential nomination last week following President Joe Biden ending his bid for reelection in July.
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