MSNBC Films Acquires Errol Morris’ ‘Separated,’ Officially Entering Into the Doc Oscar Race (EXCLUSIVE)
MSNBC Films has acquired Errol Morris’ immigration control documentary “Separated.”
Focusing on the Trump administration’s inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, the docu had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August, which was followed by a screening at the Telluride Film Festival in September.
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Based on NBC News political and national correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s 2020 book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” the 93-minute film merges interviews with U.S. government officials and narrative vignettes tracing one migrant family’s plight. According to figures released by the Department of Homeland Security, 3,881 children were separated from their families from 2017 to 2021. Morris’ film examines the U.S. government’s role in developing and implementing border policies that have kept over thousand children separated from their parents to this day.
“It’s an attempt to tell a story that we should all relate to emotionally,” says Morris, who won the Oscar for best feature doc in 2004 for “Fog of War.” “It’s not just a story about political malfeasance or about bureaucracy, but about people. People like you and me. It’s not about other people. It’s about people.”
While “Separated” is a co-production from Participant, Fourth Floor, Moxie Pictures, and NBC News Studios, Morris did not have a distribution deal in place with NBC Universal-owned Peacock or Focus during production. The fact that the film found distribution is notable. In recent years major U.S. distributors including Netflix and Apple lost their appetite for controversial content that involves politics, which might be why “Separated” does not have a streaming deal in place.
On Oct. 4, “Separated” will begin a week-long Academy Award qualifying run at the IFC Center in New York. Submarine Deluxe is releasing the film theatrically.
At Venice, Morris made it clear during a press conference that he wanted the doc to be released prior to the U.S. Presidential election on Nov. 5.
“(I) hope that it will make a difference,” the director said.
During that same press conference Morris described the doc as “an essay on fascism.”
“God knows I feel strongly about many of the policies of the Trump administration, but the idea that somehow you would hurt children as a matter of policy seemed unthinkable,” Morris said. “(It) seemed just wrong. Morally wrong. These are policies that could happen again, and we must ensure that they never, never, never happen again.”
“Separated” is the third feature documentary that MSNBC Films has qualified for Oscar consideration. In 2021, the company qualified JR’s “Paper & Glue” and in 2023 Lina Plioplyte’s “Periodical.”
“Jacob (Soboroff) has been digging deep into immigration issues for over a decade, personally witnessing the situation at the border, for which his reporting has been honored with several of the most prestigious journalism awards. And Errol is one of the most celebrated directors of our time who can shine a light on important issues far behind the headlines in an incredibly cinematic way,” says Amanda Spain, MSNBC Films VP of longform acquisitions. “We feel privileged to be able to bring this film to audiences, to support the work of these visionary storytellers and the courageous participants.”
Greenwich Entertainment is handling TVOD distribution for “Separated.”
MSNBC will start broadcasting the docu on Dec. 7.
Watch the trailer for “Separated.”
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