Ashley O’Shay’s award-winning documentary Unapologetic is a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives, told through the lens of two fierce leaders Janaé and Bella. The documentary film will be released into theaters starting on August 20 at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago as part of the programming for the re-opening of the theater. It will then open in New York the following week on August 27 and in Los Angeles on September 3, with a nationwide release in theaters and in virtual cinema.

“After a historical summer of Black uprising last year, we are elated to share this story with a theatrical release,” exclaims director O’Shay. “This Chicago story resonates with communities throughout the world, as more and more citizens organize for Black liberation. We must continue to uplift Black feminist leaders like Janaé and Bella, and we look forward to engaging with the people, organizations and partners through our screenings, talkbacks, and panels.”

After two police killings, Black millennial organizers challenge a Chicago administration complicit in state violence against its Black residents. Told through the lens of Janaé and Bella, two fierce abolitionist leaders, Unapologetic is a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives, from the police murder of Rekia Boyd to the election of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The film hits theaters exactly a year after its World Premiere at the BlackStar Film Festival. The release also serves as a nod to Black August, an annual commemoration to remember Black freedom fights and political prisoners, highlighting Black resistance against racial oppression. Notable historical moments include the March on Washington (1963), the Haitian Revolution (1791), and Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831).

Watch a clip from Ashley O’Shay’s documentary Unapologetic – New Generation Of Black Activists Demand Justice In “Unapologetic”

Watch the official trailer for Clip From Ashley O’Shay’s documentary Unapologetic