OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Producer Mahershala Ali (C) poses for a photo with young orators on the red carpet for "We Are The Dream" on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) WE ARE THE DREAM: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
Photo Credit: Kelly Sullivan/FilmMagic for HBO
Every year, hundreds of children from pre-K through 12th grade take the stage at the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, a public speaking competition where they perform poetry and speeches inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film covers the months leading up to the 40th annual festival, as schools across the city send their top-placing students to compete. It is a portrait of young people raising their voices about issues they care about and of the unique community that celebrates and supports them.
Last night in Oakland, Executive Producer Mahershala Ali attended the World Premiere of the HBO Documentary Film WE ARE THE DREAM: THE KIDS OF THE OAKLAND MLK ORATORICAL FEST.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Executive Producer Amatus Sami-Karim, Director Amy Schatz, MLK Oratorical Fest Producer Awele Makeba, and Executive Producer Julie Anderson speak onstage during the premiere of “We Are The Dream” on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
WE ARE THE DREAM debuts TUESDAY, FEB. 18 (7:00-8:10 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO in commemoration of Black History Month. It is directed and produced by Emmy® winner Amy Schatz (HBO’s “In the Shadow of the Towers,” “Song of Parkland”) and executive produced by Academy Award winner and East Bay Native Mahershala Ali (HBO’s “True Detective”).
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Producer Diane Kolyer, Executive Producer Amatus Sami-Karim, Director Amy Schatz, HBO Head of Documentary Lisa Heller, MLK Oratorical Fest Producer Awele Makeba, Executive Producer Mahershala Ali, and Executive Producer Julie Anderson pose for a photo on the red carpet for “We Are The Dream” on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: General atmosphere at the world premiere of “We Are the Dream” on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: View of the marquee at the Fox Theatre on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11: Actor and producer Mahershala Ali poses for a photo on the red carpet for “We Are The Dream” on February 11, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
