Forget “Friday Night Lights.” The biggest and most consequential high school football rivalry hits the gridiron each November when two teams put everything on the line in the “East LA Classic.” Now that rivalry and the off-the-field real life dramas that come to a head in the annual game are chronicled in a new sports documentary THE ALL-AMERICANS.
Directed by Billy McMillin (award-winning West of Memphis) and executive produced by multi-platinum recording artist Becky G, the documentary will have its virtual World Cinema Event Premiere on Saturday, August 29 at 9:00 pm EDT/1:00 am UTC via Gathr At Home, Gathr’s virtual event cinema platform.
Home to the nation’s largest Latino immigrant population, East Los Angeles sits squarely in the crossfire of debate about American identity. Yet every November, this community comes together for a distinctly American event, drawing 25,000 proud locals to one of the country’s fiercest high school football rivalry games: “The East LA Classic.” The All-Americans follows four students seeking glory on the field, while grappling with personal obstacles and striving to make sense of their community’s place in today’s America.
The film’s director Billy McMillin says “The All-Americans is not about one ragtag team prevailing over a villain team; it’s about East L.A. and how this unique community fits into the America of today. Not in a static way, but like all immigrant communities before them, in a way that is complex, evolving, growing, and changing the country.”
The All-Americans is produced by Delirio Films (Ask. Dr Ruth, Honey Boy) and Abramorama (Cracked Up). Gathr Films has the worldwide virtual event rights. Director: Billy McMillin. Executive Producer: Becky G. Producers: Christopher Leggett, Rafael Marmor, Billy McMillin, Timm Oberwelland. Running time: 98 minutes
The virtual event cinema release of The All-Americans benefits Operation Street Kidz, a community based organization dedicated to engineering success among kids, especially throughout the inner cities of the US.