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THE ORGANIZER is about people who have dedicated their lives to the controversial job of building power for the powerless. 

 

The film is a portrait of Wade Rathke, best known as the founder of ACORN​ and a legendary figure in the misunderstood world of 'community organizing.'

 

Before ACORN's infamous demise in 2010 following several highly publicized scandals, it had been the largest community organization in the United States. Rathke, a former anti-war and welfare rights organizer founded the organization in Little Rock in 1970, and his entrepreneurial vision was a key ingredient in building it into a national political powerhouse for the poor, but internal conflict and external pressures would lead to its tragic downfall.

Undeterred, Rathke is now building new organizations around the world and trying to rebuild at home. The Organizer follows Rathke on his travels while flashing back through his past, painting a fascinating untold history of America. 

Shot across four continents, featuring a wealth of archives alongside interviews with ACORN organizers and community leaders, as well as renowned political figures like Noam Chomsky and Marshall Ganz, THE ORGANIZER shows us how a few driven and passionate individuals can transform lives and inspire political movements.

 

Writer/Director/Editor: Nick Taylor

Producer: Joey Carey

Photography/Sound: Nick Taylor and Joey Carey 

Executive Producer: Stefan Nowicki

Co-Producer: Charles Koppelman

Composers: Justin Small and Ohad Benchetrit

Graphics Artist: Peter O'Neill 

THE ORGANIZER premiered in the fall 2017 festival season. It has since screened over a hundred times at film festivals, academic institutions and community events around the world. The film has won five awards including the Hoka Award for Best Documentary at the Oxford Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Woodstock Film Festival. The film was picked up for distribution in North America by Grasshopper Film, had theatrical runs in New York and New Orleans, and is now available on on itunes and other platforms. Outside of North America it is available on Vimeo-On-Demand.

THE ORGANIZER - Official Trailer

THE ORGANIZER IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR HOME VIEWING!

Click the link below based on your location:
USA AND CANADA:
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ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:
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AWARDS

AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST DOCUMENTARY
- Woodstock Film Festival, 2017

HOKA AWARD - BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
- Oxford Film Festival, 2018

FREE PRESS AWARD - BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCUMENTARY
- Columbus Film Festival, 2018

JURY AWARD - BEST DOCUMENTARY
JASON SOLHEIM AWARD - BEST FILM OF FESTIVAL
- Trenton Film Festival, 2018

PRESS

"8/10"
"The Organizer is an honest portrayal of Wade Rathke and the rise, fall, and potential resurrection of ACORN. You may not agree with Rathke’s politics or tactics, but you will get an honest glimpse of his heart, passion, and the tangible results of his work."

Alan Ng 
FILM THREAT

"A Must-See Film for Activists"
"Many of the best organizers I have ever met were working for ACORN. If you never saw ACORN in its prime and wonder what all the talk was about, see this film. And if you recall ACORN but never really heard from the group’s members, it’s all in the film."
"The Organizer may have some of the best footage and personal accounts from those impacted by Hurricane Katrina [in any] film."

"An impressive testament."
"Taylor has a wonderful way of weaving together archival footage with contemporary interviews and snatches of Rathke's casual daily interactions as he drives about the South in a battered old SUV."

Philip Martin 
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
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