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(Thursday, December 7th 2023) – The award-winning documentary UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality, a searing exposé of the growing affordable housing crisis in America, is officially in the running for the 2024 Academy Awards in the Documentary Feature category. The film debuted across streaming services worldwide in June 2023 including Amazon, Vimeo, Apple TV, Google Play, Youtube, Tubi, WaterBear and others following premieres in New York City and Los Angeles.
A special Oscar FYC screening is being held Monday December 11th from 6-8pm at Beyond Baroque in Venice CA hosted by the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art and the Venice Heritage Museum. After the film there will be a Q&A with the filmmakers to follow.
RSVP here: https://UnzippedOscarFYC.eventbrite.com
The Oscar short list qualification follows the film and its #RaiseTheRoof campaign being named Finalists for the Webby Anthem Awards in the Humanitarian Action & Services / Film & TV category this week. A companion, affordable housing impact campaign, #RaiseTheRoof, also launched alongside the global film release. An interactive impact hub offers simple ways for people to learn, get involved and advance the affordable housing movement. Educational elements include an interactive zip code tracker connecting people to local housing organizations, a downloadable Community Learning Guide, as well as opportunities for university and high school screenings. 10% of all film revenue are being given to affordable housing and homeless advocacy organizations.
Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Colin K. Gray, produced by The Sibs, and executive produced by Lucy Liu, UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality has been hailed as the “frontline” documentary “for America’s housing divide” by Variety, a film that “humanizes” the issue by KCRW, and an “important, powerful and enlightening” documentary by KPCC’s FilmWeek.
In May, the film celebrated its red carpet premiere in New York City in partnership with the New York State Association for Affordable Housing and the NYU Furman Center. A Q&A followed, moderated by NY Times housing reporter, Mahir Zaveri, with the film's writer/director Colin K. Gray, NYU Furman Center’s Vicki Been, NYC Dept of Social Services Commissioner Molly Park, NYSAFAH’s board vice-chair, Kirk Goodrich, and ANDH’s executive director, Barika Williams.
Its LA premiere took place at the Hollywood Legion in partnership with Housing California and Roadmap Home 2030. The Q&A, moderated by KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis, included Housing California’s executive director Chione Flegal, Venice Community Housing’s executive director Becky Dennison, Residents United Network (RUN) advocate Maria Hernandez, and writer/director Gray.
UNZIPPED is produced by GRAiNEY PICTURES in association with Ley Line Entertainment and The Nation of Artists and features tracks from acclaimed rap duo, Run The Jewels. The film’s diverse crew includes all-women identifying production and graphic design teams and over 50% BIPOC executive producers that brought audiences Everything Everywhere All at Once, Miss Juneteenth, Black Boys, The Square, Atari: Game Over and Freedom’s Fury.
About UNZIPPED
Once a mecca for artists, outsiders and a thriving Black community, Venice is now the frontline for America’s heated battles over affordable housing and homelessness. With moving, personal profiles of two families who struggle to remain in their rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, to bitterly contested community fights over a proposed homeless shelter, UNZIPPED explodes stereotypes and humanizes the lived experiences of people caught in the cross-fire of America’s housing divide.
The film also features interviews with leading politicians and stakeholders who dig into the root causes of the affordable housing crisis and its intersection with rising income inequality, racial disparities and the structural inequities of America’s housing policies. A topical local lens on this alarming humanitarian issue, UNZIPPED is an urgent call to action for more equitable housing solutions for every community in America and around the globe.
About Colin K. Gray
Colin is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and screenwriter. Uniting every project he tackles is a deep commitment to crafting powerful stories that challenge the status quo.
In addition to directing & writing, UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality(2023), Colin's feature documentary credits include producing Being Canadian(eOne - 2016 WGA nominee, Best Documentary); producing ATARI: Game Over(Netflix - 2014); writing/co-producing Redlight (Showtime - 2010); and directing & writing Freedom’s Fury the acclaimed feature documentary about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the infamous “Blood In The Water” Olympic water polo match (Fortissimo / HBO 2006 - named one of the 20 Greatest Sports Documentaries of All Time by Esquire magazine). Colin, DP Megan Raney Aarons, and EPs Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu, were knighted by Hungary for the film.
Colin's scripted credits include writing the screenplays Savage Lands (Austin Film Fest Semi-Finalist 2018), and The Road Dance (2018); and co-writing and directing the short film Meena, based on the novel "Half The Sky" (PBS/ UNICEF - Webby award winner, 2014). He was also a staff writer on the new Netflix’s children’s series Phantom Pups (2022).
Colin’s ongoing commitment to social impact work includes directing the award-winning House + Home campaign for Habitat for Humanity (2021); EP/ directing the Band Together campaign for Action Against Hunger (2019); raising awareness about human trafficking with the short doc Road To Traffik (2009); writing & directing PSAs for UNICEF’s TAP Water Project; writing & directing PSAs for the Myanmar Relief efforts (2008); and filming the Palestinian Presidential elections for the democracy movement One Voice (2005).
About Venice Institute of Contemporary Art
The Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) is an arts organization devoted to identifying, protecting and sustaining the unique stories, history and culture of one of the most important centers of American independent artistic expression.
Through its exhibitions, events, research facilities, and education curriculum, ViCA celebrates the world of art internationally, and most importantly the art and culture of Venice Beach/Southern California. Our founding in 2011 marks an ongoing commitment to our community - to present the art world from the perspective of its artists, writers, curators, collectors, and the art viewing public. For more information visit: https://www.veniceica.org
About Venice Heritage Museum
The Venice Heritage Museum (VHM) opening Spring 2024 will give Venetians, Angelenos, and visitors alike the opportunity to experience stories, collections, and archives from one of our country's most culturally rich and innovative communities—Venice, California.
The Museum will be a space for discovery. In the face of constant change, VHM will be an inclusive hub to celebrate the diverse cultures and unique facets of Venice history. Venice’s accepting and progressive legacy will be on display, with exhibits highlighting both well-known and more obscure stories, showcasing their relevance in today’s world.
Ultimately, the Venice Heritage Museum will serve to enrich the lives of current and future generations through our exhibitions, events, and educational activities, connecting the present with the past. For more information and to support visit: www.veniceheritagemuseum.org
On The Web:
Website
Impact Hub
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
For more information please contact Rebecca Shapiro or Grace Fleisher at Shore Fire Media at rshapiro@shorefire.com or gfleisher@shorefire.com.
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