A documentary film focusing on students, their families and staff members in the Oakland Unified School District is scheduled to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, which is being held virtually later this month.
Director Peter Nicks began shooting the film, “Homeroom,” in 2019 to profile the day-to-day lives of those within the school district, particularly those at Oakland High School and the district’s All City Council Student Union.
The filming schedule during the 2019-20 academic schedule was interrupted, however, by the coronavirus pandemic, moving classes online, as well as the death of George Floyd last summer and the resulting protests against racism and police brutality.
The film is Nicks’ third consecutive look at Oakland. His previous films, “The Waiting Room” and “The Force,” focused on Highland Hospital and the Oakland Police Department, respectively.
“Homeroom” is scheduled to premiere at 9 a.m. Jan. 29, with a second screening on Jan. 31. Tickets can be purchased on the Sundance website. The film is also expected to screen at the San Francisco Film Festival in April.