Born and raised in a segregated Virginia, Arthur Ashe rose to the top of the overwhelmingly white world of tennis in the 1960s to achieve many firsts as the most prevalent Black man in the sport. Reticent early in his career to address racial strife in America until the events of 1968, Ashe became an outspoken civil rights activist in the fight against racial discrimination, South African apartheid and later the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. This insightful documentary includes exclusive interviews with Ashe’s family, Black activists and tennis cohorts Billie Jean King and John McEnroe. With striking archival footage and previously unheard audiotapes, FEST alum Sam Pollard (SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME) and Rex Miller’s latest film celebrates the inspirational life of this groundbreaking tennis champion and humanitarian.
- Year2021
- Runtime94 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUSA, UK
- PremiereLos Angeles
- DirectorRex Miller, Sam Pollard
- ProducerRex Miller, Beth Hubbard, Anna Godas, Steven Cantor, Jamie Schutz
- Executive ProducerAlex Gibney, Mike Jackson, John Legend, Ty Styklorious, Amy Entelis, Courtney Sexton, William Ackman, Oliver Harbottle, Tony Tabatznik, John Arnhold, Regina K. Skully, David Ulich, Michael Cascio, Dr. Steven Ungerleider, Nina and David Fialkow, Patty Quillin, Rick Rosenthal, Geralyn Dreyfous, David Ellis Acker, David Barden
- CastArthur Ashe
- CinematographerRex Miller
- EditorBen Sozanski, R.A Fedde
- MusicJongnic Bontemps
Born and raised in a segregated Virginia, Arthur Ashe rose to the top of the overwhelmingly white world of tennis in the 1960s to achieve many firsts as the most prevalent Black man in the sport. Reticent early in his career to address racial strife in America until the events of 1968, Ashe became an outspoken civil rights activist in the fight against racial discrimination, South African apartheid and later the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. This insightful documentary includes exclusive interviews with Ashe’s family, Black activists and tennis cohorts Billie Jean King and John McEnroe. With striking archival footage and previously unheard audiotapes, FEST alum Sam Pollard (SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME) and Rex Miller’s latest film celebrates the inspirational life of this groundbreaking tennis champion and humanitarian.
- Year2021
- Runtime94 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUSA, UK
- PremiereLos Angeles
- DirectorRex Miller, Sam Pollard
- ProducerRex Miller, Beth Hubbard, Anna Godas, Steven Cantor, Jamie Schutz
- Executive ProducerAlex Gibney, Mike Jackson, John Legend, Ty Styklorious, Amy Entelis, Courtney Sexton, William Ackman, Oliver Harbottle, Tony Tabatznik, John Arnhold, Regina K. Skully, David Ulich, Michael Cascio, Dr. Steven Ungerleider, Nina and David Fialkow, Patty Quillin, Rick Rosenthal, Geralyn Dreyfous, David Ellis Acker, David Barden
- CastArthur Ashe
- CinematographerRex Miller
- EditorBen Sozanski, R.A Fedde
- MusicJongnic Bontemps