In 1999, nine-year-old Emmanuel Sanford-Durant and his Washington, D.C. family began to film their daily lives in America's most dangerous neighborhood — just 17 blocks behind the U.S. Capitol building. They've been filming ever since.
Made in a unique collaboration with filmmaker and journalist Davy Rothbart, the film focuses on four generations of the Sanford Family, including Emmanuel, a promising student, his brother Smurf, a local drug dealer, his sister Denice, an aspiring cop, and his mother Cheryl, who must conquer her own demons for her family to prosper.
Spanning two decades, 17 BLOCKS illuminates a nation's ongoing crisis through one family's raw, stirring, and deeply personal saga.
Stay tuned after the film for a Q&A with director Davy Rothbart and subjects Cheryl and Smurf Sanford.
- Year2019
- Runtime96 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- NoteProduction: Beachside Films
- DirectorDavy Rothbart
- ScreenwriterDavy Rothbart, Jennifer Tiexiera
- ProducerAlex Turtletaub, Michael B. Clark, Marc Turtletaub, Rachel Dengiz
- Executive ProducerJennifer Tiexiera, Cheryl Sanford
- CastEmmanuel Durant, Akil "Smurf" Sanford, Cheryl Sanford, Justin Sanford, Denice Sanford-Durant
- CinematographerZachary Shields
- EditorJennifer Tiexiera
- ComposerNick Urata
- MusicNick Urata
In 1999, nine-year-old Emmanuel Sanford-Durant and his Washington, D.C. family began to film their daily lives in America's most dangerous neighborhood — just 17 blocks behind the U.S. Capitol building. They've been filming ever since.
Made in a unique collaboration with filmmaker and journalist Davy Rothbart, the film focuses on four generations of the Sanford Family, including Emmanuel, a promising student, his brother Smurf, a local drug dealer, his sister Denice, an aspiring cop, and his mother Cheryl, who must conquer her own demons for her family to prosper.
Spanning two decades, 17 BLOCKS illuminates a nation's ongoing crisis through one family's raw, stirring, and deeply personal saga.
Stay tuned after the film for a Q&A with director Davy Rothbart and subjects Cheryl and Smurf Sanford.
- Year2019
- Runtime96 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- NoteProduction: Beachside Films
- DirectorDavy Rothbart
- ScreenwriterDavy Rothbart, Jennifer Tiexiera
- ProducerAlex Turtletaub, Michael B. Clark, Marc Turtletaub, Rachel Dengiz
- Executive ProducerJennifer Tiexiera, Cheryl Sanford
- CastEmmanuel Durant, Akil "Smurf" Sanford, Cheryl Sanford, Justin Sanford, Denice Sanford-Durant
- CinematographerZachary Shields
- EditorJennifer Tiexiera
- ComposerNick Urata
- MusicNick Urata