SPEAK.

Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera | 103 min | USA

SPEAK. follows five of the nation's top teenage speech competitors, capturing the euphoria of victory and the devastation of defeat as they craft and perform original oratories throughout a 9-month season. Their dream is simple: to win the Super Bowl of public speaking, the National Speech and Debate Association Nationals.

We witness the competitors, their coaches, and their parents as they fight to keep school speech programs alive amid budget cuts, book bans, and censorship efforts that reach a fevered pitch during the 2024 election year.

The film begins at the 2023 (NSDA) Championships, following them to the 2024 Nationals, where one competitor hopes to beat the record set by Executive Producer, Josh Gad, in 1999.

SPEAK. captures the passion, joy, and courage of unforgettable teens using their voices to change hearts and minds. This film is the perfect antidote for these fraught times—intense, funny, and, most of all, hopeful.

FESTIVALS | Sundance Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

Preceded by the short film:

THE LEMONADE STAND

Directed by Paul O’Bomsawin | 5 min | Canada

The Lemonade Stand is a project about the relationship between Paul and his daughter Lyric in the context of their learning about plants and remedies.