Gravitas Ventures has acquired all North American rights to Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber’s documentary Peace Officer, which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival, where it won both the grand jury prize and audience award for documentary.
A North American platform theatrical release managed by Submarine Deluxe is planned for the fall, and then in spring 2016 the film will air on PBS’ Independent Lens.
The doc looks at the militarized state of American police as told through the story of William “Dub” Lawrence, a former Utah sheriff who established his state’s first SWAT team — only to see that same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff 30 years later.
Christopherson and Barber also served as the film’s producers and cinematographers. Dave Lawrence also produced. Sterling Van Wagenen, Marcy Garriott, Clark and Jesse Lyda and Roger Fields are the executive producers.
The deal was negotiated by Nolan Gallagher for Gravitas, Lois Vossen for Independent Lens, and Josh and Dan Braun from Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers.
