The historic story of whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, whose 35-year sentence in an all-male maximum security prison was commuted by President Obama in 2017. Shot over two years and featuring exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes verité with Manning, the film picks up on the momentous day in May when she leaves prison and follows her through her journey of discovery, while also examining her place in the conversation on national security and the fight of the transgender community for rights and visibility.

About The Team

Tim Travers Hawkins is an Emmy-nominated director who makes challenging films with authentic storytelling, visual artistry and political impact. ​

Growing up in the UK music was his first love, before he moved to Latin America where he studied filmmaking in Buenos Aires and Cuba and co-founded the experimental film collective CINEMACHETE. He later moved to New York City where he continues to be based today.

His first feature XY CHELSEA (Pulse Films) was nominated for two Emmys, won a Cinema Eye Award, and debuted at Tribeca Film Festival before being released on Showtime. His second feature PERSONA (Dorothy St Pictures) will be released on HBO Max in 2020.

His first narrative feature is in the works, and he has also created award-winning works of journalism, activism, campaigns, and shorts, music videos, interactive projects and even video games - the BAFTA-nominated GUITAR HERO LIVE. ​

Other awards include the One World Media Award, Amnesty International Cinema & Human Rights Award and a nomination for the United Nations Cinema for Peace Award.