HBO to unleash Storm Over Brooklyn

HBO has greenlit a feature documentary about Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was shot and killed in New York in 1989.

Muta’Ali

Storm Over Brooklyn is the winning project from the inaugural Feature Documentary Initiative from production company Lightbox and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF).

The doc is directed by Muta’Ali. Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin are exec producers for Lightbox while Jeff Friday exec produces for ABFF Ventures.

Directors Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, who helmed LA 92, Lightbox’s feature doc about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, will also serve as exec producers.

Storm Over Brooklyn follows Hawkins’ story, showing how he was shot and murdered after being trapped by a group of white youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on the evening of August 23, 1989.

The film was selected from more than 300 submissions to the Feature Documentary Initiative. The scheme is open to all African-American documentary filmmakers and any documentary filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African-American experience.

Lightbox and the ABFF have relaunched the initiative for a second year and entries will open on July 18. Selected films will be developed and produced by Lightbox and ABFF Studios.