The acclaimed documentary Homegrown, a gripping exploration of political identity, extremism, and the fractured landscape of American democracy, will be released in North America on January 6, 2026—the fifth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The release marks the debut of an updated version of the film featuring newly added 2025 footage, offering unprecedented insight into a movement still reshaping the nation. The film will be available exclusively through GATHR® via its Direct To Audience℠ platform, giving viewers across the continent a front-row seat to this evolving story.
Already celebrated on the global festival circuit, Homegrown has become one of the most talked-about nonfiction films of the decade. It was an official selection of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won Best Technical Contribution, and has since collected top festival honors, nearly fifty international screenings, and a nomination for the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award for exceptional independent nonfiction filmmaking.
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A Timely and Urgent Portrait of a Nation in Crisis
Directed by award-winning journalist and filmmaker Michael Premo, Homegrown captures the United States at a pivotal moment. Shot from 2018 to 2025, the film offers a rare, unfiltered view into the lives of everyday Americans driven to political action during one of the most volatile periods in modern history.
Homegrown follows three conservative activists during the months leading up to and following the 2020 election:
a father-to-be in New Jersey experiencing political awakening for the first time,
an Air Force veteran organizing conservatives in New York City,
and a Texas activist traveling cross-country to campaign for Donald Trump.
As misinformation spreads and tensions escalate, the trio becomes convinced the election was stolen. Their efforts intensify, propelling them into public protests and clashes that reveal the growing unrest at the heart of American politics. The film’s intimate access results in an unsettling, deeply human portrait of a movement willing to test the boundaries of democratic society.
Critics have described Homegrown as:
“Illuminating, gripping” — The Guardian
“A compelling portrait of people usually demonized and dismissed” — The Hollywood Reporter
“A movement far more multicultural than often depicted” — The Washington Post
“Sobering” — ScreenDaily
New 2025 Footage: A Story Still Unfolding
The 2026 North American release features footage added after a year of continued reporting. Most notably, the filmmakers revisited their central protagonist, who served more than four years in federal prison for his involvement in the January 6 attack. His unexpected presidential pardon in 2025 dramatically altered the next chapter of his life, prompting Premo and producer Rachel Falcone to document how freedom reshaped his beliefs, relationships, and political commitments.
Rather than treating the Capitol attack as a climax, the updated film reframes January 6 as a turning point—one that redirects personal and political trajectories still in motion. By premiering the expanded version exactly five years after the attack, Homegrown anchors its story in a moment that continues to define national dialogue and democratic uncertainty.
Filmmakers Bearing Witness to an Era of Division
Director Michael Premo describes Homegrown as the most intense and revealing project of his career:
“We set out to make an honest, no-judgment study of the people heeding the clarion call of us-vs-them politics. What emerged is a unique portrait of a homegrown movement willing to use violence for what they believe America should be. We hope the film contributes to the national conversation on the future of our democracy.”
Producer Rachel Falcone echoes the film’s deeper intention:
“This film is not just about a single day. It’s about the forces that led us there, the people who felt called to act, and the unresolved tensions still shaping who we are as a country.”
A Celebrated Film with Global Acclaim
In addition to Venice, Homegrown has been honored worldwide, including:
The Phoenix Prize – Film Fest Cologne
Justice Matters Award – Filmfest DC
Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award – Nominee (2025)
Across nearly fifty top-tier festivals, the film has been recognized for its meticulous storytelling, technical precision, and groundbreaking access.
The Creative Team Behind Homegrown
Premo, Falcone, and co-producer Jim Urquhart bring extensive experience documenting political upheaval and social movements.
Michael Premo is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker whose work spans film, theater, photography, and radio. His projects have appeared on POV, StoryCorps, and major artistic institutions. He is a Creative Capital Award recipient and NBC News Studios Original Voices Fellow.
Rachel Falcone, a multimedia artist and sound recordist, has created documentary work for Independent Lens, POV, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Kennedy Center. She co-directed the Tribeca-winning Sandy Storyline.
Jim Urquhart, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and HEFAT instructor, has spent a decade covering extremism, militias, and political violence across the United States.
Together, they form a team uniquely suited to capture the complexities of a tense national moment.
Exclusive Distribution Through GATHR®
Homegrown will be available exclusively on GATHR’s Direct To Audience℠ (DTA) platform from January 6 through President’s Day, February 16, 2026. This innovative model allows filmmakers to reach audiences directly, maintain viewer relationships, and build community impact beyond a single screening.
“The filmmakers behind Homegrown are inviting audiences into one of the most important conversations of our time,” said Scott Glosserman, Founder and CEO of GATHR. “Our DTA model exists to connect films like this with the communities ready to engage them.”
The film can be streamed on all major devices, and viewers can preorder now at Homegrown.
A Document of Democracy at a Crossroads
Homegrown merges award-winning craft with bold investigative storytelling, creating a rare, ground-level account of a political movement in real time. Shot over seven years, the film examines the shifting meaning of patriotism, loyalty, and national identity at a moment when American democracy hangs in fragile balance.
By revisiting its subjects and weaving in new 2025 footage, Homegrown becomes more than a documentary—it becomes a living record of the forces reshaping America.
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